Duration: 1:35

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Raptr, which is a social-networking site for video games, was hacked, and has asked users to change their passwords as soon as possible. For pretty obvious reasons.

. He said:

“We’re very sorry to inform you that some Raptr user data may have been recently compromised in an attack similar to hacking activities that have targeted other high-profile sites and services.”

He didn’t directly link the hack to LizardSquad, or any other ‘hacker’ group, but that could be because this is a very different type of hack. LizardSquad are known for issuing DDoS attacks, which don’t have any way of obtaining sensitive data like passwords, where-as what has happened to Raptr is an actual, for realises, genuine attack.

Fong explained that usernames, full names, email addresses and password hashes may have been accessed, meaning that users with weak passwords are vulnerable to having their accounts hacked. So, the passwords themselves weren’t seen – just the hashes. If you have a password that’s easy to guess, you’re vulnerable. Nice work, idiot.

Though Fong said the potential risk to those using Raptr itself is minimal – because there’s nothing that can really happen outside of being locked out of your account – he has encouraged users to change passwords on other sites, too, if they are the same as those used for their Raptr accounts, and to use “reasonably complex” passwords in the future. Common sense, really, people. Get it together.

What’s especially lucky is that all Raptr Reward Points, which are points earned by participating in the Raptr community in order to purchase various game-related ‘rewards’, have been protected by the ‘redeem’ system’s two-factor authentication, so Raptr users don’t need to worry about that. You’re basically at no loss, there.

If you need to change your Raptr password, you can do it on raptr.com/account.

I’m Alanah, and thanks for watching this episode of Button Bash. Don’t forget you can check us out on Facebook and Twitter to stay involved in the conversation, and you can subscribe to us on YouTube for more videos.