SOURCE: Winbeta
VALVe's STEAM content distribution system has been the target of no small share of bad press since it was created, with complaints ranging from apathetic customer service to the inability to play legitimately purchased games online. Some users have had their accounts locked, deleted, or hijacked - but a hacker known only as "MaddoxX" has just opened a rather sizeable can of worms.

According to a posting made on an anti-STEAM website, MaddoxX has bypassed VALVe's security system and accessed a significant chunk of data, including:
- Screenshots of internal VALVe web pages
- A portion of VALVe's Cafe directory
- Error logs
- Credit card information of customers
- Financial information on VALVe

While only the Cafe owners appear to be in immediate danger, MaddoxX claims to "have shell access everywhere" and has posted a list of login details for accounts on the VALVe servers, and private certificates for "People with a little bit (sic) experience ... create their own 'fake' but working cafe / certificate."

It's not currently known how far-reaching the credit card breach is, but STEAM users who have purchased products online for electronic delivery would do well to keep an eye on their credit card statements for the next while, especially if MaddoxX makes good on a promise to release a "spreadsheet."

STEAM cafe owners worldwide are more than a little upset with the information already leaked. MaddoxX has posted emails received from cafe owners and operators:

Believe me, nobody wants to 'stick it to Valve' more than those currently in the cafe program. We're rubbing pennies together trying to make it from month to month, while Valve is making millions off of us ... All I ask is that you make some effort to edit cafe numerical details from any future release.

Please don't release the CC information, for the sake of the centers who are less informed.

MaddoxX does make one thing quite clear in his electronic manifesto:

If you want me to remove these files you can e-mail me at (address removed) and I prefer you come with something good unless you want me to expose ALL of the customers their information.

It seems that VALVe is being held for ransom. If this is true, VALVe may be in trouble, as California Senate Bill 1386 requires that credit card holders be informed of any breach of their information, and MaddoxX already knows exactly how much money they have available.

News Source: DailyTech