TECH NEWS – Despite recent rumors of a massive data leak potentially affecting up to 89 million users, Valve has officially confirmed that there was no breach of the Steam platform — and no need to panic.

Alarming headlines spread quickly this week after a hacker using the alias Machine1337 (or EnergyWeapon) began advertising the sale of stolen Steam user data on the dark web for $5,000. But according to Valve, there’s no need to worry — the company has confirmed that Steam’s systems remain uncompromised and users do not need to change their passwords.

“We’ve examined the leaked sample and determined this was NOT a Steam systems breach,” Valve stated. The leak reportedly consisted of outdated SMS messages containing one-time login codes that were only valid for 15 minutes, along with the phone numbers they were sent to. Crucially, these codes were not linked to any Steam accounts, passwords, payment information, or other sensitive data, and cannot be used to access accounts.

Steam Mobile Authenticator Still the Best Line of Defense

Valve explained that the source of the leak is still under investigation and may be tied to the fact that SMS messages travel unencrypted across multiple service providers, making them vulnerable in transit. However, these messages alone pose no threat to user accounts. Steam’s systems require additional confirmation steps — including email or secure Steam message verification — for any critical account changes like resetting passwords or changing emails.

Valve reassured users that there is no need to change their passwords or phone numbers as a result of this incident. Instead, the company took the opportunity to remind users to stay alert to any account-related messages they didn’t explicitly request, and to double-check their security settings. They also urged users to enable the Steam Mobile Authenticator, which provides the most secure way to receive account alerts and protect login activity.

So while rumors of a major Steam leak caused a stir, the truth is far more mundane. If Gabe Newell and company say the system’s safe, it’s probably safe — at least for now.

Source: WCCFTech, Steam