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Security Worries for Online Video Game Companies

By Victoria Hudgins
October 01, 2019

Fortnite video game developer Epic Games Inc. isn't just dodging digital adversaries — now it's been slammed with a class action lawsuit over a data breach. Lawyers said that, while cyberattacks faced by the video industry aren't unique, hackers are incentivized to strike high-profile games and target their in-game assets.

A lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina is based on cybersecurity firm CheckPoint's January announcement that hackers breached Epic Games users' accounts and had access to their passwords, credit and debit card information, and other personally identifiable information.

In the class action suit, Epic Games is accused of failing to provide timely notice of the data breach, not exercising "due care" in the collection, storage and safeguarding of users' information and other accusations. Heidbreder v. Epic Games Inc., 5:2019cv00348.

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