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Gamers use hackers to attack counterparts

A new online security phenomenon is taking place in the online gaming world as the IP addresses of Xbox Live gamers are targeted by hackers.

Malicious hackers are reportedly targeting successful users of the network at the behest of other players as a way of getting back to avenge losing games, according to the BBC.

Data flooding tools that have been employed against websites for years are reportedly being used by the hackers who choose to attack the IP addresses instead of the Xbox network.

"There's been a definite increase in the amount of people talking about and distributing these things over the last three to four weeks," explained Chris Boyd, the director of malware research at Facetime Communications.

"They get your IP address, put it in the booter tool and they attempt to flood the port that uses Xbox traffic," he told the news provider. "Flooding that port prevents any traffic getting out."

Microsoft's Malware Protection Centre recently stated that crooks were increasingly targeting online gamers with malware.

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