Microsoft updates Xbox Live users on security issues, encourages password changes

Xbox Live GM Alex Garden updates Xbox 360 owners on security issues.

On Microsoft's official Xbox blog today, Xbox Live general manager Alex Garden detailed the security measures the company has instituted over the past months, writing "our resolve at Microsoft to battle fraud and our commitment to account security is stronger than ever."

The Xbox Live GM issued some common sense security warnings to Xbox 360 owners, encouraging them to update their account details, security proofs and passwords.

Garden writes that Microsoft has taken legal action to pull Live gamertags, usernames and passwords culled from "malware or phishing schemes" offline and "increased notifications to members whose accounts may be compromised." Last year, Microsoft responded to reports that Xbox Live had been "hacked," saying that some members of its online service had been victims of "malicious 'phishing' scams."

"The online safety of Xbox Live members remains of the utmost importance," Microsoft said at the time, "which is why we consistently take measures to protect Xbox Live against ever-changing threats."

Garden said in today's posting that Microsoft is working to "reduce market incentives for criminal activity." He warned sellers and buyers of stolen accounts they could face criminal prosecution and account and console bans.