Xbox Live Hackers Target Pro Gamers
The issue of online security is still buzzing among news outlets. A few weeks ago we broke to the world how hackers exploited Xbox.com to steal accounts. We were bombarded with the stories of victims but one particular story stuck out among the rest. Pro gamer and reality TV star Mrs Violence recently had her gamertag hacked a few weeks after winning a share of $50,000 on The Controller web series. Coincidence? Highly doubtful. We sit down with Kelly aka Mrs Violence to investigate.
Thank you for taking the time to speak with us Kelly.Can you detail when you realized your gamertag was compromised?
Well, I went traveling for about a day and a half and when I reached my destination, I checked my bank account. Noticed I had a bunch of XBL Charges from 2 days prior. I knew that was impossible since my last purchase was in late October 2011.
How did Xbox try to help resolve the issue?
They claimed that due to the fact that someone hacked into my account, and actually stole money from me, I would have to wait at least 12 days for them to contact my bank and 100% guarantee my money back. I’m somewhat understanding about all of this, but the man says that there’s nothing he can do to get me my tag back until those 12 days were up. I even asked for something in return like a one month xbl Gold Card (which are free), and the man replied that there was nothing he could do in return. Now, even though the man knew exactly who I was in the gaming industry, I didn’t get any special treatment, knowing that this will effect my daily life of a pro gamer.
About how much money was taken due to the hack?
About 100$ in my own personal money and over 5ooo points from my account were used.
How does this effect your Pro Gaming Career?
This is huge for me. I’ve had to continue gaming on a new tag, and purchase another 100$ worth of downloadable maps and Online passes to play with my fans. You can see how frustrating this all was for me, since my range of FPS’s is greater than my Free to Play games. So, when companies like EA are forcing the new “online pass rule”, I’m out another $10-15 bucks JUST to play their game online. Along with buying multiple map packs, Epics Season Pass for Gears, and another GOLD XBL account, this is just stupid. They’re already getting enough of our money to make the games, now we have to give up an arm and a leg for a copy cat of maps, gameplay, graphics and overall online experience.
Microsoft is claiming weak passwords and phishing is the cause of the recent account abductions. Was your password 123456 or did you try to win a date with Brad Pitt by clicking here.
I can assure you, my password and all my information were secured and hard to crack. They even have nothing to do with me in general…nor is Brad Pitt hot
@MrsViolence LOL@them trying to blame the victims with “weak passwords” or “phished” an not admitting their dumb employes getting SE’d.
@MrsViolence shit’s ridiculous.
@MrsViolence I’m against hacking 100% but did you expect special treatment because your a pro gamer?
@MatthewBossi No! I was making SURE everyone knew nothing different happened to me! I heard other people got 1 months but I actually didn’t
@MrsViolence thanks for clarifying that. It was confusing when reading it but that’s to be expected with a written interview.
@UrbanMythicaJP I stopped reading at “even though the man knew exactly who I was in the gaming industry, I didn’t get any special treatment”
@UrbanMythicaJP Fuck her, she plays games. She’s like the rest of us. She isn’t out curing cancer, she deserves no special treatment.
@DekkaDekkaDekka Actually I agree, but then I feel the same way about “pro” recreational anything. Sports, gaming, etc.
@UrbanMythicaJP Oh wait I continued: “I’ve had to continue gaming on a new tag, and purchase another 100$ worth of downloadable maps”
@UrbanMythicaJP She didn’t have to do shit! She could’ve waited like we all do and explain to her “fans” what happened.
@UrbanMythicaJP Oh wow, this is all getting tweeted to that site? Good.
@DekkaDekkaDekka lol is it really? I had no idea. Nice.
@UrbanMythicaJP Time to take Tara virtual to stamp out the hackers. :D
Some guy knocked off my internet for 3 hours on Xbox Live but nothing that big…
@MrsViolence I’m srry pro status revoked for not mentioning the guy that gave u a year of Gold Xbl and implying u bought it. COME ON MAN!!
My tag got hacked like 3-4 years ago and Microsoft did nothing. My husband’s got hacked and they spent $80 worth to purchase Microsoft points, but we got it back & the refunds we had to get, because we went to the bank. Not because Microsoft was helpful.