Codemasters hack sees customer details leaked

Latest attack is a big 'un, company confesses

Games outfit Codemasters has been hacked for a second time, with details of its many customers leaked out for ne'er-do-wells to enjoy with impunity.

According to a notification e-mailed by the company to its customers today, the attack took place on the 3rd of June. The attackers, Codemasters admits, were able to make off with a vast quantity of personal details from the company's customers.

Among the data downloaded in the attack were names and addresses, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, encrypted passwords, and order histories for users of Codemaster's digital distribution service EStore.

User names, screen names, e-mail addresses, dates of birth, encrypted passwords, newsletter preferences, biographies, site activity details, IP addresses, and Xbox Live GamerTags were also compromised in the attack for members of Codemaster's CodeM service.

The attack would appear to be a follow-up on the minor intrusion the company suffered in May, in which 'some' staff administrative user names were obtained. It's likely that these details were used to launch this most recent attack, although Codemasters has not yet confirmed that to be the case.

"The Codemasters.com website will remain offline for the foreseeable future with all Codemasters.com traffic re-directed to the Codemasters Facebook page instead," a spokesperson has explained. "A new website will launch later in the year.

"Unfortunately, Codemasters is the latest victim in on-going targeted attacks against numerous game companies. We assure you that we are doing everything within our legal means to track down the perpetrators and take action to the full extent of the law."

The company is advising users to change their passwords on services associated with their Codemasters accounts, and to be on high alert for scams via e-mail, post, or telephone as a result of the breach.

The full text of Codemasters' notification can be found over on page 2.