Xbox Live status warns of phishing in Modern Warfare 2 messages

by JC Fletcher on Apr 27th 2011 9:30AM

Don't look so smug, Xbox Live users. You may be able to play games online and download things, but the latest Xbox Live status serves as a reminder that no online service is totally safe from malefactors.

"Users may receive potential phishing attempts via title specific messaging while playing Modern Warfare 2," Microsoft warns. This should be more annoying than harmful, considering that every Modern Warfare 2 player has already had to learn to ignore messages from strangers out of self-preservation. Just be extra vigilant about ignoring people right now, because they might be trying to finagle your password or other personal info.

Microsoft says it's "working to resolve the issue."

Source: Xbox Live

Tags: activision, hacking, infinity-ward, microsoft, Modern-Warfare-2, phishing, xbox, xbox-live

Reader Comments (57)

I'll take phishing over an outage any day. That sucks for PSN users. Doesn't really affect me though since I'm not a fan of the more recent Call of Duty games.

The difference is that I'd have to be a dumbass to lose my account information this way, while whoever was in charge of security at Sony was enough of a dumbass for all of us.

Working to resolve the stupidity of people giving out their details to a random person who sends them a message on XBL?

we're just not allowed to have nice things anymore

This is no big deal. I get phishing messages over PSN too.

Well...I used to...when there was a PSN. :(

@Troy Powers

When they start phising
It's time to go to the lake

(no clue just wanted to type that)

you get what you pay for!

lololol

@A Burger I don't get it. You don't have to pay to send messages.

@Ellimem
I'm assuming it was in response to the idiots gloating over the PSN outages.

@A Burger

Why can't you be more like your brother Sandwich?

@Qehb That comment made my day.

whats new man people have been trying to phish accounts since this xbox live thing starts @Rollins ur right you gotta be dumb ass hell

This same thing is happening on PSN right now, we just can't see it.

lock up your women and children

@eat it

Hide your kids, hide your wife...

PRESTIGE ACCOUNT ONLY 2000 MS POINTS!!!!! MESSAGE MEE I HOOK YOU UP YO!!!!!!!! PAYPAL ONLY!!!!!! WOOOOTTTTT!!!!

Does anyone really pay attention to shit like that?

@eat it

Ugh.......hackers got to Joystiq, their messing with the reply system.

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

And they're changing all "they're's" to "theirs". F*ing GeoHotz.

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

What paypal account shall I gift it to?

@eat it

planeteerpower@compuserve.com

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

let me get my mommies' ViSA

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

WTF compuserve? Am I in the 90s again? Captain Planet and CompuServe.

@Anticrawl Back in the 90's when we were still counting things in megs and not gigs.

@Anticrawl

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKxFgXIXxi0

@Captain Planet Planeteer Power

compuserve. got it. I still had your old netscape email.

Odd that they would take the risk to point this out. Would've thought they'd wanna keep mum on any security issue they might be facing to come out as the 'safest online experience', let alone one that anyone who isn't a complete sponge would realise is a scam.

@Captain Slender It's not a security issue per-se.

@Captain Slender

I think everyone is just being cautious right now.

the attack on Sony is probably going to make a lot of people scared about purchasing on any of the consoles. I wouldn't be surprised if people from MS, Sony, and Nintendo are talking now and sharing tips or at the very least the phone numbers of good security firms

@Captain Slender Ugh. Unintended return.

What I meant to say is that it's not technically a security issue with Xbox Live. It's a security issue with being a person. Phishing and social engeneering attacks that target the user directly are almost impossible to design security for. Telling the user to be on the alert for such scams is the best way to avoid problems. Which is what they did.

@Agies "It's a security issue with being a person."

That may be the best thing I've read (on or off of the Internet) this month.

Sorry but if you get phished you kind of deserve it.

There's phishing everywhere lol, at least I can play.

Will this never end? I suppose next you're going to tell me that Carlos down on the corner is really trying to scam me with that innocent game of 3 card monte, and not really trying to give his extra ca$h away.

How are they doing this through MW2?

I'm hosting a 10th prestige lobby!

Just send me 1600ms points, your SSN, and your moms credit card info!

@Mr Hett
zomg! when are you doing thiss?! this will be teh best! :-P

@Mr Hett

Make it 1550 and you have a deal.

I got some weird stuff like this last night playn MW2. it was a big messaage came across the whole screen witht the guys name and some other propaganda, more annoying than anything

is this about that stupid rainbow text that pops up on half the screen (paraphrasing): 'so and so hacked by blah balh blah hack' ? from what i've found out, anyone with a clan tag that is @@ or something like that is 'infected' by something but the only way to get it is to join their party. then they spam messages after each game to get people to join them. AVOID!

...what's the bet this is just the start?

Now that is something. When you can't even party up or join a game with somebody without fear of your data being compromised.
I heard rumors of that stuff to, people being downgraded back to prestige 0 and negative k/d etc.

I don't undestand how people fall for phishing in this day and age.

Specially since we are now offering the exclusive Safe Gamer program. For only US$ 9,99 a month we offer your game account security against phishing, hackers, lag, fail replies on comments, XOXO kill mails and everything else that is evil on online gaming.

Just send us all your online IDs, passwords, social security number and cat's name, and we will take care of everything for you. Game Safe today.

(disclaimer: this post is intended only for humor. Please do not send me, or anyone for that matter, any information. Please do not fall for such scams.)

@Dashx747

Damn shame too, I was already opening my wallet at the first sentence.

That's an original MW map in the picture.

@Einigkeit

was also part of MW2 DLC

If you use a Cable connection especially Comcast, be careful who you play with online.

Watch out for Zombie Mode on COD: World at War as well.

Give a man a fish and he'll eat for a day. Teach that man to phish and he'll be buying things with other peoples money for life.

Maybe Nintendo really was on to something with their damned friend codes.

I haven't played MW2 in a while, but when I was playing I used to receive emails all the time about prestige lobbies and whatnot-- annoying more than anything.

Also, I still contend the top leaderboards are bogus or were the last time I looked, with entries of people playing little overall but achieved full prestige

@Starcade Most leaderboards are useless, with the top spots almost always reserved for hacks and cheats.

As someone who loves leaderboards, I just stick to comparing myself with friends.

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Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Xbox Live status warns of phishing in Modern Warfare 2 messages

Reader Comments (57)

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:33AM Teancum said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:33AM Rollins said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:40AM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:42AM eat it said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:43AM Troy Powers said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:00AM Jawmuncher said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:43AM A Burger said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:49AM Ellimem said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:13AM PointlessPuppies said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:08AM Qehb said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 2:44PM JessMeNU said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:45AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:50AM Ellimem said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 9:56AM eat it said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:10AM NinjaJesus said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:11AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:12AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:13AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:28AM eat it said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:25AM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:25AM FakeJamaican said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:51AM Anticrawl said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 12:14PM Epoque said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 12:15PM Captain Planet Planeteer Power said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 12:17PM eat it said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:00AM Captain Slender said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:32AM Agies said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:36AM eat it said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:37AM Agies said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:37AM xepherys said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:00AM Cletus VanDamme said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:08AM Sgt Barone said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:11AM Raiderfan said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:14AM Flesseck said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:15AM Mr Hett said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:22AM KIRBY SMASH said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 12:14PM This Little Man Says His Name Is said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:20AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:21AM KIRBY SMASH said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:31AM ShadowXIII said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:32AM (Unverified) said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 10:39AM Dashx747 said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:54AM Anticrawl said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:19AM Einigkeit said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:28AM FakeJamaican said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:06AM DiamondXP said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:08AM carbonize said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:13AM Epoque said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:35AM Starcade said

Posted: Apr 27th 2011 11:42AM Epoque said

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