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Valve admits hackers accessed Steam transaction log

No evidence that credit card numbers were compromised.

Valve has revealed that hackers probably accessed a backup file detailing four years worth of transactions during the recent Steam security breach.

However, speaking in an open letter sent to all Steam users today, Valve boss Gabe Newell reassured customers that it has no evidence to suggest that encrypted credit card numbers or billing addresses were compromised.

That said, he advises anyone with a Steam account to keep an eye on their credit card statements just in case.

Here's the note in full:

"We continue our investigation of last year's intrusion with the help of outside security experts. In my last note about this, I described how intruders had accessed our Steam database but we found no evidence that the intruders took information from that database. That is still the case.

"Recently we learned that it is probable that the intruders obtained a copy of a backup file with information about Steam transactions between 2004 and 2008. This backup file contained user names, email addresses, encrypted billing addresses and encrypted credit card information. It did not include Steam passwords.

"We do not have any evidence that the encrypted credit card numbers or billing addresses have been compromised. However as I said in November it's a good idea to watch your credit card activity and statements. And of course keeping Steam Guard on is a good idea as well.

"We are still investigating and working with law enforcement authorities. Some state laws require a more formal notice of this incident so some of you will get that notice, but we wanted to update everyone with this new information now."