Hacker Declared Accessing Credit Card Database of Steam Customers

A hacker declared he got hold of a large amount of confidential data by accessing systems of a software company, Valve. It also captured credit card details from users after they bought content from the company's digital distribution system, Steam. Steam distributes games originating from Valve.

The guy who calls himself Maddox said he was not an admirer of Steam but he was trying to get Valve to modify the system to his liking.

To get his point to people, the hacker has put up screenshots onto Valve's web. He has also posted user account details and suggestions for people to create their personal 'Cyber Café' account with Valve. So far, only people running cyber cafes have the sole privilege of making such accounts with Valve.

The man announced that if Valve wanted him to remove the files it could e-mail him. He threatened that Valve give him something nice if it didn't want him to reveal all the information of the Valve customers.

He also threatened to compile an excel sheet depicting credit card data of Valve's customers. But, if he releases the spreadsheet it wouldn't be an acceptable experience for the numerous customers who have purchased Valve's online games.

The hacker did not access the Steam, instead hacked a Valve file server, as per The Steam Review. The site explained that the compromise was only of the credit cards of subscribers to cyber café. The cyber café owners have renewable subscriptions to the Steam games and perhaps were always being informed, the posting said. Valve stored consumer data in such details that it could defeat mass fraud, not allow purchases, and these data never fell to compromise.

According to Doug Lombardi, director of marketing for Valve, there had not been a break-into Steam. Lombardi told this to 1UP that shacknews reported on April 19, 2007. The hacker was able to intrude only a third-party site whose purpose is to manage the business partners of Valve's Cyber Café program. Lombardi said while his company was co-operating with law enforcement bodies regarding this it welcomes anyone with related information to e-mail at Catch_A_Thief@valvesoftware.com

Related article: Hacker & Virus in MySpace

» SPAMfighter News - 4/26/2007