nintendo game

Hackers Target Nintendo, Affecting Accounts of 160,000 Users

After customers reported fraudulent purchases, Nintendo announced that a credential stuffing campaign led to breaches of thousands of accounts.

The accounts of about 160,000 Nintendo users have been affected by hacking attempts, causing the gaming company to disable the ability to log into an account with a Nintendo Network ID.

Nicknames, dates of birth, countries and email addresses were accessed through a breach since the beginning of April, according to The Verge. Some customers reported fraudulent purchases using their account information, which Nintendo says was “obtained illegally by some means other than our service.”

The older Nintendo Networks IDs (NNIDs) were used for 3DC and Wii U devices, whereas newer Nintendo products use a modernized account system. Until Friday, those new accounts could be linked to NNIDs, which increased the landscape for attacks, according to The Verge.

All affected users are being notified via email, and the company is encouraging all users to implement two-factor authentication so that there is less of a chance that a hacker is able to log in to their account using just an email address.

Users are also being warned that if they have used the same password for their NNID and Nintendo account, their ”balance and registered credit card / PayPal may be illegally used at My Nintendo Store or Nintendo eShop.” Nintendo gamers who suspect that their account has been used to make fraudulent purchases should report them to the company so they can be investigated and canceled.

The incident demonstrates how the $100 billion video game industry is a “growing target for cybercriminals,” said Anurag Kahol, the chief technology officer of data protection company Bitglass.

“Personally identifiable information (PII) and financial information are often connected to users’ gaming accounts, which is valuable data that attackers can use to commit financial fraud, identity theft, and trade on dark web marketplaces,” Kahol said. “Popularly, attackers will compromise and steal valid, high ranking gaming accounts and sell them for a generous profit.”

Although it’s not clear how hackers were able to obtain Nintendo account information for the credential stuffing attacks, “this incident still underscores why organizations must have full visibility and control over their data to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive customer information,” Kahol added.

The gaming industry is a huge target of credential stuffing campaigns, said Chris DeRamus, the chief technology officer of DivvyCloud.

“Organizations should also implement [multi-factor authentication] for all users, securely manage service accounts and their corresponding keys, enforce least privileged access, and enforce best practices for the use of audit logs and cloud logging roles,” DeRamus said.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • Smarter Access Starts with Flexibility

    Today’s workplaces are undergoing a rapid evolution, driven by hybrid work models, emerging smart technologies, and flexible work schedules. To keep pace with growing workplace demands, buildings are becoming more dynamic – capable of adapting to how people move, work, and interact in real-time. Read Now

  • Trends Keeping an Eye on Business Decisions

    Today, AI continues to transform the way data is used to make important business decisions. AI and the cloud together are redefining how video surveillance systems are being used to simulate human intelligence by combining data analysis, prediction, and process automation with minimal human intervention. Many organizations are upgrading their surveillance systems to reap the benefits of technologies like AI and cloud applications. Read Now

  • The Future is Happening Outside the Cloud

    For years, the cloud has captivated the physical security industry. And for good reason. Remote access, elastic scalability and simplified maintenance reshaped how we think about deploying and managing systems. But as the number of cameras grows and resolutions push from HD to 4K and beyond, the cloud’s limits are becoming unavoidable. Bandwidth bottlenecks. Latency lags. Rising storage costs. These are not abstract concerns. Read Now

  • Right-Wing Activist Charlie Kirk Dies After Utah Valley University Shooting

    Charlie Kirk, a popular conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, died Wednesday after being shot during an on-campus event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah Read Now

  • The Impact of Convergence Between IT and Physical Security

    For years, the worlds of physical security and information technology (IT) remained separate. While they shared common goals and interests, they often worked in silos. Read Now

New Products

  • Mobile Safe Shield

    Mobile Safe Shield

    SafeWood Designs, Inc., a manufacturer of patented bullet resistant products, is excited to announce the launch of the Mobile Safe Shield. The Mobile Safe Shield is a moveable bullet resistant shield that provides protection in the event of an assailant and supplies cover in the event of an active shooter. With a heavy-duty steel frame, quality castor wheels, and bullet resistant core, the Mobile Safe Shield is a perfect addition to any guard station, security desks, courthouses, police stations, schools, office spaces and more. The Mobile Safe Shield is incredibly customizable. Bullet resistant materials are available in UL 752 Levels 1 through 8 and include glass, white board, tack board, veneer, and plastic laminate. Flexibility in bullet resistant materials allows for the Mobile Safe Shield to blend more with current interior décor for a seamless design aesthetic. Optional custom paint colors are also available for the steel frame.

  • QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC)

    The latest Qualcomm® Vision Intelligence Platform offers next-generation smart camera IoT solutions to improve safety and security across enterprises, cities and spaces. The Vision Intelligence Platform was expanded in March 2022 with the introduction of the QCS7230 System-on-Chip (SoC), which delivers superior artificial intelligence (AI) inferencing at the edge.

  • AC Nio

    AC Nio

    Aiphone, a leading international manufacturer of intercom, access control, and emergency communication products, has introduced the AC Nio, its access control management software, an important addition to its new line of access control solutions.