Microsoft Xbox Live Back Up as Sony Struggles WIth PlayStation Network After Christmas Morning Attack From Hackers
A group calling itself the Lizard Squad ruined Christmas morning for many people around the world when they conducted an attack on the Xbox Live and Playstation networks, preventing users from logging in. Though Xbox Live service has been restored, the PSN continues to struggle.
Many who received a new Xbox One or PlayStation 4 for Christmas or who wanted to use any Xbox or PlayStation gaming console experienced trouble logging online after Lizard Squad allegedly conducted a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack, according to PC World.
The group claimed responsibility on Twitter.
Users experiencing trouble contacted Xbox and PlayStation support for help, and the two console’s Twitter accounts began relaying updates on the situation.
We're aware users are having issues logging into XBL & are actively working to resolve. Please visit https://t.co/99xfLNN0o8 for updates ^JX
— Xbox Support (1-5) (@XboxSupport) December 25, 2014
We are aware that some users are reporting issues accessing PSN this morning. Thanks for your patience as we investigate. — Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) December 25, 2014
According to Bloomberg, Lizard Squad said it would stop the attacks on the console networks if Twitter users retweeted their messages. As of this writing, an account claiming to be part of Lizard Squad continues to ask for retweets..
However, Twitter user Kim Dotcom, creator of MegaUpload and Mega, said to have appeased the group by giving them Mega vouchers.
Thanks @LizardMafia for stopping attack on XBOX Live & PSN. Let everyone play with their Xmas gifts. Your Mega vouchers have been approved! — Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 26, 2014
A Christmas Miracle. How @MegaPrivacy saved @Xbox & @PlayStation from the @LizardMafia attack. Enjoy your games! :-) pic.twitter.com/qoaZ33eqCi — Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 26, 2014
What is believed to be the official Lizard Squad account confirmed it had ceased the DDoS attack late Thursday night.
Attacks were stopped around 2 hours ago, the current downtime is just the aftermath. — Lizard Squad (@LizardMafia) December 26, 2014
Thanks @KimDotcom for the vouchers--you're the reason we stopped the attacks. @MegaPrivacy is an awesome service. — Lizard Squad (@LizardMafia) December 26, 2014
It appears that, once the group Kim Dotcom made a deal with called off its attack, another group jumped on the bandwagon and are using the opportunity for online notoriety or simply to continue disrupting service. Someone even went as far as creating what appears to be a fake Xbox maintenance Twitter account, claiming that service continues to be down even though Xbox support page says it is working again.
Playstation support has not updated whether or not its network is working properly.
Another hacker group, the Finest Squad, counterattacked and released information claiming to reveal the hackers behind the DDoS attack to the authorities.
For the Fed's - P.I.'s - Agents looking for information on LizardSquad, have a look at https://t.co/dleTVViR4x as we update it daily. — FinestSec (@FinestSec) December 26, 2014
They also explain that the PSN is down due to the investigation and not because of an attack.
PSN isnt being attacked. It is offline per the request of Playstation executives. They are "investigating" apparently. Xbox should be online — The Finest (@FinestSquad) December 26, 2014
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