(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Just read the newspaper this morning and found this article in it:


A SCHOOLBOY from Dublin was responsible for the recent attempted hacking into the Microsoft Xbox system, which caused a worldwide alert.

Now, rather than seek punishment for the boy, Microsoft is working with him to develop his talents and channel them into more legitimate avenues.

Millions of computer users were alerted last month after the computer giant discovered one of its most popular games, Modern Warfare 2, had been hacked, leaving users at risk of "phishing", a sophisticated form of identity theft.

Microsoft feared a repeat of a hacking attack against Sony’s Playstation, which resulted in the personal data of 77 million people, including some credit card details, being stolen.

Now the general manager of Microsoft Ireland, Paul Rellis, has revealed that a 14-year-old schoolboy from Tallaght was behind the attempt to hack into its network.

Mr Rellis did not reveal the identity of the schoolboy, but told delegates at Bank of Ireland Business Week, at which he was a keynote speaker yesterday, that the company would be working with the boy, although he did not reveal in what capacity.

However, there was some confusion later as the PR company representing Microsoft, Q4, said that this was not the case.

Mr Rellis spoke about how the Xbox was the company’s most successful commercial product and how a successful hacking attempt could have cost it millions of euro in revenue.

At the end of April, Microsoft even issued a statement warning its millions of Xbox Live users that they could be the victims of "phishing" while playing Modern Warfare 2.


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I live about 20minutes from where this guy lives and i'm amazed on what a boy of that age can do.

Ireland.....FTW!!

MS only did that cause he young and don't need to pay him much if he was older i guess he would be in court. Think he can still be taken to court not sure.
After MS found out how to close that hole.
Does show that anything can be used as a way in and hacking now moved away from passwords. It now more on information to gain details over cracking passwords. Or breaking into the system direct.

As always the end user is the weak link to any network.

Nice i wish i can hack something and get a job with them right after

you see theres a right way and a wrong way to deal with this . and sony f u c ked up by sueing geohotz. after this microsoft got my respect

off topic sorry but your sig is homo

Very lucky kid. On the other hand, what did Sony do to Geohotz?

That's crazy... Some kids these days have some serious talent.