PC gamers were understandably alarmed when news of a potential Steam hack began circulating in the last few days. A user going by the name Machine1337 claimed to possess account data for over 89 million Steam users, which he purportedly put up for sale for just US$5,000. As one of the largest digital game platforms in the world, such a breach would pose a significant threat to user privacy and security.
The initial reports suggested that the data being sold included personal information such as usernames, passwords, and even banking details. The claims sparked widespread concern among the community, with many fearing that their private information might be at risk.
Fortunately, Valve responded swiftly to quell the growing anxiety. In an official post, the company behind major competitive games like Counter-Strike and DOTA 2 firmly denied the hacking claims. Following a thorough investigation, Valve confirmed that the data being offered for sale by the alleged hacker consisted merely of text messages containing one-time 2FA codes previously used by certain users.
Valve clarified that these codes were in no way linked to Steam accounts, passwords, banking information, or any other personal data. The company emphasised that these one-time codes are only valid for their intended use after they are sent and cannot be used to bypass security systems.
Valve’s prompt response effectively debunked the claims of a massive security breach. As the situation posed no real threat, the company assured Steam users that there was no need to change their passwords or update linked phone numbers. However, Valve did take the opportunity to recommend that users enable Steam Mobile Authenticator for added security.
With the rumours now dispelled, Steam users can breathe a sigh of relief knowing that their accounts remain secure. Valve’s quick action and transparent communication have helped restore confidence in the platform’s safety me
