Battle.net stabilizes after DDoS attack, but "Lizard Squad" hackers remain active

A group calling itself "Lizard Squad" launched a series of DDoS attacks against gaming services including Battle.net, Sony Online Entertainment and League of Legends over the weekend, and even used a bomb threat to divert an American Airlines flight carrying SOE President John Smedley.

including Battle.net, Sony Online Entertainment and League of Legends over the weekend, and even used a bomb threat to divert an American Airlines flight carrying SOE President John Smedley. It appears that all is now well with Battle.net, but it sounds like the people behind the attacks aren't done just yet.

Blizzard customer support announced yesterday afternoon that the DDoS attacks that had caused so much trouble appeared to be winding down. "Services appear to be stabilizing. We'll continue to keep an eye out," it tweeted. "Queues should stabilize as more folks log back in."

But while Battle.net was getting back on its feet, the " Lizard Squad" hackers implied earlier today that it had launched a new attack on Xbox Live. "Let's test this new equipment shall we?" it tweeted. "How's Xbox Live doing?" Later, it wrote, "Currently planting flag in XBL's upstream with an AK47 #ISIS #jihad #IS."

— Lizard Squad (@LizardSquad) August 25, 2014 August 25, 2014

The legitimacy of the claims can't be verified, but Smedley suggested that the matter is being taken seriously, tweeting, "Yes. My plane was diverted. Not going to discuss more than that. Justicewill find these guys." But he also cautioned against giving the group more credit than it deserves.

"I wish the national media would stop letting these DDOS trolls occasional use of the ISIS crap be taken seriously," he tweeted. "Seeing news accounts that make it sounds like that's serious. Media please don't get trolled. Those ISIS guys are pure evil and shouldn't be conflated with trolls."