Latest XBL Exploit Takes Aim at User's Credit Cards

[bomblord]

Uh, what?

Since when does "Users may receive potential phishing attempts" equal "their credit cards have been compromised by hackers" or even "you've been hacked"?

Phishing is commonplace; the only notable factor here is that it's being executed in a relatively closed environment. It's hardly the same as being directly hacked, and it's not an immediate compromise of your credit card details; it only works if you fall for it.

I hate to be one of those people waving the "bad journalism" banner, but this article makes a lot of arbitrary leaps that look somewhat like an attempt to cash in on the PSN controversy.

This news comes following Sony's recent announcement [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/109568-Sony-Admits-Private-PSN-Info-Has-Been-Stolen-All-Of-It] that 77 million Playstation Network users' accounts, including credit card information, have been accessed by cyber criminals.

Oh for fu... Exactly when did "No evidence of, but we're not ruling out the possibility" become "has been compromised" ? No really, I'm genuinely asking this because the slow progression from what Sony's officially stated is really scaring people for no proper reason.

Also, please explain how this new way of phishing counts as people's credit cards being compromised? From what it sounds like at the moment is that user score and the like are being held ransom more than anything else, because if Microsoft somehow lets Modern Warfare 2 access a Biling & Authorization system they've got some technical genius working behind the curtains there.

I'm sorry if that comes of as harsh, but I'm just seeing the wording of these stories putting people on edge for no reason at the moment.

It's really getting on my nerves to, these articles are making giant bounds of assumption in these threads and sparking panic for no real reason (maybe a good one, as everyone should be cautious, but still).

This is just a phishing scam, it's not hackers or exploiting code or whatever. This article blatantly contradicts itself when saying "Microsoft has posted a Service Alert, warning Xbox Live users that their credit cards have been compromised by hackers through a Modern Warfare 2 exploit."

And yet in the very next sentence

"Users may receive potential phishing attempts via title specific messaging while playing Modern Warfare 2," the warning reads.

Phishing =/= Hacking

Seriously, Escapist, get your shit together, and I say that in a sincere way. I'm starting to see a pattern with these kinds of articles, it's more of an editorial than a news site.

EXACTLY i read it and I got a serious wtf moment they really REALLY need to fix this before they cause a false panic it's idiotic they went that far

 

[McMullen]

Microsoft has posted a Service Alert, warning Xbox Live users that their credit cards have been compromised by hackers through a Modern Warfare 2 exploit.

Dear allistairp, and Escapist contributors in general,

XBL user's credit cards being compromised and the thing that is actually happening here are two completely different things. Please take more care in writing headlines and article intros that have some connection to reality. You're reminding me more and more of those British "news" services that amuse themselves by completely fabricating stories, like that one nonexistent GTA game. Try harder to not fall into that category.

 

[mattttherman3]

I use prepaid credit cards or microsoft point cards

 

[Fusioncode9]

Jesus Christ, what happened? Did all the hackers band together and vowed revenge on the consoles or something? I don't remember hackers being so serious.

 

[Musiclly enhanced]

so first im seriously worried about my credit card on PSN and NOWWW after playing a long session of cod and seeing people that are trying to sell phishing scams i read this so either way im fucked thanks a lot internet

 

[Ghengis John]

Phishing? You're trying to equate a phishing scam to the recent psn hack?

You need to fix this story because the problem is you're going to feed morons like this guy:

I find this funny after all the Xbox fanboys trying to say "PSN is shit because it's free" and now there's a possibility that their personal info was stolen....on a service they paid for.

Wonder if it's the same people who got the PSN...

Maybe what you want is to be the number one story on playstation fan boy forums and spread misinformation that will have to be dealt with for the next five years across a million social networks. I seriously thought you above playing the Glenn Beck of the internet though.

 

[jedizero]

Microsoft: "We'll be a smug trolling douche bag on a corporate level."

Universe: "....Yeah, Karma's a ***** ain't it?"

 

[JDKJ]

Let me ask you this, would you hate anyone who still supports the police after a week of stories about dirty cops?

Haters gonna hate. That's what haters do: they hate.

 

[Ghengis John]

Microsoft: "We'll be a smug trolling douche bag on a corporate level."

Universe: "....Yeah, Karma's a ***** ain't it?"

It's a phishing scam. meaning you have to be stupid enough to GIVE them your information. This is NOT the same thing.

Stay tuned for updates but, for now, you might want to avoid playing any Call of Duty titles online. Excuse me but I have to get back to obsessively checking my bank account...

Seriously, stop panicking. Get your shit together. Fix your story.

 

[jedizero]

It's a phishing scam. meaning you have to be stupid enough to GIVE them your information. This is NOT the same thing.

I never said it was the same thing. I just think its kind of funny that immediately after Microsoft trolls PSN users, shit like this happens.

 

[The Sane]

Phishing? You're trying to equate a phishing scam to the recent psn hack?

You need to fix this story because the problem is you're going to feed morons like this guy:

I find this funny after all the Xbox fanboys trying to say "PSN is shit because it's free" and now there's a possibility that their personal info was stolen....on a service they paid for.

Wonder if it's the same people who got the PSN...

Maybe what you want is to be the number one story on playstation fan boy forums and spread misinformation that will have to be dealt with for the next five years across a million social networks. I seriously thought you above playing the Glenn Beck of the internet though.

I had a theory that the OP is a PS3 fanboy himself, and felt the need to give XBOX a kicking to cheer himself up a bit ^^. (not that it matters, but yes at the very least this article is badly worded, which I have already pointed out so I will shut up about it now).

 

[subtlefuge]

Phishers gonna phish.

Seriously, this form of scamming predates the postal service. It's not really an exploit if someone surrenders their information.

 

[subtlefuge]

It's a phishing scam. meaning you have to be stupid enough to GIVE them your information. This is NOT the same thing.

I never said it was the same thing. I just think its kind of funny that immediately after Microsoft trolls PSN users, shit like this happens.

Shit like this has been happening for centuries. People pretend to be something they are not, and then they take advantage of you.

I guarantee that the PSN has an equal amount of this going on.

 

[Ghengis John]

I guarantee that the PSN has an equal amount of this going on.

Just, you know, not at the moment.

 

[D_987]

Wow, there's sensationalist journalism and then there's this, I know The Escapists newsroom isn't the most reliable or trustworthy but wow - this is a whole new level of manipulating reality.

Almost seems like there's a full blown coordinated attack at work here. Maybe 'anon' could use it's super powers to find these turds and bring them before the people.

No, this is nothing of the sort, regardless of how much The Escapist is trying to push the angle of "hackers got your details" all the actual story is, is that Microsoft have issued a security warning regarding phishing attempts in Modern Warfare 2. They regularly put out these announcements once activities in games get to high.

At least there will be less "Should have bought a 360" going around. Silver lining, silver lining...

Why, do you not receive messages letting you know people can glitch you to 10th prestige or whatever on PSN? Because that's all this is about, receiving messages in-game as people try to trick others into giving them free Microsoft points. The article is incredibly mis-leading.

These recent Call of Duty cyber-attacks are the first time users have had their information accessed in-game, via hackers' modded Xbox 360s.

Should be immediately changed; that's even worse than the initial headline - that's not what has happened, and nobody but The Escapist is claiming this has occurred...

 

[aashell13]

Anyone who still supports hackers after this week... can... go away...

Not all hackers are criminals. Some of them just like to tinker with things. To say all hackers are criminals is like saying all executives are guilty of tax fraud.

 

[subtlefuge]

I guarantee that the PSN has an equal amount of this going on.

Just, you know, not at the moment.

Well played sir, well played.

 

[AstylahAthrys]

Thank God I don't play Call of Duty. And it's nothing like what happened on the PS3. It's a phishing attempt, not people hacking into XBL and stealing stuff. You get those in your email all the time. I think The Escapist is trying to level up the console wars... or maybe even them out. I dunno. Please post a less misleading title, Escapist. You're escalating flame wars this way

Also:

I guarantee that the PSN has an equal amount of this going on.

Just, you know, not at the moment.

No truer words have been spoken, my friends.

 

[Asehujiko]

Anyone who still supports hackers after this week... can... go away...

Hackers are a singular entity?

 

[RatRace123]

Less worried about this one, never bought a call of duty title in my life and I almost exclusively play singleplayer, a fact I feel extremely justified in now. This isn't really the same as the PSN hacking though.
Still, what the hell is going on? It's like we're some sort of internet Gotham City with no Batman to kick the shit heads in the teeth.