Steamed Hams: Gabe Newell Updates Community on 2011 Hack

By Brian P Rubin | 13 February 2012 | 10 Comments

Late last week, Team Steam Supreme Gabe Newell wrote up an announcement regarding last year’s hack, explaining that hackers with malicious intent had obtained a file with sensitive user information:

“Recently we learned that it is probable that the intruders obtained a copy of a backup file with information about Steam transactions between 2004 and 2008. This backup file contained user names, email addresses, encrypted billing addresses and encrypted credit card information. It did not include Steam passwords.

“We do not have any evidence that the encrypted credit card numbers or billing addresses have been compromised. However as I said in November it’s a good idea to watch your credit card activity and statements. And of course keeping Steam Guard on is a good idea as well.”

Valve is working with “outside security experts” as well as “law enforcement authorities” on the hacks, which occurred on November 6 of last year.

Anyone out there suffer ill-effects of this security breach? Do you still love Valve more than Microsoft or Sony?

Would someone please bring me a hamburger, or, as they say in Albany, a steamed ham?

10 Comments

Posted by fdrph on 13 February 12 at 1:29pm

Do you still love Valve more than Microsoft or Sony?

Nice try, console fags.
- Posted by kk on 13 February 12 at 8:58pm
  
  kk.
Posted by Scorch1138 on 13 February 12 at 2:02pm

*Engineer Stretches Neck* “Nope”
Posted by JohnStephen on 13 February 12 at 2:24pm

The smug bastards who started using steam in 2009…
Posted by L.R. (Screamoluvr) on 13 February 12 at 3:26pm

I’ll continue to love valve until Gabe goes crazy and starts making robots that kill people with crobars.
Posted by Zhlops on 13 February 12 at 9:29pm

First – as I know credit cards are valid for three years, so if lasts credit card info that was stolen was in 2008 then they are already expired. Yes I know you can have same credit card number for new one, but you have to provide expiration date too and SCV which is different.
Second – as I understand Steam users who use PayPal to buy they games don’t give a poop about this, cuz they credit card info is stored in PayPal and not in Steam, PayPal just sends data that purchase is OK and that’s all.
Anyway, if I am mistaken, please elaborate.
- Posted by Mugenite on 14 February 12 at 6:37am
  
  People are just afraid that what happened to Sony is happening to Valve. :/
  - Posted by Larszoom on 14 February 12 at 12:47pm
    
    Well, it is not really a big problem, because the data is still encryptet, so there is no reason to be afraid at the moment.
    
    Valve will always be the best game company… Although waiting for something half life is pretty tiring :D
Posted by i am me on 14 February 12 at 6:47am

i am me not you
Posted by TheAnswer on 25 February 12 at 3:10pm

I could not be any more impressed by Valve. They come straight out and tell it how it is. Microsoft is still trying to cover up their security breach. Listen to Brian Redban talk on Joe Rogan’s podcast about how he was charged 100+ dollars, yet Microsoft still hasn’t owned up to it.