A particularly insidious form of cheating is currently spreading in Overwatch . Beware of friend requests!
Cheaters and fraudsters are a serious problem not only on PC but also on the console versions of Overwatch. On PlayStation 4, there is now a particularly severe case that is currently making the rounds on social media and Reddit.
The player in question joins ranked matches and then sends friend requests to all opponents. Due to a bug, it is currently possible to obtain the respective player’s IP address this way. Following that, a DDoS attack ensues – the opponent’s connection is bombarded with so many requests that it can’t keep up, resulting in massive lag and ultimately disconnecting from the game. The end result: one team fights with fewer players, making victory relatively easy.
The respective player has already been in the “Top 500” multiple times and also boasts that you should “cry to Blizzard if you want something done” – a clear provocation.
But it gets worse. The aforementioned player also brags publicly about his actions and celebrates what he does. This includes other offenses, such as threatening his own team – as many do not want to support a cheater and therefore allow the (weakened) opponent team to win.
Currently, there is no “report” function on PS4 and Xbox One. This will be added in a future patch. However, it is still uncertain whether the bug or security hole regarding the retrieval of the IP address will be fixed by then.
At the latest, after this media attention, it shouldn’t take long for Blizzard to put a stop to the player – as he has been playing with the same account since the first season.
If you are playing on PS4, keep in mind: At least at the start of a match, do not accept friend requests from opponents!
