Activision Blizzard faced a major setback as a prolonged distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attack targeted its servers, disrupting popular games like Diablo IV, World of Warcraft, and Call of Duty. The attack, lasting over 10 hours, hindered gamers’ access and enjoyment, making it almost impossible to play. Although the attack was mitigated late on Sunday, the gaming giant has not yet identified the hacker group responsible, and no one has claimed responsibility. Activision Blizzard, no stranger to cyber threats, had previously confirmed a breach earlier this year, where hackers gained access through a phishing SMS message sent to an employee.
The company’s frequent encounters with DDoS attacks, while not sophisticated, have the potential to temporarily take servers offline by overwhelming them with traffic. The gaming community has criticized the impact on always-online games like Diablo and Overwatch, highlighting issues of internet access inequalities globally and slower loading times during peak network traffic on weekends. The incident follows a pattern, with a DDoS attack last September affecting game accessibility and the launch of Overwatch 2 in October experiencing connectivity issues. The vulnerability of always-online games to cyber threats remains a concern for users, emphasizing the need for robust cybersecurity measures.
In addition to DDoS attacks, the gaming industry faces diverse threats, as evidenced by a recent discovery by cybersecurity firm Cyble. Researchers found a malicious Super Mario game installer spreading the SupremeBot malware, highlighting how threat actors exploit game installers to target a wide user base that generally trusts such software. These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges faced by gaming companies in safeguarding their platforms against various cyber threats, including DDoS attacks and malware distribution.
