Updated April 27, 2020, 2:40 p.m.
During the Corona crisis, Nintendo’s switch console was one of the most successful gaming platforms despite the shortage of goods. This is not least thanks to the cuddly life simulation “Animal Crossing: New Horizons”, which millions of players use to create their own digital safe zone and meet with their friends – without doing anything against social distancing. Violating guidelines.
All the more annoying that the manufacturer has now made a colossal security error: Apparently, the gates of the system were wide open, because hackers have gained access to a total of 160,000 user accounts. It has hit both current Nintendo accounts and the older ones Nintendo Network IDs (short: NNIDs). Including the associated nicknames, email addresses and information on gender, region and date of birth. The worst case did not appear: credit card numbers are allegedly not affected. Nevertheless, the attackers are said to have successfully misused multiple accounts for digital purchases.
Old network IDs can also be affected
Nintendo wants to inform the affected customers by email, and the passwords of the corresponding accounts are reset. In addition, each user should check their personal history as quickly as possible so that purchases that they themselves have not made can be canceled in good time.
Caution: Credit card payments from older Nintendo Network IDs that were used on the 3DS and Wii-U systems could also be misused for purchases in the current Nintendo account, according to Nintendo. As a precaution, users should also view their purchasing history, report suspicious transactions and, if necessary, cancel them.
The gaming company also recommends using different passwords for the Nintendo account and NNID and activating the so-called two-factor authentication. The accounts of users who had already done so were not affected. Nintendo said that since April 24, it was no longer possible to log into a connected Nintendo account with the NNIDs. (Tsch)
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