Hackers can retrieve info on your old Xbox 360 consoles

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In a rather troubling news, zdnet.com is reporting that hackers can retrieve credit card data and other important information from old Microsoft Xbox 360 consoles.

Ashley Podhradsky, Rob D’Ovidio and Cindy Casey of Drexel University together with Pat Engebretson at Dakota State University found a way to do this by purchasing a refurbished Xbox 360 from a Microsoft Xbox 360 a year ago. They were able to gain access to the console’s files and folders and extract the original owner’s credit card information.

Podhradsky said, “Microsoft does a great job of protecting their proprietary information. But they don’t do a great job of protecting the user’s data. A lot of them already know how to do all this. Anyone can freely download a lot of this software, essentially pick up a discarded game console, and have someone’s identity.”

The company needs to verify whether or not all Xbox 360 console hard drives as well as thumb drives that have had profiles transferred onto them, can store the information and why their factory reset option isn’t removing all previous data.

If you’re an owner who wants to sell your old Xbox console, Zdnet.com is recommending you to format the hard disk drive with a powerful software that writes 1s and 0s. Phodrasky says that Darik’s Boot And Nuke tool can get the job done.

Image Source: Wikecheats.gametrailers.com