Tag: ‘fun’ | SpinSafe

Apex Legends hacker said he hacked tournament games ‘for fun’

March 20, 2024/in Computer Security

On Sunday, the world of video games was shaken by a hacking and cheating scandal.

During a competitive esports tournament of Apex Legends, a free-to-play shooter video game played by hundreds of thousands of players daily, hackers appeared to insert cheats into the games of two well-known streamers — effectively hacking the players midgame.

“Wait, what the fuck? I’m getting hacked, I’m getting hacked bro, I’m getting hacked,” said one of the players allegedly compromised during a live stream of the gameplay.

The incidents forced the organizers of the Apex Legends Global Series tournament, which has a $5 million total prize pool, to postpone the event indefinitely “due to the competitive integrity of this series being compromised.”

As the midgame hacks were underway, the game’s chatbot displayed messages on-screen that appeared to come from the hackers: “Apex hacking global series, by Destroyer2009 &R4andom,” the messages read.

In an interview with TechCrunch, the hacker Destroyer2009 took credit for the hacks, saying that he did it “just for fun,” and with the goal of forcing the Apex Legends’ developers to fix the vulnerability he exploited.

The hacks sent the Apex Legends community into a frenzy, with countless streamers reacting to the incidents, and some players suggesting Apex Legends is not safe to play, because every player could be at risk of getting hacked not only in-game, but potentially having their computers hacked, too.

Destroyer2009 declined to provide details of how he allegedly pulled off hacking the two players midgame, or what specific vulnerabilities he exploited.

“I really don’t want to go into the details until everything is fully patched and everything goes back to normal,” the hacker said. The only thing Destroyer2009 said regarding the technique he used was that the vulnerability “has nothing to do with the server and I’ve never touched anything outside of the Apex process,” and that he did not hack the two players’ computers directly.

The hacks “never went outside of the game,” he said.

Destroyer2009 said he did not report the vulnerability to Respawn, the video game developer that makes Apex Legends,…

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History, Significance, and Fun Ways to Join In- Republic World

December 1, 2023/in Computer Security

Computer Security Day 2023 | Image:shuttershock

As we usher in the digital age, where our lives are intricately woven with technology, the importance of safeguarding our digital assets becomes paramount. National Computer Security Day, observed annually on November 30th, serves as a timely reminder to prioritize our online safety and celebrate the strides made in the realm of computer security.

History of National Computer Security Day

In the early days of computers, people created National Computer Security Day, which happens every November 30th. It started to protect computers and important information from new dangers. Now, it’s a worldwide effort to remind everyone how important it is to learn about cybersecurity and take steps to keep our digital world safe from evolving online risks.

Significance of National Computer Security Day

This day is important because it aims to teach and help people protect their digital lives. As cyber threats grow quickly, National Computer Security Day brings everyone together to fight against online crimes. It tells us to use good habits, keep up with the latest security news, and create a safe online culture.

Why Computer Security is Crucial

In today’s digital age, where we keep and share personal, financial, and private information online, not being careful with computer security can lead to serious problems. Cyberattacks, data leaks, and identity theft are constant dangers that can cause a lot of trouble for people and economies. National Computer Security Day underscores the pivotal role that robust security measures play in mitigating these risks and ensuring a safe digital environment for all.

How to Celebrate National Computer Security Day 2023

1.Update and Upgrade: Ensure that your operating system, antivirus software, and other security applications are up to date. Regular updates often include patches that address vulnerabilities.

2.Password Check : Take a moment to review and make your passwords stronger. Create passwords by combining letters, numbers, and symbols. For added security, use unique passwords for each account.

3.Backup Your Data: Regularly back up your important files and data. Having a backup ensures…

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‘Treat it like China’: How U.S. officials stay safe, and have fun, at the world’s biggest hacking conference

August 12, 2023/in Computer Security

When you spend three days with 30,000 people who love cracking code, you’re always just one errant click away from sheep-dom. In fact, fending off the maze of Wi-Fi sniffers, hardware hackers and social engineers at DEF CON is a little like going toe-to-toe with elite, state-backed cyber spies, according to one senior State Department official.

“Almost treat it like going to China,” said the official, granted anonymity to offer frank and colorful advice to a DEF CON first-timer. “Really treat it like going to a technologically sophisticated peer competitor.”

At this year’s conference, which wraps up Sunday, the Wall of Sheep was located in a dimly lit auditorium off the main conference floor. It included, for the first time ever, a live feed with the location of individuals who were leaking data. As of Friday afternoon, there were at least 2,000 sheep at DEF CON, per the floor-to-ceiling projection. Their personal information was, mercifully, partly blacked out for privacy reasons.

Since the first-ever convention in 1993, DEF CON has brought some of the world’s most talented computer security wizards into the Las Vegas desert to scour software, hardware and networking equipment in search of vulnerabilities.

Operating under the principle that the best way to secure computer code is to expose it, attendees have demonstrated some truly jaw-dropping research over the last three decades. They’ve taken over the controls of cars, tricked ATMs to spew out cash and sent insulin pumps into overdrive, to name a few memorable hacks.

Feats like that have turned the convention into an increasingly common pit stop for top U.S. government officials, dozens of whom are in attendance this year. DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, CISA Director Jen Easterly and Acting National Cyber Director Kemba Walden are all in Las Vegas for DEF CON and Black Hat, its more corporate-friendly counterpart.

But the convention didn’t earn its reputation as “the world’s most hostile network” just because of what happens on the main stage.

“There is a criminal ecosystem out there,” said Marc Rogers, the conference’s head of security. “You probably don’t want to access your…

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