While the world is practicing social distancing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19), it seems that online services and gaming consoles are the only things keeping most of these people preoccupied. AMD has just recently announced that a hacker was able to obtain source files for a portion of its current and future GPUs that include details about the Xbox Series X!
Xbox Series X Hacker
How is AMD facing the matter?
According to an AMD spokesperson, "In December 2019, we were contacted by someone who claimed to have test files related to a subset of our current and future graphics products, some of which were recently posted online, but have since been taken down."
Multiple takedown notices were filed from AMD to Microsoft-owned GitHub, which is the platform wherein the repositories were hosting the hacker-stolen Navi GPU source code. According to TorrentFreak, the code which was hacked included primary details for AMD's Navi 10, Navi 21, and also their Arden GPUs.
According to the GitHub takedown notice, it included pieces of intellectual property that were stolen from AMD itself! AMD's Arden GPU is believed to be the very codename for what is used in Microsoft's own next-gen Xbox Series X console. There were pieces of details previously leaked last December about the Arden that were related to the test files posted on Githhub.
The hacker's response to the matter
According to the alleged hacker, they might "just leak everything" if they won't be able to find a buyer for this type of information, which was a claim given in an interview with TorrentFreak. Clarifications as to whether or not the source code is partial or if it will impact the very security of AMD's future GPUs is not yet clear.
In hopes of turning profit, the code might be sold to competitors or anyone in need of this code, but should the hackers not be able to find a buyer, and they might just leak the stolen Xbox Series X source code to the public without worrying about profit anymore.
Now that things have evolved, source codes are powerful pieces of information used to program many different things, including consoles like the Xbox Series X itself! This piece of information may be very important to the company.
AMD's concern over the matter
AMD does not appear overly concerned about the matter, although this is a huge security breach to their production of the Xbox Series X. According to AMD, "While we are aware the perpetrator has additional files that have not been made public, we believe the stolen graphics IP is not core to the competitiveness or security of our graphics products."
AMD followed the statement by saying they are still not sure as to whether or not the hacker has obtained other AMD IP, which is an assurance for both the company and its customers. Microsoft is yet to comment on the situation regarding hackers.
