A group of four hackers have been charged with breaking into the computer networks of Microsoft, Epic Games, Valve, Zombie Studios, and the U.S. Army, and stealing over $100 million in intellectual property.
The intellectual property in question related to Xbox Live, Microsoft’s then unreleased Xbox One console, Gears of War 3, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.
A press release from the U.S. Department of Justice reads: ”Specifically, the data cyber-theft allegedly included source code, technical specifications and related information for Microsoft’s then-unreleased Xbox One gaming console; intellectual property and proprietary data related to Xbox Live, Microsoft’s online multi-player gaming and media-delivery system; Apache helicopter simulator software developed by Zombie Studios for the U.S. Army; a pre-release version of Epic’s video game, “Gears of War 3;” and a pre-release version of Activision’s video game, “Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.” The defendants also allegedly conspired to use, share and sell the stolen information.”
According to the press release, the hackers allegedly gained access to the computer networks of these companies through SQL injection and the use of stolen usernames and passwords of company employees.
