Blizzard being sued over poor Battle.net security

Lawsuit claims Blizzard did not use money earned to protect consumer interests.

Two individuals have filed a class action suit against Blizzard, charging them with asking for unfair fees for authentication of Battle.net accounts and yet being unable to provide proper security.

The duo says Blizzard has more or less forced players to pay for authentication “in order to have even minimal protection for their sensitive personal, private, and financial data.”

“Defendants negligently, deliberately, and/or recklessly fail to ensure that adequate, reasonable procedures safeguard the private information stored on this website,” the complaint reads, mentioning that Battle.net has also suffered countless hacks. “As a result of these acts, the private information of plaintiffs and class members has been compromised and/or stolen since at least 2007.

“Most recently, on or about May 19, 2012, reports proliferated that class members’ Battle.net accounts had suffered a security breach (‘hack’) at the hands of unknown parties (‘hackers’), and on or about August 4, 2012, hackers massively breached Battle.net’s security and acquired the private information of all of defendants’ customers in the United States, as well as the remainder of North America, Latin America, Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia.”

According to the claim, Blizzard charges $6.40 per person, meaning it has garnered $26 million, none of which has been used to prevent hacks.

Blizzard is being charged with “consumer fraud, unjust enrichment, negligence, breach of contract and bailment” all thanks to “security problem, and after-market fix” in its two latest games, StarCraft 2 and Diablo 3.

[GI International]

Battle.netBlizzarddiablo 3pcStarcraft 2