What’s the second-best thing to hacking an ATM to spit out cash? Why, hacking into an online database full of delicious credit cards and billing information, of course? Apparently, Steam, a video-game streaming and downloading website run by Valve is a nice target to shoot for. An estimated 35 million Steam accounts have been compromised by hackers, including credit card numbers and billing information.
According to Valve head Gabe Newell, the databases hacked into contained “information including user names, hashed and salted passwords, game purchases, email addresses, billing addresses, and encrypted credit card information.” That sounds pretty bad, doesn’t it? Also, Steam’s forums were defaced in the attack.
It is unknown as to whether or not the encrypted credit card information can be decrypted, or if the passwords have been compromised. Still, experts say the best thing to do is change your password(s) and update your virus scanning software to prevent any kind of installed malware injected into Steam from infecting your machine. Here’s hoping the authorities track down the hackers before anyone’s credit cards get used.
Tags: Steam, Valve, Steam hacking, 35 million Steam accounts compromised, Gabe Newell, credit cards and billing addresses stolen from Steam, Steam hacked, Steam credit card information hacked, online merchant, online store hacked, video games, entertainment, hacking
