Microsoft Xbox Vulnerable to Hacking Attacks

Chris Boyd, security researcher at Sunbelt Software, states that phishing and hacking threats suffered by PC users for several years have come as a parcel with Microsoft Xbox console (interactive entertainment computer for video games) for online game lovers, as reported by The Register on February 21, 2010.

The researcher has also studied different tricks designed to help hackers to control privileged Xbox accounts through social engineering or target rivals with denial of service attacks. He has also indicated that the development of social engineering threats and malware for online game lovers has created a lot of problems which resemble to complexities faced by other parts of Net. But neither the industry nor gamers are serious enough to take these threats seriously.

The security researcher further states that phishers and hackers primarily target those accounts that have high gamescores (anything over 30,000 GS). In fact, it is quite simple to find online gamers with high gamescores and make them target.

In February 2009, malicious hackers target Xbox Live and sell services that may throw players out of the network. The attackers used data flooding tools which have been used for many years against websites.

These tools exploit the way Xbox Live network is set up, said the security researcher. Game consoles connect to the Xbox network and send data via the net. For accomplishing this task, game consoles needs an IP address.

The flood of data has been produced by a group of compromised home computers. It is believed that this botnet is controlled by a malicious group of hackers.

Commenting on the measures taken by the security researchers to mitigate the risk, Boyd has said that the industry efforts are primarily concentrated on fighting against piracy instead of hacking, which is stealthier and larger risk. Moreover, a majority of online gamers neglect the damages caused by hacking in the world of online games.

Microsoft took an important decision in November 2009 when it banned modders from Xbox Live. However, nothing or very little has been heard of several malicious packages designed to take advantage of Xbox or its gamers.

Related article: Microsoft Patches Live OneCare to Tackle Quarantined E-Mails

» SPAMfighter News - 3/4/2010