Over the weekend of ‌February 17-18, ‌2024, ‍the servers for Ubisoft’s Rainbow ⁤Six Siege were compromised by‌ hackers, forcing the company to temporarily⁣ shut ​down‌ the game’s online services. The ⁤breach allowed unauthorized access to the in-game store, resulting in the distribution of‍ approximately‍ 2 billion in-game credits to players. The Verge first reported the⁢ incident.

Details of the Breach

The hackers ⁤gained control of administrative areas within the Rainbow Six Siege server infrastructure.This allowed ​them to manipulate ⁣user accounts,​ granting and ‍revoking ⁣access, sending‌ personalized messages, and ⁣distributing in-game⁣ currency. Specifically, approximately 2 billion credits⁢ were distributed to players. ⁤ According to Ubisoft,15,000 credits‌ typically cost $99.99 ⁢USD.‌ Ubisoft’s⁣ official statement details the‍ extent of the⁣ compromise.

The attackers’ ability to manipulate ⁣the system extended to gifting credits and Renown,⁣ another form of in-game currency. ‌This raised ‌concerns about ‍the potential for widespread disruption of the⁣ game’s economy and the integrity of competitive play.

Ubisoft’s Response and ‌Player Impact

Upon discovering the breach,⁤ Ubisoft instantly took the servers offline⁤ to⁤ regain control and investigate the incident. ‍ The⁣ company confirmed that it successfully regained ‍control and brought the servers back ⁢online on February⁣ 18, 2024. Rainbow Six ⁢Siege’s ‌official Twitter ‍account provided updates throughout ⁢the process.

Crucially, Ubisoft⁤ announced that players who received ⁣and used the illicitly distributed⁤ credits ‍would not be penalized. This decision aimed to minimize disruption for the player base and avoid punishing individuals for benefiting from the hackers’ actions.Though, ‌Ubisoft emphasized that​ the inquiry is⁢ ongoing and further actions might ​potentially be taken as needed.

Previous Incidents and Security Concerns

This is not the first time‌ Ubisoft⁤ has ​faced security⁢ challenges. In September ⁢2020, the company experienced⁣ a significant data breach that exposed⁤ the personal data‍ of numerous players. ‌ BleepingComputer reported on the 2020 breach, detailing the types of data compromised.

The frequency of⁢ these ⁢incidents raises questions about the adequacy of ​Ubisoft’s security protocols and the need for increased investment in cybersecurity. ⁤ The gaming industry as​ a whole is⁤ a frequent ​target for hackers,‍ due to ⁤the ‍valuable in-game assets and personal data it holds.