Steam

[Blade]

Alright then. =P

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Valve's online game service Steam hit by hackers
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-15690187

The Steam video game service, used by 35 million people, has been compromised by hackers.

Its owner and operator, Valve, uncovered an intrusion into a user database while investigating a security breach of its discussion forums.

The attackers used login details from the forum hack to access a database that held ID and credit card data.

Valve said that, so far, it had no evidence that credit cards were being misused or Steam accounts abused.

Losing trust
The defacement took place on 6 November and the Steam forums were taken offline when Valve learned of the attack.

At first the firm said the discussion groups were offline for maintenance.

However, a message posted to the front page of the forums by Valve boss Gabe Newell on 10 November has revealed that the sites were shut down because of the defacement.

Valve's investigation of that incident revealed that the "the intrusion goes beyond the Steam forums".

The initial investigation showed that the attackers gained access to a Steam database that held "user names, hashed and salted passwords, game purchases, email addresses, billing addresses and encrypted credit card information".

Valve has not said whether this was the full database of Steam's 35 million active accounts or a subset of that total.

Mr Newell said Valve had no evidence that the encrypted credit card information or personal information on gamers had been taken. However, he added, "we are still investigating".

He said it had only discovered that a few forum accounts had been compromised and used to carry out the defacement.

But Mr Newell added that all forum users will be required to change their passwords when the discussion site re-opens, which the firm is trying to achieve as quickly as possible.

He advised users to change passwords on other accounts if they are the same as the one used for the Steam forums.

"I am truly sorry this happened, and I apologize for the inconvenience," concluded Mr Newell.

Code changes
Steam is a gaming service that lets people buy, download, play and chat about a huge variety of games, only some of which are made by Valve itself.

About 1,500 titles are currently available on Steam including Skyrim, LA Noire and Modern Warfare 3 as well as many independent and free games.

Security expert Paul Ducklin, writing on the blog of security firm Sophos, handed down advice about what to do following the breach.

He said users should change passwords, monitor credit card statements, consider removing card numbers from Valve's servers and sign up for the Steam Guard security service.

He also urged users to insist businesses take steps to make it much harder for hackers to penetrate their systems and use stolen data.

"Community pressure has persuaded many businesses to improve their password-handling code," he said.

[Canama]

I heard about that when it was first posted on the tenth... The forums were down, replaced with a message from Gabe.

Hopefully nothing too bad will come out of it, at least they bothered to encrypt passwords and credit card numbers, unlike, say, Sony.

-Canama

[KnownandUnknown]

I guess I'll join the Steam group then. (User in sig)

[Canama]

OH MY GOD

Valve is doing this Steam thing for the holidays, okay?

So, by accomplishing tasks, you can win entries in a raffle, coupons, or even free games! (I now have a copy of Half-Life I'm going to trade for something else. Don't know what though.)

The raffle prizes?

3rd Prize: The Valve Complete Pack
2nd Prize: Top 5 items on your Steam wishlist
1st Prize: Top 10 items on your Steam wishlist

Okay, now for the ridiculous one:

GRAND PRIZE: Every game on Steam. No, I am not making this up.

wow

So even if you aren't going for the raffle, at least click the link. You could still get a free game!

-Canama

[The Truth]

Just bought Portal 2. (And I think you need to have bought at least one game to participate in this event?)

[Canama]

I'm not sure if that's the case.

-Canama

[Blade]

I hope you don't; I want to participate in this with only Portal and maybe TF2. When's the thing end? And how do you enter, with achievements?

[MsRowdyRedhead]

SALE
http://store.steampowered.com/app/620/

[mtmerrick]

Already called it out in my blog.

Seriously tho, buy it. Its a great game

[Darth Rexus]

I'd buy it if it wasn't such a huge download.

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Already called it out in my blog.

Seriously tho, buy it. Its a great game

Saw that, but not everyone reads the blogs...

[The Truth]

The Portal 2 Level Editor is out!

[Flipz]

The Portal 2 Level Editor is out!

I've been waiting for this for so long! :cheer:

Soon, you will all behold the WONDERS OF MY SHEER MADNESS!! MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

BTW, does anyone know a way to modify the recordings and placements of the narration bubbles in the Commentary mode of Portal and Portal 2?  I keep thinking that it would be an AMAZING way to do a Let's Play--you're not just watching someone play the game, you're experiencing it with them.  Add to this the Portal 2 commentary nodes' ability to temporarily take control of the game, and, well... :drool:

[MsRowdyRedhead]

Valve is starting it's "Steam Summer Sales" finally; http://store.steampowered.com/

[Blade]

If anyone wants to quickly reply about this, can you change your connection settings(Like what rate it goes at) later on, for the Steam client, after it's full installed? Or is it a one-time thing? I'm not entirely certain of the best setting for me. =/

[mtmerrick]

what connection settings do you mean?

[Blade]

The connection speed.

[mtmerrick]

i'd be shocked if you COULDN'T"T change that.

[Blade]

I can change it now; I just don't know if it's a setting to edit, though as you say, it's one you'd think is obvious to be able to edit after the initial set-up.