14 DAY TRIAL // Redmond-based software maker Microsoft recently confirmed that a group of hackers got access to the Xbox Live accounts of several current and former employees.
While the accounts do not contain social security numbers, they do collect names and addresses. Security researcher Brian Krebs, who has closely monitored these attempts, said in a post that hackers most likely sold access to the stolen accounts.
Microsoft, on the other hand, says it’s currently working on the problem to put in place new security measures and thus disable the current vulnerability that allowed hackers to break into employee accounts.
“We are aware that a group of attackers are using several stringed social engineering techniques to compromise the accounts of a handful of high-profile Xbox LIVE accounts held by current and former Microsoft employees,” the company said in a statement issued to The Verge.
“We are actively working with law enforcement and other affected companies to disable this current method of attack and prevent its further use. Security is of critical importance to us and we are working every day to bring new forms of protection to our members.”
This is the second hack attack in less than 30 days for Microsoft, as a number of computers got infected with malicious software in mid-February.
While no customers had been affected, Microsoft confirmed that some workstations were infected with the same malware spotted in similar attempts aimed at Facebook and Apple.
The company said in a statement that the infection only reached a few computers in its Mac business unit, so no user data was exposed.
“During our investigation, we found a small number of computers, including some in our Mac business unit, that were infected by malicious software using techniques similar to those documented by other organizations. We have no evidence of customer data being affected and our investigation is ongoing,” the company explained in February.