GTA-maker Rockstar Games hacked again but downplays impact

GTA-maker Rockstar Games hacked again but downplays impact14 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on GoogleLiv McMahon,Technology reporterandJoe Tidy,Cyber correspondentGetty ImagesGrand Theft Auto developer Rockstar Games has been targeted for a second time in three years by hackers.The data breach affecting the gaming giant was reported by cybersecurity news outlets on Saturday, after a group of hackers claimed responsibility for the hack.In posts viewed by outlets, the criminals said they gained access to Rockstar servers managed by a third-party cloud provider and would publish stolen material online unless paid a ransom.But Rockstar, confirming the hack to gaming publication Kotaku, downplayed the breach - saying "this has no impact on our organisation or our players"."We can confirm that a limited amount of non-material company information was accessed in connection with a third-party data breach," a Rockstar spokesperson told the outlet.The BBC has approached Rockstar for comment, and has spoken to the hackers responsible for this latest breach, who called themselves ShinyHunters.They are a prolific group of English-speaking cybercriminals, thought to be in their teens, who specialise in data theft and extortion.They previously claimed to be behind a hack targeting gig ticket operator Ticketmaster.The criminals did not tell the BBC how they carried out the Rockstar hack, but confirmed stolen data would be published online as their demands had not been met.Law enforcement advice around the world is not to pay cybercriminal ransoms as it fuels the industry and there is no guarantee hackers will actually delete stolen data.Rockstar/PA WireThe trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI was released early after Rockstar material was hacked in 2023The incident marks the second time the blockbuster game developer has been hacked.In 2023 an 18-year-old British hacker called Arion Kurtaj was given an indefinite hospital order after hacking into the company an...