1070°

5-year-old Ocean Beach boy exposes Microsoft Xbox vulnerability

A five-year-old boy who worked out a security vulnerability on Microsoft's Xbox Live service has been officially thanked by the company.

joeyisback3690d ago Show
windblowsagain3690d ago

Wow that's a very basic error.

But it's not a backdoor.

A backdoor is something put in by programmers, so they can access security that's been added on later.

That's more like a complete screwup.

ASTS_19923690d ago ShowReplies(2)
Ratty3690d ago

Exactly. The kid's pretty good too. I guess his young age enables him to think outside the box but he does seem to be a natural when it comes to security... according to his father at least.

frostypants3690d ago

My guess is he did it by accident...but it's still very impressive that he realized what he had done and kept doing it whenever he wanted to play those games. Too bad the poor kid got caught...the recognition comes with the fact that he can't pull this stunt anymore...LOL. Hopefully dad gives him some gaming time as a reward.

Ritsujun3689d ago

Don't give up, MS!!!!!!!!!

3-4-53690d ago

Crazed-^ that made me laugh harder than it should lol

Sheikh Yerbouti3689d ago

"M-M-Morpheus..." Thinking of Keanu's lines in Matrix tickles my inner giggle.

fr0sty3690d ago

Brief off topic rant: Alright N4G, the ads with sound that play automatically, and re-enable their sound as soon as the next ad rolls... That's some bullshit right there. This isn't examiner. If you have to blast loud commercials through my speakers every time I come here, I may have to stop coming here.

On topic: Microsoft... security... are any of us surprised a 5 year old cracked it?

air13690d ago

Umm... surprised? A little.. now if it was sony then it would have been no surprise at all.

LexHazard793690d ago

Yes, I am surprised! You act as if it gets hacked all the time or something!

fr0sty3690d ago

You guys act like Microsoft has a long history of secure operating systems that don't require constant patching to fix massive security vulnerabilities...

ITPython3690d ago (Edited 3690d ago )

@fr0sty - Wow, people still deal with ads on the net? Firefox + ABP with EasyList filters + NoScript = ad free internet.

Heck, even with ABP disabled I still see no ads on N4G thanks to NoScript.

You need to get with the times man, and I sure HOPE you still aren't using IE, lol.

OT: Pretty cool this kid figured this out, although I am surprised he gave up his secret! When I figured stuff like this out as a kid I kept it to myself so I could enjoy it!

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3690d ago
ITPython3690d ago

This is an interesting security flaw, I wonder if all it takes to get into somebody's account now is to know their email address used for that account, then use the same process this kid did.

Would be funny if this guys account gets 'hacked' since it clearly shows his accounts email address in the pictures, lol.

Back-to-Back3690d ago

Gotta love the terrible programmers at Microsoft. They offered me a job last summer and lucky for me I was able to turn it down because I got a better offer from another famous company.

Eddie201013690d ago

Microsoft often say after all we are a software company at the end of every sentence has made a boo boo in there software that was meant to keep someone from accessing an account, it was broken by a five year old child, very simply I might add.

The little boy is cute and very smart, but should this be taken as a ahh moment.

mrmarx3689d ago

gov spying you want links?

+ Show (5) more repliesLast reply 3689d ago
barb_wire3690d ago

Nice they gave him some games and 1yr Live.. but considering the size of a security hole he exposed.. they were a little cheap.

vallencer3690d ago

They didn't have to give him anything. That's what's wrong with people now a days. You'll get rewarded for doing something or finding something that isn't supposed to be there but the rewards aren't enough. Everyone always wants more.

adorie3690d ago

He didn't have to tell them a damned thing either.

It goes both ways,and before you try to play the "some one else would have came along" card, they didn't.

frostypants3690d ago (Edited 3690d ago )

Some people would have been tempted to leak this tidbit on a hacker forum and watch the chaos unfold. A reward is justified. That said, I think what they got is fair...though a small "scholarship" for the kid's future education would have been a nice touch.

nix3690d ago

it's like a kid returning your wallet which you lost because the wallet had your address in it. you gift him something (as a token of appreciation) because he valued the content in your wallet.

the kid could have just taken the money off the wallet and bought something for himself. why should he be bothered about your papers/money/id cards in your wallet?

you can evaluate the situation and have an option of saying just "thanks" or give him something.

Retroman3690d ago (Edited 3690d ago )

50.00 and year subscription not bad for child curiosity.

but cracking security for cell phone by holding "Home" is special at age of 1

Sheikh Yerbouti3689d ago (Edited 3689d ago )

The pride he gave his father is priceless though...and I'm sure his father had something to do with MS being informed and the story getting out, good way to get his security company's name out too.

Me? I just wouldn't let the lil' prick play my XBox anymore and be done with.

+ Show (2) more repliesLast reply 3689d ago
ZombieDust3690d ago (Edited 3690d ago )

Didnt have to give him a damn thing... And assuming the 4 games he got were full price games, he got $350 in gifts, that's pretty generous.

Cathyvon3690d ago

Exactly! It actually was a little more than that but you are right!

ZombieDust3690d ago

Lol self entitled children are quick to hit that dislike button... I only say this because I am truely curious as to why you disagree and how you became a self entitled brat...

OhMyGandhi3690d ago

Hell, I figured Microsoft would throw in a five dollar coupon to Subway, not 350 dollar prize...

raWfodog3690d ago ShowReplies(3)
grailly3690d ago

The security hole isn't that big...It's just logging into a local account, basically logging into the account of someone in your family.

It could be a problem in case of stolen or sold xboxs I guess...

Belasco3690d ago

And what would you suggest he receive? A scholarship? A million dollars? A new car?

DFogz3690d ago

A small scholarship fund would have been nice.

A lot better than giving a 5-year old a bunch of games when his dad was trying to get him to stop playing them in the first place.

Sheikh Yerbouti3689d ago

I think four games and free XBL for a year is plenty for a five year old. Plus it is a good start for he resume...

March 2014 - April 2004 Independent security consultant for Microsoft's XBox Live.

Aug 2014 - June 2015 Kindergarten.

aragon3690d ago

i agree he shoula got a console and accessories and a year of live and xbox music

maddskull3690d ago

It's xbox live support so I think that it is a miracle they gave him something

air13690d ago

They gave him $300 in games and live and through in another 50. How much more they should have given the 5 yr old?

TheSaint3689d ago

'cheap' and 'MS' are synonymous.

+ Show (8) more repliesLast reply 3689d ago
ShowGun9013690d ago Show
MASTER_RAIDEN3690d ago

this is why i choose to pay for xbox liv----

dammit.

Show all comments (89)
80°

Microsoft Opening Xbox Mobile Game Store in July

The Xbox brand is expanding, as an Xbox mobile game store is opening this coming July where Microsoft will brings its "first-party portfolio."

Jin_Sakai1d 10h ago (Edited 1d 10h ago )

“Bond adds that they will start on the web”

This will go nowhere.

Nice knowing you Xbox. This is what happens when the house never gets cleaned.

MrDead1d 10h ago

The only this MS is expanding is the amount of feculence it sprays on everyone who just want to enjoy gaming and make games.

The best thing MS can do for the gaming industry is leave and never return.

XiNatsuDragnel1d 8h ago

Good luck with this even it might not succeed.

Show all comments (7)
210°

Microsoft once tried to nab LittleBigPlanet from Sony after a few drinks

It turns out that many moons ago, Microsoft once had its eye on the Sony published LittleBigPlanet series.

Read Full Story >>
eurogamer.net
XiNatsuDragnel2d ago

Microsoft had a good idea but fumbled it again.

Cacabunga22h ago(Edited 22h ago)

Project Spark idea was decent but they quickly gave up ..
LBP was wonderful

ApocalypseShadow1d 16h ago

Microsoft in a nutshell. Always tried to poach Sony employees, games, 3rd party games and devices like the depth camera that was turned into Kinect but was running on PS2 before Xbox 360. Wouldn't be surprised they wanted LBP. Just like they worked behind the scenes pushing the MLB to bring Sony's baseball game to Xbox instead of making their own.
https://www.playstationlife...

They didn't spend years trying to develop their own baseball game. They wanted Sony's game.

They're scum.

Zachmo18220h ago

Microsoft didn't force MLB on Xbox. MLB gave Sony 2 options either go multiplat or risk losing the license.

Rynxie11h ago

And why do you think MLB said that? I believe Ms approached MLB.

ApocalypseShadow10h ago(Edited 10h ago)

Totally ridiculous comment.

The only exclusivity Sony had was to their own creation of The Show. Microsoft could have paid the MLB for the license just like Sony did and made their own baseball game.

Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox. They're worth 3 TRILLION dollars. You think that's not enough money to make their own baseball game? Don't be delusional.

Microsoft spun it like they always do and told the media that they had to trust Sony with their hardware. After they put Sony in that position of not having a choice. Either go multiplatform or stop making one of their successful games. That's a no win scenario.

And what did Microsoft do? They didn't try to sell the game to the Xbox community. They put it on game pass to hurt Sony. Pushing the idea of why buy games that are $70 when you can play them in their cheap service for $10. It was a dirty tactic.

You fell for the Kool aid drink Microsoft served you instead of spitting it out. Hope it tasted good because you were fooled by Phil and the gang.

5h ago
Hereandthere2h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Bond revealed that MLB The Show “always came up” in conversations between Microsoft and the Major League Baseball organization. “We always said, ‘We love this game. It would be a huge opportunity to bring it to Xbox.'” she recalled. However, when Microsoft’s efforts materialized, it put the company in an awkward situation where it had to send in pre-release consoles to a rival company.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 2h ago
Notellin7h ago

"Microsoft instead, groomed MLB for years in trying to poach Sony's game and bring it to Xbox."

Take a nap, conspiracies are rotting your brain.

5h ago
Hereandthere2h ago

Xbox executive Sara Bond has told Axios that Microsoft spent a number of years trying to get MLB The Show onto Xbox consoles. And when it finally succeeded in breaking off PlayStation’s long-held exclusivity, the company had to “trust” Sony with pre-release Xbox Series X/S consoles.

Hereandthere2h ago

They were too cheap/inept/lazy to develop their own mlb game, so they port begged for years and bribed the mlb to make the show multiplatform. Like i said many times, xbox brought nothing to the table their 24 years, ZERO.

OtterX23h ago

"However, Healey said Media Molecule wouldn't have felt right doing that, adding it would have been "morally corrupt"."

Major kudos to Media Molecule for being an upright studio with principles.

RNTody23h ago(Edited 23h ago)

Great, more stories like this please. Show the last of the zombies holding the line what we've been saying for years: Microsoft is anti competition, anti industry and has no interest in making games at all.

But hey, at least there's an Xbox Games Showcase to look forward to, right?

Inverno22h ago

Well considering SONY just killed the series, LBP would've been dead by now either way. Though MM probably wouldn't exist by now either, so I'm glad they stayed with SONY, hopefully they don't get shut down any time soon or ever honestly.

Inverno20h ago

They shut down the servers, that's millions of user created levels gone. That and dead are pretty much the same, it's also been years since 3 and they cancelled HUB soooo.

5h ago
fsfsxii7h ago

They shutdown the servers because no one was playing, no one in the community cared about the user created levels so why keep them up? Wtf you guys would never succeed in running a business.

Inverno6h ago

Yea dood no one was playing so they shut off the servers. Cause people with enough common sense can't just Google why they were actually shut of, right?

Show all comments (26)
60°

Game Studio Closures, Entertainment News, Disney, And More Skewedcast

The full Skewedcast crew back for this episode and Gareth, Justin, Michael, and JoeyZ at Skewed and Reviewed break down the latest entertainment news qith a focus at 40:00 on the Microsoft Studio Closures and how it impacts the game community and what can be done to help offset this negative trend.