Adam Sessler " I pay for Xbox Live... you don't end you with the PSN debacle"

My excitement for E3 has me going back to visit some of the old podcast that I used to listen to for E3 predictions before I finally had enough BS from the people on them. G4 Feedback and IGN Beyond are the most notable but I refuse to go back to IGN so I checked out Feedback.

Now I am listing and the topic of COD Elite service comes up and as if the gods were trying to tell me to stay away, it happens again someone says something so off the wall stupid that I just want to turn it off and never come back.

What was said at about fourteen minutes was "I pay for Xbox Live and that's why you don't end you with the PSN debacle". I sat in my chair amazed at the level of stupidity of the comment a highly regarded figure in the gaming industry could make. See this is why I stopped listing to certain podcast in the first place. He has ZERO evidence to back his claim and no one calls him out on it.

The funny part is Adam catches himself after using "I" and then uses "you".

Sony made major mistake in security but it had nothing to do with money but more the simple bad coding of the system's security.

So how stupid is this comment you ask. Well G4 probably recorded that episode the same day the news broke that Michael Pachter Live account was hacked. Remember this headline Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Microsoft's Xbox LIVE online gaming network, has had his Xbox LIVE profile hacked.

So what does this mean besides Adam is out of touch with how things actually work. It means that people can say anything they want and get away with it. Accountability is gone in the gaming industry and I am not sure it will return.

Just because you pay money for a service doesn't mean you get more or less security. Anything that is digital or electronic can be hacked not matter what measures are in place, ask you government they know. Google how many company get hacked and lose info in a weekly bases...GO ON I"LL WAIT.

You see companies get hacked all the time.
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What do you make of this and what do you think causes such mindless dribble.
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Listen to him yourself link below
http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed...

[iamnsuperman]

I think he hopes that. The problem with the PSN hack was they had to get outside help. You hope if you pay for Live that these investigations are done quicker because you pay for it (dedicated teams). I agree with you. Everything is hackable. Just look at the Pentagon (regarded as the highest level of security) and one autistic person from the UK got in. If this does happen to live I anticipate a much larger backlash because you pay for it. You assume you get more security for what you pay for and I think this is what Sessler is on about. But what he actually said is wrong. The reason for the PSN hack has nothing to do with money and Live is still likely to be hacked.

Bear in mind that G4TV did an interview with Geohot and were pretty much putting him up on a peddle stool instead of drilling him which what good journalist would do

[zootang]

extremely bad that sony got hacked but...

i think it is a bit foolish to assume that any other computer network is safer than sony (now that the breach is apparently fixed)..

recent hacking episodes (notice most of these events happened this year):

http://gatewaypundit.rightn...

chinese hacking aus government (2011)

http://www.computerworld.co...

mark zuckenberg, head of facebook having his facebook account hacked this year (2011)

http://thenextweb.com/apple...

itunes hacked by rogue apps - be careful what app you install (2011)

http://www.theinquirer.net/...

amazon new cloud service easily hacked (2011)

http://www.zdnet.co.uk/blog...

french government hacked (2011)

http://latimesblogs.latimes...

android phones security risk (2011)

http://www.google.co.uk/sea...

chinese hacking google networks. (In today's news 2011)

http://www.google.co.uk/sea...

sophisticated hacking of lockheed martin (bypassing rsa securid codes).. if lockheed martin securid system isn't safe then pretty much every online system isn't safe.. (happened last weekend 2011)

http://www.google.co.uk/sea...

microsoft servers hacked..

http://www.computerworld.co...

ibm developers website hacked (2011)

http://arstechnica.com/secu...

ebay hacked

http://www.foxnews.com/scit...

and so forth...

[dc1]

Very good +Bub

[jadenkorri]

everyone loves to shaft Sony no matter what and always shoves it in really good, all the while they shine Microsoft's to a shiny sparkle.

[Active Reload]

I don't even know why it's news but you guys keep posting sh*t about it.

[trounbyfire]

What do you mean? explain

[Godmars290]

Because as much as people want to focus on how PSN's security was widely and generally breached to an extent hackers got information you can get from a phonebook, its ignored that on a daily basis XBL accounts are compromised right down to credit card numbers. That the act of paying for XBL does not automatically make it secure.

Don't get me wrong, Sony has taken a bothersome and worrisome amount of time fixing the issue and maybe even alerting people, but XBL is far from invulnerable. Its not likely its going to have as big a debacle, but its not perfect either.

[Captain Tuttle]

I agree that there's no reason to believe that Live is more secure because it's a paid subscription but equating randomly hacked accounts on Live with the massive security failure of PSN is silly. There's just no comparison that a reasonable person could make.

[Statix]

@Captain Tuttle:

Wasn't Microsoft's Hotmail hacked into a couple weeks ago? I didn't see much news or hullabaloo about it, but I noticed that I was forced to change my Hotmail password recently. I would think having a ton of email accounts with all your private messages and information compromised should be a much bigger debacle than a little bit of personal information on your PS3 (bearing in mind that credit card info was never confirmed to have been compromised).

[Redgehammer]

Well, until MS experiences an intrusion on the same scale, and magnitude, as the one that Sony, unfortunately, had to deal with; MS can keep breathing a sigh of relief that it was not the victim. Most of the accounts, on XBL, I have heard of being hacked invariably boiled down to a failure of someone not doing their job. I hope I do not have to experience my precious XBL being hacked, it sounded miserable, and I am glad it is back up for all of you PSN users.

[KingME]

"hackers got information you can get from a phonebook, its ignored that on a daily basis XBL accounts are compromised right down to credit card numbers"

Loss of objectivity detected, reading terminated.

[NeverEnding1989]

Of course Xbox Live is more secure. Being a huge source of revenue for Microsoft means they can put a lot of resources into Xbox Live. Even if Xbox Live was hacked, the issue would be dealt with extremely swiftly. Not because Microsoft wants people to be able to play online, but because that's how they make money.

And people need to stop comparing a network hack to an account hack. Yes, ANY service that requires people making a username and password can be hacked. Live, PSN, Amazon, Ebay, w/e. A network wide hack is a much larger problem and one that, thankfully, hasn't disabled Xbox Live (yet).

[Captain Tuttle]

Personally I think Live is more secure because MS has more experience with security issues than anyone, not because of the fee. They're used to dealing with Windows being a relatively open platform and all of those backwards compatible legacy issues. Live is a closed, uniform system.

[Statix]

Well, Steam is free. I guess I should avoid using that service from this point forward, seeing as how everyone thinks it's non-secure because it's not a pay service.

[ClimateKaren]

Just because you don't have to pay to use the PSN doesn't mean that PSN isn't a huge source of revenue for Sony. They may even be more reliant on that revenue just because of that fact that every user isn't guaranteed subscription revenue.

There is no reason to believe that "Of course Xbox Live is more secure." It just wasn't the target this time.

[NeverEnding1989]

Fred it looks like you missed a bunch of the points we've made, giv'r another read would ya?

[ClimateKaren]

Who is we? You tried to make one point, and it was based on flawed logic. If you want to debate a topic that's great, but don't just say "you don't get it" and walk away. It looks childish, and also makes you look like you don't really have anything to say, and are trying to get a parting shot in to save face. Your logic was:

If a company whose bread and butter is their online service, they would have a more secure network and handle difficulties better than one whose isn't reliant on online sales. I pointed out that Sony's bread and butter is game sales, of which online is a significant portion. They don't make money on consoles like the rest.

Did I miss something? Or was that really just you going for the last word?

[dinkeldinkse]

But Sessler and the rest of G4 has been irrelevent to me since 2008(except for Layla Kaleigh when she was still working there)because of the stupid shit that is said daily.

[Sheikh Yerbouti]

Like EPMD said:

"Nobody's Safe, Chump"

[Tilian]

I thought the exact same thing when Sessler said that (lately he's said a lot of questionable stuff). It's far too simple-minded. As somebody pointed out above, Sony does make a lot of money off PSN. And as OP says, there are many other variables to consider here.

I would expect such statements from IGN or Kotaku people, but not Sessler,

[Nes_Daze]

Sessler is too biased, always has been, I started watching G4 in 06, I stopped like in 2008. Now I just stick to GTTV.

[Goldenarmz]

"Just because you pay money for a service doesn't mean you get more or less security."

LOL.. how old is this guy??? More money, means more money to spend on security. Less money means less money to spend on security. So yes, a paid service does make something more or less secured. Geezus

[Nes_Daze]

Not necessarily, you are ASSUMING a lot when making such a claim. You are assuming that a service that does not require a monthly or yearly payment, will NOT have better security than one that does. That's simply absurd, there are more factors to consider than just price.

[Goldenarmz]

Exactly, so that claim can also be said about the article.

[Fallouts]

Well.... Considering that none of know exactly how tight lives security is, that would mean that you are assuming as well, no?

Maybe he is wrong and more money doesn't mean tighter security but having more money gives you more options for a tighter security, that with the kind of experience ms has with software would at the very least make me "think" they have better security.

[blackburn10]

That's BS. What makes you think Microsoft spends the money you give them on better security? Are you their accountant? Microsoft makes you pay a fee that may not even be relevant to Xbox's Live's security. They could be using the money to build a swimming pool in their CEO's backyards for all you know. This childish idiocy that assumes that because Live is paid for automatically means that it is safer is BS. Sony was 'safe' for five years until the hackers started to form complicated a attacks against them.What makes everyone so sure that if they hit Live with a wrecking ball of an attack it won't crumble? Do you guys have a network security measuring stick or something?

Also G4 and Xplay are irrelevant. They have been for a long time. Their bias nature and idiocy is starting to show as well as their desperation to remain entertaining.I remember Adam saying that he doesn't understand why Sony keep info from the public and it must be because it is a Japanese company. But what about Microsoft and RROD? They kept secrets and pretended that the problem was not as big as people claimed just to protect themselves. Are they a Japanese company? Why didn't they tell the truth? Why didn't they come out and say 'Our system has a 40% fail rate' from the beginning so their fanbase could be 'understanding'?

They are irrelevant. A tired old network struggling to keep afloat.It's painful them especially Kevin and his AOTS cronies try to be funny and entertaining. Losers

[crazyturkey]

Didn't Xboxlive go down for a couple of weeks a few years ago, I think is was for Christmas too. Maybe I'm wrong.

[EdFry]

I'm confused as to what the quote from Adam Sessler actually means, I guess i'll have to listen to the podcast for some context.

[mendicant]

This is one of the worst "articles" I've ever read on N4G and that's saying something.

As much as you haters love to hate on Microsoft, the fact of the matter is PSN is shit, has always been shit and will continue to be shit. MS sucks at hardware and it shows. Software is their strong point.

XBL is better than PSN in every way shape and form. It always has and always will be. Stop with the bs already.

[Nicaragua]

Your opinion would be more relevant if you would quantify "shit".

As it is you just sound like a bit of a ranting tool.

[mendicant]

If I have to define it to you then it's an exercise in futility.

[Nicaragua]

No, its an exercise in intelligent discussion.

Describing something as shit without explanation is childish and has no value. If i take it that you mean PSN had no redeemable features whatsoever then your an imbecile who is incapable of reason or balanced arguments.

All your further comment does it reinforce how irrelevant and biased your original comment is. I wouldnt be surprised if you didnt even know why you think PSN is shit even though you think you know this "fact".

[IHateYouFanboys]

you seem to mistakenly think that having an xbox live ACCOUNT get hacked is the same as the actual NETWORK getting hacked lol.

hacking a single account only requires you to get their email address and password. if you know their password, you can often just get their password by guessing (if you know the person) or by the 'brute force' method. that doesnt mean the NETWORK has been compromised, just that account.

Sonys entire PS network was compromised. a single xbox live account was compromised. HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE difference.

[Pillville]

I can sum up Adam's point:

Sony Dev: "We need a couple million dollars to upgrade the security on our free online service"
Sony Exec: "No"

MS Dev: "We need a couple million dollars to upgrade the security on our online service that makes us a LOT of money"
MS Exec: "Do it"

[edgeofblade]

This is an intelligent post on an moronic post of an intelligent post. Thanks for tipping the scales in favor of intelligence.

[The_Ultimate_Guy]

" Remember this headline Larry Hryb, Director of Programming for Microsoft's Xbox LIVE online gaming network, has had his Xbox LIVE profile hacked. "

This hack occuried through other SOCIAL NETWORKS and was not a hack over XBL. When will people understand this? The hack against Sony was THROUGH THEIR OWN NETWORK. If you have personal info out there on the web, then people can use that to try and hack your XBL account through other social network sources. However the hack that occurred with Larry Hryb XBL account was NOT DONE THROUGH XBL.

[T3MPL3TON]

What you fail to understand is with XBL a few people accounts where hacked.. not the entire service which was then brought to screeching halt.. not to mention your XBL account is tied to your windows account directly, it has the same password and everything emails get hacked everyday.

PSN shouldn't have been hacked plain and simple. XBL hasn't been and I honestly doubt it ever will be.

[edgeofblade]

Are you kidding? XBL is more secure for one reason: It hasn't been hacked like this yet. Well, maybe not a reason, but it should be taken as proof positive that, whether or not money from XBL is reinvested in the service... which it is... XBL is more secure.

Do you really think there aren't more hackers who have targeted Microsoft over the years? How about the linux loving script-kiddies who were raised sucking on the teat of socialism. I know, a gross generalization, but you know they do exist and in larger numbers than you care to admit. If they could, why wouldn't they.

Because they can't.

[darksied]

I've said this before but here goes:

There is a big double standard in the gaming world. It's almost a triple standard, but I think Nintendo and Microsoft are almost the same, so basically a double standard. Here it is: Nintendo and MS can get away with ANYTHING. Sony can get away with NOTHING. And before anything thinks I'm bashing anyone in this article, I'm not, I'm just stating it the way I see it. I have all 3 systems and I play them all (not so much on the Wii though).

It's strange, and laughable at times, but it's true. Whenever MS does something bad or doesn't cater to their core audience like they should, people don't really care. When Nintendo does ANYTHING, people are all over it like they're Apple (seriously, Nintendo has done almost nothing in the last 2 years and they are still there in everyone's mind as the "leader" in the gaming world; is nostalgia really *THAT* strong?). People will bash the ps3 exclusives so bad some times (other times people will be fanboys as well though) even though the other guys don't really have any new ones.

Back on topic ... yeah, I heard him say that on Feedback too, and I'm starting to be more weary of what they say on that podcast. They make jokes about them being in MS's pocket, to give the impression that it's BS and they are in fact impartial. However, I think more and more that they don't even care about the ps3 and only talk about it when: (A) they HAVE to, because the ps3 is in the news alot; (B) they are talking about a ps3 exclusive and can't play an xbox version, or (C) they are going to compare something to the xbox version so they can show the ps3 version is inferior.

You have to wonder when you listen to that ... do some of these people even OWN a ps3? I don't think they all do. Sessler has mentioned many times that that's what why you're paying for xbox live, so you can have more features and security. But that's not really true, is it. People still hack on the 360 (maybe more than the ps3); you still see people cheating, accounts getting hacked. The only reason the 360 hasn't had a big hack like the psn has seen is because no one has targeted them [yet]. Because of this double standard (and you all know it's there; if you read any gaming website, you can see this for yourself), people like MS blindly. I don't know if it's because MS is American, and Sony is Japanese, or what. I like MS myself, but I like Sony too, so I can see when people are being unreasonably hateful towards one of them.

When you see xbox live come down for service because this rash of hacks turns to them, then you will see what you're actually paying for (hint: not for additional security).

[theonlylolking]

I have noticed also that MS and intendo get away with almost anything. The only reason why a few PS3 games like uncharted get recognized or praised is because those games are to good to bash.

I have also noticed that peeps nostalgia is so strong that they are blinded.

[blackburn10]

It is true. People always pretend that it's just fanboys making up stories to defend Sony but we see it all the time. RROD was one of the worst blunders in gaming history. People pretend the the problem with the PS2 was just as bad but it wasn't even close. Microsoft allow their systems out with a console destroying bug. That shows not only their incompetence but their carelessness and eagerness to put aside the customer just to get ahead. This should have literally ruined their rep especially since Microsoft is know for releasing half @$$ed products e.g. Zune, Windows OS. And what happened instead? Everyone forgave them. I didn't even take long. Everyone forgave them while their systems were still breaking. No investigation was launched to find out if Microsoft did it knowingly, no huge settlements, no penalties. In fact everyone admired the way they slithered out of it. They didn't even apologise like Sony did. The gaming industry swept it all under the rug. Sony somehow is unforgivable but Microsoft isn't