Last November, we learned of a security breach to Steam, Valve’s digital distribution service, where unknown intruders gained access to the service’s forums and database, potentially snagging users’ personal information in the process. Valve subsequently began an investigation into the intrusion, with the hopes of finding out whether any information had indeed been taken.

Now, Valve head honcho Gabe Newell has offered all Steam users an update on the continuing investigation. Newell makes clear to note that there is no known evidence that suggests credit card or billing information has been compromised, nor is there any evidence that information has been taken from the Steam database.

However, he did state that it’s possible that the intruders got their hands on “a copy of a backup file with information about Steam transactions between 2004 and 2008,” within which there were “user names, email addresses, encrypted billing addresses and encrypted credit card information,” but no Steam passwords.

With the investigation still ongoing, Valve has hired outside security investigators and law enforcement authorities to rectify the situation. In the meantime, Newell suggests Steam users keep on their fancy new Steam Guard security tech.

As the advent of online gaming continues to grow, security breaches such as this one have inevitably become more and more frequent. With the SEN and Xbox Live suffering similar hacker activities over the past year, gamers would be wise to continue to stay vigilant and on top of their personal information.

Posted: Feb 12, 2012 1:52 am

Source: http://www.thatvideogameblog.com/2012/02/11/gabe-newell-provides-update-on-steam-security-intrusion/