Second Life banks hacked in virtual crime wave

By Eric Reuters

Last weekend saw a coordinated series of Second Life bank heists netting hackers L$3.2 million (US$11,500), news first broken by Nobody Fugazi of Your2ndPlace.com. Early reports suggest the banks were all using copies of the same software to manage their deposits.

“From what I gather from my scripter it was ATM coding that didn’t check for money in people’s accounts before allowing the withdraw,” said avatar Barton Giovinazzo of Giovinazzo Choice Investments, one of at least five virtual banks hit by thieves, in an instant message to Reuters.

Other unsuccessful attempts were also made. “Our sites were under sustained attack … 579 attempts from an IP address in Austin,” said Mike Lorrey (Second Life: Intlibber Brautigan). Lorrey’s bank, BNT Holdings, fended off the attack with its assets intact. Asked about the impact of the thefts on an in-world financials industry already roiled by high-profile defaults, Corey said “I think it will amp up security for those that survive this.”