Japanese tech company Nintendo warned Switch owners that the number of accounts accessed is much higher than originally anticipated.
A few months back, legendary video game company Nintendo acknowledged that hackers were trying to make their way into the accounts of Switch users.
An investigation was launched after owners of the hybrid console complained about having their passwords reset without their authorization. There were even some instances of fraudulent purchases being made.
Nintendo initially announced that 160,000 Switch accounts were attacked, but new reports indicate that the number may be closer to 300,000.
Nintendo revealed a major breach in April, saying that "about 160,000 accounts" of #Nintendo Switch users were affected. As it turns out, the actual number was closer to 300,000, Nintendo said this week. https://t.co/lwyTIve0W9#cybersecurity #data #breach #hack #dataprivacy
— CYBRI (@CybriUSA) June 10, 2020
Origins of the Switch hack
Hackers were able to bypass Switch accounts through the use of Nintendo Network IDs, which are usually accessed on the Wii U and 3Ds devices.
Unfortunately for Wii U and 3Ds owners, Nintendo has suspended all logins using the Network ID, though users may still access them via a linked Nintendo account.
Safeguarding your Nintendo Switch online account
While extra security measures are always a good thing for your online account, it’s now especially important given the number of accounts affected by the recent breach.
One of the main things Nintendo recommends doing is setting up the two-factor authorization system for your Switch account. Two-factor authorization works by requiring users to enter both a password and code sent to their mobile phone each time they want to access their account.
That means that even if someone manages to break through a user’s password, they still wouldn’t be able to access the account due to the mobile code requirement. As a bonus, users will have a prompt sent to their mobile device whenever an attempt is made.
Help protect your Nintendo Account by enabling two-factor authentication.
Go here for more details: https://t.co/4CtboIORII— Nintendo of Europe (@NintendoEurope) April 9, 2020
Setting up the two-factor authorization system
Luckily enough, Nintendo has made the process pretty painless. All users have to do is log into their Nintendo account via browser, click on the “Settings” button, then navigate to the “Sign-in and security settings” tab.
From there, users will need to click on the “Edit” button next to the “2-Step Verification settings” header, followed by the “2-step Verification Setup” button.
Account-holders will then be asked to verify their e-mail address through a verification code sent via e-mail. Upon entering the code, users will be required to install the free “Google Authenticator” app on their mobile device.
Remember to change your passwords and follow the advice to secure your account. 🕹#thesundaily #nintendo #nintendoswitch #hack #gaming #gamingnews #malaysia #thesun https://t.co/SxHzDTpj5U
— theSun (@theSundaily) June 10, 2020
Using the app, simply scan the barcode on the browser screen, then hit “ADD ACCOUNT.” Finally, just enter the six-digit code on the authenticator app, and the two-factor authorization system should be all set. Just make sure to save the backup codes in a safe place, just in case.
Users can further safeguard their accounts by regularly changing their passwords and using alphanumeric strings with varying upper and lower-case letters.
Image courtesy Mike Mozart/Flickr