Exploiting Cursor Flaw Could Allow Theft of WoW Accounts

Hackers have invented a new method to attack online players of World of Warcraft MMORPG, a popular online game of Blizzard. The method involves exploiting flaws just like MS Windows controls the cursor to carry out theft of account details.

The attacks first came to notice in late March 2007, according to BBC's new report. It said hackers took control of the victims' computers through spurious websites. Play published this on April 10, 2007.

Security firm Symantec conveyed in the reports that the reason to target World of Warcraft (WoW) is the huge amounts of money involved in the game. According to the study report the financial value associated with a captured WoW account is much higher than that of a credit/debit card. Miscreants can acquire cards at 6 USD as against a WoW account that commands 10 USD.

The WoW is a game played over the Internet and the game says, just as online love or flirting is not unfair so is there nothing wrong with WoW. The popularity of the game is also due to some adult content in it like scantily dresses virtual women.

There are some difficult instances in the Blizzard's WoW MMORPG where dying in the game isn't as disappointing as in other MMORPGs. It is relatively easy to die in it for, the player can walk back to his corpse, revive and bear a predetermine percent in durability reduction to his gear. The last bit, however, depends largely on how the player dies. Even then it is possible to repair large reductions. Mmorpg published this on April 8, 2007.

While certain websites slyly install hackers' codes on a targeted PC, hackers have also accessed other websites primarily to spread tools that allow them to take control.

Some Chinese hackers seemingly exploited the cursor vulnerability in February to make assault on the Super Bowl Web site and then spread spyware through it. When the WoW was planted on the victim's PC it activated the spyware that helped to transmit the login details to the hackers. Microsoft has issued a patch to repair this cursor bug.

Related article: Exploiting BITS To Compromise Windows Update

» SPAMfighter News - 4/17/2007