Illicit XBL access via Xbox.com "industry-wide issue"

Microsoft has responded to yesterday's report which claimed the rash of compromised Xbox Live accounts lately were due to “brute force” unauthorized access through legitimate channels. In a statement provided to IGN, the firm said there wasn't any "loophole" allowing the invasions, as the method of attack is "an industry-wide issue." Microsoft also noted, once again, many accounts are compromised due to malware and phishing scams used to glean user passwords. "Online fraud and identity theft are industry-wide problems, and as such people using any online services should set strong passwords, not share those passwords across multiple services and refrain from sharing any personal details that could leave them vulnerable," read the statement. "As always, we highly recommend our members follow the Xbox Live Account Security guidance provided [here] to protect your account."

The firm contends there hasn't been a security breach within the XBL service.