FBI-related materials used to hack gaming sites

A couple of weeks ago, several developers and publishers of MMOs did their job of crushing the emerging practice of website hacking. In our reports, we mentioned that there are actually different ways to pull this act. Most common of all is third party sites offering in-game items for a hefty sum of money. Final Fantasy XI Online and Hero Online are just some of the games that encountered this modus operandi.

Then you have the much more blatant style, hackers attacking the very domain registry of a gaming site. IGG is a classic example of this, when its site for free MMO Voyage Century Online was hijacked not too long ago. The company had to look for a temporary host just to continue their operations.

Usually, this is the part when we would say “Fortunately, it’s all over now.” Sorry to burst your bubble, but things got a little worse. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation came up with a warning today, saying a “handful” of Web sites were hacked and then defaced with a fake FBI seal. The report then went on by stating that the seal was accompanied by “an anti-piracy warning claiming that the site had been seized by the law enforcement organization.”

FBI spokesman Paul Bresson tried to appease the gaming public by saying that the matter is not yet widespread. However, he expressed his concerns regarding the misuse and abuse of FBI’s name. When asked about the possible reasons for such attacks, Bresson commented, “I’m not sure if it’s financially motivated. I’m not sure what their motive would be.”

Via MACWorld

A couple of weeks ago, several developers and publishers of MMOs did their job of crushing the emerging practice of website hacking. In our reports, we mentioned that there are actually different ways to pull this act. Most common of all is third party sites offering in-game items for a hefty sum of money. Final Fantasy XI Online and Hero Online are just some of the games that encountered this modus operandi.

Then you have the much more blatant style, hackers attacking the very domain registry of a gaming site. IGG is a classic example of this, when its site for free MMO Voyage Century Online was hijacked not too long ago. The company had to look for a temporary host just to continue their operations.

Usually, this is the part when we would say “Fortunately, it’s all over now.” Sorry to burst your bubble, but things got a little worse. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation came up with a warning today, saying a “handful” of Web sites were hacked and then defaced with a fake FBI seal. The report then went on by stating that the seal was accompanied by “an anti-piracy warning claiming that the site had been seized by the law enforcement organization.”

FBI spokesman Paul Bresson tried to appease the gaming public by saying that the matter is not yet widespread. However, he expressed his concerns regarding the misuse and abuse of FBI’s name. When asked about the possible reasons for such attacks, Bresson commented, “I’m not sure if it’s financially motivated. I’m not sure what their motive would be.”

Via MACWorld