'High profile' Microsoft employees' XBL accounts hacked through social engineering

Certain unnamed Microsoft employees have been targeted by Xbox Live hackers, The Verge reports. The exact methodology is unclear (for good reason!) but it involves obtaining the targets' Social Security numbers – which are not used by Xbox Live – and using that information to get information out of another company, which is then used to gain access to the XBL account.

"We are actively working with law enforcement and other affected companies to disable this current method of attack and prevent its further use," a Microsoft rep told The Verge. "Security is of critical importance to us and we are working every day to bring new forms of protection to our members." Especially the members who work there.

Xbox Live hacking of employees is not a new phenomenon. Former XBL director of policy and enforcement Stephen Toulouse found his account hacked in 2011, followed by a number of insulting calls and voicemails from the hacker.