Exclusive: Interview with cyber-terrorist group, Lizard Squad - why they brought down XBL and PSN

Infamous self-proclaimed cyber-terrorist group, Lizard Squad, chose December 25, 2014 to take down both Microsoft’s Xbox Live and Sony’s PlayStation Network. The group has been responsible for several past incidents, but today marks the organization’s largest attack. We virtually sat down and spoke to the group about their actions, motives, and the future to come.

[DarkAstronaut]

"The easier game network to take down was Microsoft’s Xbox Live. Sony had apparently upgraded its security recently, which took “a bit of time to work around,” but Microsoft had “almost nothing” in terms of security."

Wow.

[Snookies12]

I thought it was a DDoS attack though... That would have nothing to do with security, as far as I know.

[DarkAstronaut]

I'm not sure, but they're obviously referencing something. Or else they wouldn't have said it. Don't get me wrong, these guys are horrible people. I just found that interesting all things considered.

I don't DDOS servers, I just commented on what was said.

I hope no one screws with ANY network.

[Kayant]

It is. There are just labelling it as such because they know the general public don't know any better.

[Codewow]

That's exactly it. Maybe sony recently purchased a bit more mitigation, but thats all you can do to try to defend against DDoS. DDoS is NOT a hack. It's simply overloading a system so no one else can use said system.

[Maddens Raiders]

Sunnavabitch. You mean we came through one of the fiercest and most memorable console wars in my lifetime (2005 - 2013) just to be take down by these A-holes in /this/ generation, that don't give a rat's ass about gaming? I will do whatever it takes to help Sony and Microsoft eradicate this human scum.

[radler]

There's conflicting information everywhere. As it stands however Xbox Live has been back online all day but PSN remains down. I was under the impression that the attacks had stopped now so why is one network back up and fully functional while the other remains down? LizardSquad attacked both services so it doesn't make sense how one can still be affected, especially when the one still down supposedly had better security?

[christian hour]

I have an immature friend who decided to spend the day DDOS'ing PSN and XBL cos he's an asshole. Chances are he's not the only one who decided to join in on the festivities.

[ltachiUchiha]

If anyone remembers, "Mirc" which is a chatline, they use to have chatrooms with couple hundreds of ppl in the main chats. I helped out a few rooms on efnet where we had scripts that we created to ban users who would try an bring in spam bots by the dozens to take down the channels. Bunch of morons had nothing better to do then try an ruin users chatting. This is basically the same sh*t. Only difference is these are closed servers so it makes it hard to defend because there really arent any users around to stop this kind of thing from happening. This was like 15 years ago. Surprised DDOS Attacks are occurring & taking down even bigger corporations.

[mhunterjr]

Lol you buy that crap? They did the exact same thing to both services.

[DarkAstronaut]

They said it, not me.

[GameDev1]

@DarkAstronaut

Listen to this guy

Not long ago this year, Lizard Squad said PSN was weak, Xbox Live is strong and Sony should have tightened up security thats why they took them down

These Lizard squad do talk a load of crap everytime, none of the networks are weak and every big tech company will have enough security and mitigation for DDos, they cant just totally stop it which is why some people cant get online and some people can

I cant get online on PSN here in Ireland even though mine was up for most of christmas then went down and their DDOs seems to also affected other services on Azure Servers cause the MS online webstore on Win 8 is down (and it is never down), as far as XBL I dont know

I love the way they call them terrorists, lol what a joke

These guys are getting attention for their attention seeking and its sad

[DarkAstronaut]

@GameDev

Got it, I didn't know that.

[christian hour]

@GameDev1

I'm in Ireland too, managed to get on briefly earlier but then, being home for the holidays, I decided to let my sister watch her soaps. The things we sacrifice for family :)

And I can confirm your point about other MS servcices being down due to the attacks, my sister got my mam a nokia windows phone (tesco mobile, ugh) for christmas and she hasn't been able to get on the app store the last two days because of these DDOS attacks.

[GribbleGrunger]

Jesus Christ these clowns are delusional. 'Taking Live and PSN down' makes it sound like they're professional hackers. Anyone can find out how to do a DDos attack. It's got nothing to do with security or hacking.

[Eonjay]

Actually, they didn't take down anything. They are just preventing gamers from accessing the servers by flooding them with requests.

There goal was to hurt gamers, because thats all they are capable of doing. They can't take down a damn thing.

[Illusive_Man]

Wasn't Sonys down longer? Also what does security have to do with DDOS?

[GameDev1]

I dont know was it?

Do you have any data to prove that, cause it seems like services on both are still down for some but up for others

But of course, rather than concentrate on what Lizard squad are doing lets turn this into another console warz

"Also what does security have to do with DDOS"

I...cant...even, look am sure you have google, look up protection against DDos

[CorndogBurglar]

My PSN is still down. I went and picked up Dragon Inquisition so I could play offline.

[christian hour]

@corndogburglar

I bought Dragon Age digitally and I console share. DERP! Been dying to play it while home for the holidays. I'll have to make do with playing my friends games till then, I envy you. You're playing Dragon Age for two now, god speed!

[DJustinUNCHAIND]

Dude, we get it.

You hate Xbox.

[ALLWRONG]

Uh... Xbox Live has been fixed, PSN is still down. PSN has suffered downtime for days, and multiple times this year. One brought PSN 100% down. Live has only experienced downtime the past 24hrs. So I don't get how Live was supposed to be easier when MS gets it fixed faster and has had far less downtime.

http://www.msn.com/en-us/mo...

[Kayant]

Was and is now having issues again - https://support.xbox.com/en...

[MRMagoo123]

You guys must really hate the fact Live isnt as good as you were all hoping it was, every server is just as vulnerable, even battlenet gets taken down often and its far better than anything MS has.

[MrBeatdown]

You continue to live up to your name.

[FanboyKilla]

@astronaut lmfao that makes you feel better? you're sad. probably because psn is still down while xbl is up and running. how the fuc* do you sit down and talk to these guys and their not being arrested? lol bs

[MRMagoo123]

Except its not up and running lol loads of people are still not able to get on, most of MS services are dead at the mo so stop lying.

[CorndogBurglar]

Did you not read the interview? They talked virtually on an encrypted chat. It was impossible to identify them. Read next time and usually your questions will be answered.

[AceBlazer13]

Just saying, one is back up the other is still down. Coming from a big ps fan, it's pissing me off now.

[MRMagoo123]

Live is still down, my son is playing Plants vs zombies online right now on ps4, so which is down and which is up?

[MonsterChef]

What's pissing me off more than anything is the fact that lizard squad is behind this crap again, never did I experience anything like this back on the original Xbox or the psn this isn't making me hate Sony or Microsoft more its making me hate those guys more it shouldn't make u feel the need to rage on your product because if these guys didn't exist we be happy playing on our consoles right now

[Christopher]

***Taking down Microsoft and Sony networks shows the companies’ inability to protect their consumers and instead shows their true vulnerability.***

1. This has nothing to do with protecting consumers. It's a DDoS attack, not a hack into their systems to steal consumer information.

2. This is BS. The only thing they are showing is that DDoS works. We know this. The only thing you do with a DDoS is prevent users from accessing a service. You don't show them that anyone is leaking their data. Every company out there is capable of being attacked via DDoS in a manner like these.

***When asked how long they would continue their series of intermittent attacks, the Lizard Squad stated that they would continue to do it until companies learned from their security issues***

So, forever, since you can mask the source of attacks indefinitely. I mean, honestly, the only thing they have as a solution is to greatly increase latency by requiring a ton of validation checks that do nothing to secure the user, only in determining the source of a connection to their servers.

[Bigpappy]

How could you even believe anything they had to say, whether it be Xbox or PS related?

[elsuperamigo]

Man i can't imagine what would it happens if microsoft went on to releasing an online always console thats like a no no right now,this show us we are not ready for a always online consoles,thank god for ps4 and to you xbox owners should be thankful that Microsoft copied everything sony did whit ps4

[Antifan]

The Lizard squad likes to start fanboy wars. They get a kick out of conflict and suffering of others.

[Relientk77]

Atleast I can play like every game except Destiny lol

I've been playing AC Unity, and Dragon Age Inquistion. They're both awesome!

[GameDev1]

Yeah but its pretty bumming for the people who like online play or want to do so

I have been kept pretty happy as I just properly began playing Killzone SF campaign this Dec and I still have Last of Us DLC, I am not an online gaming guy tbh but its crap I cant get on the PSN store

[Rimeskeem]

So glad I got GTA for Christmas. I'm just playing the story and have no online issues.

[DxTrixterz]

"Lizard Squad explains that the task simply began for the laughs, but evolved into what they say is a real cause. Taking down Microsoft and Sony networks shows the companies’ inability to protect their consumers and instead shows their true vulnerability. Lizard Squad claims that their actions are simple, take down gaming networks for a short while, and forcing companies to upgrade their security as a result".

Seeing what was happening yesterday you must be wondering what the hell are Microsoft and Sony doing with our money. Didn't Sony said back when they announced that PS Plus would be required to play online on PS4 (I'll put a quote here)

"Considering the cost, to try to keep such a service free and consequently lower the quality would be absurd. We decided that if that's the case, then it would be better to receive proper payment and continue to offer a good service."

Offer good service? A service that we could not get on because some bunch of kids hacked or DDoS'ed or whatever they did yesterday. We don't pay you for that. It's about time to invest our money into your service security so this thing won't happen again.

[Genuine-User]

You don't seem to know the particularities of what you are asking for.
Do you know what DDoS does?

[remixx116]

Defending against ddos isn't as simple as most would have you believe, there's another article on it somewhere.

It doesn't really show lack of security , these "vigilantes" claim that what they are doing is for a just cause, but really they're just screwing with us gamers and the companies as well.

They claim to be doing this to show a lack of security and complete greediness in these companies, and to help show people that they need to upgrade their servers...........upgrade them from what, these virgin computer dwelling idiots.

This is flat out stupid and I'm sick of this, plus I doubt MS servers need much more upgrading anyways.

[corroios]

I want to play, lets us play, end all attacks. Go play outside.

[qwerty676]

so they're trying to justify their actions now with a cause lol, makes them feel less guilty i guess.

[KevWriter]

Seriously. Only a fool would believe they are doing this to expose vulnerabilities and protect the consumer. Just look at some of their tweets - they are getting off on pissing off gamers.

[THC CELL]

People are milking this all up. Stop giving them press support us geeks not them

[Father__Merrin]

I'd expect Psn to be taken out, but Xbl oh come on!

[DeadlyOreo]

Haha. Well well well, as it turns out you and your precious Xbox Live are not invincible. Gutted.

[Malacath]

It's a DDoS attack. There is not much either company can do to prevent it.

Lizard squad are lying. They have no cause as they say. They are doing this because they get sadistic pleasure in ruining the Christmases of kids everywhere.

[mt]

I think N4G should ban any related news to hackers/or as they should be called losers. so they get zero attention and that what the losers don't want.

[Kayant]

"Taking down Microsoft and Sony networks shows the companies’ inability to protect their consumers and instead shows their true vulnerability."

Big pile of bullshit it's a shame the general public with believe it though.... You're showing nothing because it's impossible to prevent it and minimising the impact doesn't justify the cost of what's needed.

[CrimzonRazor]

When I click to read full interview it says that the site contains maleware could be nothing but never know. Also they need to stop reporting on these losers they are not hackers doing a DDOS attack is not hacking a 6 year old with some bitcoins could do it.

[Miraak82]

Cause their a bunch of pathetic virgins that have nothing better else to do , every year some dumb group tries to make a name for themselves and fails miserably in the long run and are forgotten at the wayside. Pff all these people trying to make so sort of dumb statement about some dumbsh1t ...... No one cares about your agenda

[ziggurcat]

Their reasoning is BS, and the fact that they did it during x-mas is absolutely deplorable. And giving these idiots any amount of validation by interviewing them is inexcusable.

I can't think of any reason how taking a network down with a DDoS attack means that these companies aren't protecting their consumers.

[Eonjay]

Too True. They acknowledged that Sony recently upgraded their security but they flooded it with request until gamers were left out anyway.

[DemonSlayer420]

These groups are so starved for recognition and attention it's pathetic. I say give it to them. Round them all up, arrest them and publish their identities and addresses, embarrass them and their families and sentence them to jail with a hefty fine. If they do it again and get caught, make the punishment three times worse. Problem solved, these idiots couldn't afford the legal fees nor would they survive long in prison.

[CoTton_MoUtH]

Pretty stupid of them to say they can hack NASDAQ that comment would make them PE#1.

[mopground]

idiot journalist giving them attention

[Simmo3D]

This article is conplete BS in my opinion. FAKE

[NerdStalker]

If this article is for real and they did it for a few laughs well, well see whose laughing when they receive a lengthy jail sentence d!cks.

[Dirtnapstor]

"To prove the networks are vulnerable"? (paraphrased)
BS excuse. Anyone with half a brain already knows web security is ever evolving to stay ahead of the degenerates that do this type of thing because nothing is %100 fool proof. Why attempt to prove anything in this respect.