14 DAY TRIAL // Online services are becoming very important nowadays and, when it comes to game consoles, they are a big deciding factor in terms of which one to buy and which one to avoid. As such, the three big console manufacturers are investing a lot of money into their Internet-powered services, whether it is Xbox Live, PlayStation Network or Wii Channel.
But, as with almost everything found on the Internet, these too are relatively vulnerable, and the BBC has recently reported that hackers have begun to redirect their evil intentions against Xbox Live users in particular, because the security provided by Microsoft isn't very good, and, with the help of some flooding programs and a network of PCs, they can easily take people off the online service.
The situation has become so grave that hackers have even begun to offer their services for the highest bidder, with a mere 20 dollars getting you payback against someone who beat you at an online game of Halo or Gears of War. “There's been a definite increase in the amount of people talking about and distributing these things over the last three to four weeks,” said Chris Boyd, director of malware research at Facetime Communications.
But Xbox 360 users shouldn't worry as Microsoft has promised that it will look into the matter and employ some tighter security measures in order to protect its users from online threats, but, in the end, it is up to the user to be more careful and not share his IP address with anyone he doesn't trust. “We are investigating reports involving the use of malicious software tools that an attacker could use to try and disrupt an Xbox LIVE player's internet connection. This problem is not related to the Xbox Live service, but to the player's internet connection. The attacker could also attempt to disrupt other internet activities, such as streaming video or web browsing, using the same tools.”
So there you have it, you'd better be more careful the next time you go online on Xbox Live or you might find yourself booted from the service by hackers.