If you were gifted with Xbox One or PlayStation 4 under the tree, we feel sorry for you today. Most of the Christmas Day, both Microsoft’s Xbox Live and Sony’s PlayStation Network went offline in the middle of continues distributed DDoS attacks.
Microsoft and Sony used Twitter to admit the issues. Both companies said they are trying to bring back their services ASAP.
No doubt that Microsoft and Sony employees messing up to reinstate services would have chosen the day off, but unluckily, a group of hackers is putting a check on everyone’s holiday.
The troublemaker taking blame for the attack goes by the name Lizard Squad. In the past, they have jammed Sony and Microsoft’s game play services, as well as Blizzard’s online gaming network. Lizard Squad has even threatened to bring down an airliner, a brag that brought in the FBI. They are also linked themselves with the terrorist group known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS).
PlayStation’s PSN status page has gone back to green. Meanwhile, PlayStation’s official Twitter support account has posted this update:
We are aware that some users are reporting issues accessing PSN this morning. Thanks for your patience as we investigate.
— Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) December 25, 2014
Microsoft and Sony have used Twitter to admit the issues. Both companies say they are trying to bring back their services.
We’re aware users are having issues logging into XBL & are actively working to resolve. Please visit https://t.co/99xfLNN0o8 for updates ^JX
— Xbox Support (1-5) (@XboxSupport) December 25, 2014
Update: We are seeing reduced reports of network issues. We’ll continue to monitor – thanks for your patience and happy holidays!
— Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) December 25, 2014
Lizard Squad stated attacks have stopped :
Attacks have stopped
— Lizard Squad (@FUCKCRUCIFIX) December 26, 2014
As Sony and Microsoft’s services experienced issues , but at press time, they were completely offline. Many gamers are unloading on Lizard Squad, while others are simply fed up
Lizard Squad bringing down #Xbox and #PSN networks on Christmas. Demanding retweets to get the systems back online? True losers.
— Joe Hegarty (@NewsProJoe) December 25, 2014
Retweet if you think Lizard Squad are just pathetic little nerds who want attention and can only get it by DDOS’ing and ruining peoples Xmas
— Granty Claus (@GrantyOfficial) December 25, 2014
You can contact Support and Check Status here of Xbox and Sony.
Updated :
Mega formerly Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom persuaded Lizard Squad to stop their attacks on the two gaming services by offering them lifetime premium accounts on Mega. Now both services are recovering.
Asking Mega management to approve 3000 @MegaPrivacy premium vouchers for @LizardMafia if they stop attacking XBOX Live and PSN immediately.
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 26, 2014
Attacks have stopped momentarily, awaiting @KimDotCom‘s response.
— Lizard Squad (@LizardMafia) December 26, 2014
A Christmas Miracle. How @MegaPrivacy saved @Xbox & @PlayStation from the @LizardMafia attack. Enjoy your games! 🙂 pic.twitter.com/qoaZ33eqCi
— Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 26, 2014