http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/7094764.stm
Sulake, the owners of Habbo Hotel, a virtual ‘hotel’ popular amongst children and the socially inept, have reported six teenagers suspected of ‘digital theft’ to Dutch police, including one seventeen year old who allegedy stole £2,840 (4,000 Euro) worth of virtual furniture.
Having three younger brothers I know what goes on in Habbo Hotel. The younger two are regularly requesting my parents credit card for ‘Furni’ (Furniture) for their make-believe rooms, and repeating stories of how users ‘hack’ other users (this, I believe, is as simple as guessing the answer to the secret question to a user’s Hotmail account).
Now, ‘Habbo’ (as I believe the kids are calling it these days) is a service primarily aimed at children. Children don’t generally have any money (unless they are famous film-stars, in which case they will probably be blowing their money on drugs and women) and it’s generally left to the parents to hand over hard-earned cash to Sulake, in exchange for virtual furniture (think Yukka plants, thrones and corporate logos in ornate picture frames).
Eighteen months ago, having spent several week’s pocket money (I say ‘pocket money’, but I really mean ’several weeks worth of not asking for anything else’) my youngest brother was, instantly and without warning, banned from Habbo for allegedly ‘hacking’ an account. He very tearfully explained that he had done nothing wrong and that a friend had reported him ‘for a laugh’. After a very strongly worded email to Sulake nothing was resolved.
Whilst, in the instance of a seventeen year old Danish kid stealing £2,840 worth of ‘furni’, I think that action should have been taken, I believe any company that put itself in the position where it is taking real currency, from children none the less, should be improving security and accepting responsibility.
I’ve studied enough Internet security books to know that prevention is the best cure.
