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$1.2 Million Worth of MS Points Taken After Hackers Figure Out Code Algorithm

Posted by Soulskill on from the going-for-the-gusto dept.

The Save and Quit blog reports that a group of hackers figured out the algorithm behind a set of promotional codes that were each redeemable for 160 MS points, the currency used on Xbox Live. Quoting: "A person would just have to sit back and refresh over and over and rack up the 160MSP codes. Not every code would work, but a majority would. The site started to 404 due to the heavy traffic. If you have closer ties to the pirating community, you could find a program to get the codes for you. ... This method took a little more work out of the user, but it was still simple enough for a 12 year old to figure out. ... Microsoft found out about this exploit and put a stop to it immediately, but internet pirates still had enough time to steal $1.2 million worth of Microsoft Points."

5 of 203 comments (clear)

  1. $1.2 million worth of Microsoft Points by elrous0 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wow, that's almost a full tank of gas.

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.
    1. Re:$1.2 million worth of Microsoft Points by semiotec · · Score: 4, Insightful

      In case you've never come across this before, it can also be used to point out when something is ridiculously low or worthless, as I believe is the intention of the original post, that at least in his/her opinions MS points are worthless, specifically that even though they are technically worth $1.2 million, there's very little you can buy with them.

  2. Re:Dumb kids by natehoy · · Score: 4, Funny

    why do you cower behind a chosen underwear based pseudonym? what are you afraid of?

    Perhaps he meant a striped, horse-like animal, and he has a lisp, you insensitive clod.

    --
    "This post contains words, known to the State of California to cause thought. Wash brain thoroughly after reading."
  3. Re:Dumb kids by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    you're an idiot.

    And you have the social graces and sense of humor of a striped, horse like animal with a lisp.

  4. Boggles the mind by TheSpoom · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Why weren't these codes completely random? Why don't they have a database of valid and used codes, where codes only get inserted when they're printed on cards that are then shipped to stores? Perhaps most importantly, why would you EVER have a public web-accessible interface to generate codes on the fly?

    --
    It's better to vote for what you want and not get it than to vote for what you don't want and get it.
    - E. Debs