How long can you keep the news of a data breach suppressed, in this day and age of hyper-connectivity? More than two months, prove American video game publisher Activision. The company also serves as the publishing business for its parent company, Activision Blizzard, and consists of several subsidiary studios.
On December 4, 2022, Activision, one of the world’s largest video game publishers, experienced a major security breach. The company, responsible for blockbuster franchises like Call of Duty and World of Warcraft, is yet to confirm the incident.
However, it is being speculated that a privileged user on the company’s network fell victim to a phishing attack, allowing the attackers to exfiltrate sensitive documents and upcoming content dating to November 17th, 2023.
The Cyber Express has contacted Activision but is yet to receive a response from them.
The fact that such a significant breach occurred is troubling, but what’s even more concerning is that Activision didn’t disclose the breach to anyone.
Despite being responsible for informing customers and stakeholders of the breach, the company chose to remain silent, leaving its users in the dark about the safety of their personal information.
The breach has reportedly leaked the roadmaps for Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2 and more information. It’s also worth noting that the threat actors responsible for the breach attempted to phish other employees. Fortunately, those attempts were unsuccessful.
However, the targeted employees didn’t report the incident to Activision’s Information Security Team. This failure to report could have contributed to the larger breach.
Activision data breach: Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2 roadmaps leaked!
.@Activision was breached December 4th, 2022. The Threat Actors successfully phished a privileged user on the network. They exfiltrated sensitive work place documents as well as scheduled to be released content dating to November 17th, 2023.
Activision did not tell anyone. pic.twitter.com/urD64iIlC5
— vx-underground (@vxunderground) February 20, 2023
The two Activision video games, Warzone 2 and Modern Warfare 2 Season 2 are slated to release the most prominent content drop.
Players have been looking forward to the official release. Warzone 2 is reported to have a new Ashika Island Resurgence map and new gameplay improvements, while Modern Warfare 2 is expected to have Ranked Play and other interesting in-game content.
However, the Activision data breach leaked the content from Season 2 Reloaded and Season 3, including some exclusive content — new roadmaps for both games.
Vx-underground, the first website that shared the news of the leaked documents, claimed that Activision was hacked in December 2022. The threat actor had access to the internal document for the games and other company data.
Activision data breach: Why gaming data is being misused?
Vvx-underground again reported a breach on 20 February. However, Activation is yet to reply to the company’s claims.
The rise of hackers targeting gaming companies has increased drastically, and there have been many instances in the last two years. The global gaming industry was valued at US$ 202.7 Billion in 2022, as per a report by IMARC Group. This makes gaming companies a prime target for hackers.
The breach of Activision’s network highlights the importance of cybersecurity and the need for companies to be transparent about security incidents.
In today’s world, cyber-attacks are becoming increasingly sophisticated, and organizations need to take a proactive approach to ensure the safety of their networks and user data.
This includes training employees to recognize and report phishing attempts, regularly updating security protocols, and maintaining an open and transparent relationship with customers.
Activision, data breach, and the aftermath
Unfortunately, the failure to report the breach and the decision to keep it quiet could have severe consequences for Activision. The lack of transparency could erode trust in the company, resulting in a loss of customers and damage to its reputation.
Additionally, Activision may face legal consequences if any user data is compromised.
In conclusion, the breach of Activision’s network is a reminder of the importance of cybersecurity and transparency in today’s digital age.
Companies must proactively protect their networks and user data from sophisticated attacks. It’s important for organizations to not only implement security measures but also educate employees about the risks of cyber attacks and how to recognize and report them.
Furthermore, companies should prioritize transparency and communication with their customers and stakeholders in case of a breach. This builds trust, mitigates damage, and reduces the risk of further harm.
Ultimately, cybersecurity is an ongoing process, and companies need to stay vigilant, adapt to new threats, and prioritize the safety of their networks and user data.