Hackers are gaining access to Xbox Live accounts, and may have been for three years or so; apparently, Halo 3 multiplayer producer Joe Tung is a recent victim.
It seems social engineering is the key tactic, with hackers tricking details out of both users and customer support operatives:
The danger stems from the apparent failure of Microsoft customer service to keep track of repeated account access, our expert said. This allows hackers employing social-engineering tactics to call support lines without being tracked. A hacker can then use this information to gain access to a user's Xbox Live gamertag, which typically has a credit card attached.
Access to a gamertag can also mean access to a Windows Live account. Windows Live is Microsoft's proprietary log-in service. You use it when accessing account information on Xbox.com, but users who strictly use their Xbox 360 might not even know what Windows Live is. With Windows Live access, a hacker can change which gamertag and e-mail is associated with that Windows Live account, preventing a user from recovering their gamertag and creating a mess of confusion for customer service when investigating.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Hackers are gaining access to Xbox Live accounts
Hackers are gaining access to Xbox Live accounts, and may have been for three years or so; apparently, Halo 3 multiplayer producer Joe Tung is a recent victim.
It seems social engineering is the key tactic, with hackers tricking details out of both users and customer support operatives:
The danger stems from the apparent failure of Microsoft customer service to keep track of repeated account access, our expert said. This allows hackers employing social-engineering tactics to call support lines without being tracked. A hacker can then use this information to gain access to a user's Xbox Live gamertag, which typically has a credit card attached.
Access to a gamertag can also mean access to a Windows Live account. Windows Live is Microsoft's proprietary log-in service. You use it when accessing account information on Xbox.com, but users who strictly use their Xbox 360 might not even know what Windows Live is. With Windows Live access, a hacker can change which gamertag and e-mail is associated with that Windows Live account, preventing a user from recovering their gamertag and creating a mess of confusion for customer service when investigating.
It seems social engineering is the key tactic, with hackers tricking details out of both users and customer support operatives:
The danger stems from the apparent failure of Microsoft customer service to keep track of repeated account access, our expert said. This allows hackers employing social-engineering tactics to call support lines without being tracked. A hacker can then use this information to gain access to a user's Xbox Live gamertag, which typically has a credit card attached.
Access to a gamertag can also mean access to a Windows Live account. Windows Live is Microsoft's proprietary log-in service. You use it when accessing account information on Xbox.com, but users who strictly use their Xbox 360 might not even know what Windows Live is. With Windows Live access, a hacker can change which gamertag and e-mail is associated with that Windows Live account, preventing a user from recovering their gamertag and creating a mess of confusion for customer service when investigating.
Monday, August 25, 2008
Halo Wars
Microsoft Game Studios has revealed the box art for the Xbox 360 exclusive Halo Wars.
The artwork comes from the same team of artists behind Bungie's Halo 2 and Halo 3. The similarities are pretty obvious.
Halo Wars
Microsoft Game Studios has revealed the box art for the Xbox 360 exclusive Halo Wars.
The artwork comes from the same team of artists behind Bungie's Halo 2 and Halo 3. The similarities are pretty obvious.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Halo 3: Steel Spartan
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $99.99
Run Size: 2,000 pieces
A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import!
With a discharged grenade at his feet and the translucent bubble shield dissipating, the UNSC elite super soldier STEEL SPARTAN readies his armaments and begins to rise.
The Spartan holds two Submachine Guns, or you can switch the bonus arms and have him grip his M90 Shotgun (CAWS- Close Assault Weapon System). When not using the Shotgun, it can be stored on his back.
Additional hands are also included for expression, and as a special bonus for fans that collected the other Kotobukiya ARTFX Statues, you can swap some of the weapons and hands with the other releases (Master Chief Field Of Battle, Master Chief, Blue Spartan, Red Spartan, and others)!
Price: $99.99
Run Size: 2,000 pieces
A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import!
With a discharged grenade at his feet and the translucent bubble shield dissipating, the UNSC elite super soldier STEEL SPARTAN readies his armaments and begins to rise.
The Spartan holds two Submachine Guns, or you can switch the bonus arms and have him grip his M90 Shotgun (CAWS- Close Assault Weapon System). When not using the Shotgun, it can be stored on his back.
Additional hands are also included for expression, and as a special bonus for fans that collected the other Kotobukiya ARTFX Statues, you can swap some of the weapons and hands with the other releases (Master Chief Field Of Battle, Master Chief, Blue Spartan, Red Spartan, and others)!
Halo 3: Steel Spartan
Release Date: Available Now
Price: $99.99
Run Size: 2,000 pieces
A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import!
With a discharged grenade at his feet and the translucent bubble shield dissipating, the UNSC elite super soldier STEEL SPARTAN readies his armaments and begins to rise.
The Spartan holds two Submachine Guns, or you can switch the bonus arms and have him grip his M90 Shotgun (CAWS- Close Assault Weapon System). When not using the Shotgun, it can be stored on his back.
Additional hands are also included for expression, and as a special bonus for fans that collected the other Kotobukiya ARTFX Statues, you can swap some of the weapons and hands with the other releases (Master Chief Field Of Battle, Master Chief, Blue Spartan, Red Spartan, and others)!
Price: $99.99
Run Size: 2,000 pieces
A KOTOBUKIYA Japanese import!
With a discharged grenade at his feet and the translucent bubble shield dissipating, the UNSC elite super soldier STEEL SPARTAN readies his armaments and begins to rise.
The Spartan holds two Submachine Guns, or you can switch the bonus arms and have him grip his M90 Shotgun (CAWS- Close Assault Weapon System). When not using the Shotgun, it can be stored on his back.
Additional hands are also included for expression, and as a special bonus for fans that collected the other Kotobukiya ARTFX Statues, you can swap some of the weapons and hands with the other releases (Master Chief Field Of Battle, Master Chief, Blue Spartan, Red Spartan, and others)!
Monday, August 11, 2008
Halo 3 earned Edge's 2008 Award
Bungie's Halo 3 earned Edge's 2008 Award For Interactive Innovation, announced the publication's deputy editor Alex Wiltshire at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival today.
"In the year since it came out, it's still showing itself to have innovated deeply in what it means to have a game on the internet," said Wiltshire.
"It has the party system, the theatre, there's Forge, which pre-empted even LittleBigPlanet in allowing you to co-operatively mess around with levels, you can share pictures and levels... Nothing has ever put this into a consistent and coherent whole as well as Halo 3 has."
"In the year since it came out, it's still showing itself to have innovated deeply in what it means to have a game on the internet," said Wiltshire.
"It has the party system, the theatre, there's Forge, which pre-empted even LittleBigPlanet in allowing you to co-operatively mess around with levels, you can share pictures and levels... Nothing has ever put this into a consistent and coherent whole as well as Halo 3 has."
Halo 3 earned Edge's 2008 Award
Bungie's Halo 3 earned Edge's 2008 Award For Interactive Innovation, announced the publication's deputy editor Alex Wiltshire at the Edinburgh Interactive Festival today.
"In the year since it came out, it's still showing itself to have innovated deeply in what it means to have a game on the internet," said Wiltshire.
"It has the party system, the theatre, there's Forge, which pre-empted even LittleBigPlanet in allowing you to co-operatively mess around with levels, you can share pictures and levels... Nothing has ever put this into a consistent and coherent whole as well as Halo 3 has."
"In the year since it came out, it's still showing itself to have innovated deeply in what it means to have a game on the internet," said Wiltshire.
"It has the party system, the theatre, there's Forge, which pre-empted even LittleBigPlanet in allowing you to co-operatively mess around with levels, you can share pictures and levels... Nothing has ever put this into a consistent and coherent whole as well as Halo 3 has."
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