Thread: How to prevent your Xbox Live Account from being hacked

Xbox Live is known for being targeted by many hackers because of the obvious flaws. Most of these do not lie in the software it uses but in the Support Staff. (This is called Social Engineering or gathering information about you and using to gain access to your account.)

1. You want to use a @gmail.com email with your xbox account. Gmail is not as easy to hack as @live/hotmail.com emails.
   
2. In your Address two bar you may want to put "XBOX LIVE SUPPORT DO NOT ASSIST WITH ACCOUNT RECOVERY"
   
3. If you are truly expecting some attacks you may want to put parental control on as it makes your account even harder to hack.
   
4. Also you can set a passcode so that everytime your account signs in you need to provide a 2nd password
   
5. Don't answer your secret question with the real answer. Instead, select something completely unrelated (for example, First Pet = Will Tuttle) that you can remember, effectively giving you a second password.
   
6. If you're planning on gaming away from your default console, put your account on a memory card or move it with your hard drive, as opposed to recovering it on another machine.
   
7. Never reveal any personal details about yourself while gaming over Xbox Live.
   
8. On that same note, go ahead and leave your profile's bio blank. No need to tell everyone where you live.
   
9. Limit the amount of information you put out there for everyone to see on social networking sites...or any website for that matter. Especially ones where you also have your Gamertag listed.
   
10. Create an Xbox Live passcode if you haven't already. To do this, select "My Xbox" on the Xbox dashboard and go to your profile, then go to "Account Management" then "Xbox Live Pass Code."
    
11. When ever joining a gaming community, and it is required you sign up on the website, never use the same email or password twice, Put a Fake Date of Birth.
    
12. Keep track of your Microsoft Points, Gamerscore and the Date you created the account (In the event you are hacked this will prove to microsoft that it is infact yours).
    
13. The most important thing you can possibly do to prevent the hacking of your account is to call 1 (800) 469-9269 and set up a reference number with Xbox LIVE Support, this allows instant recovery of your Profile..

If you use xbox.com(has alot of neat features) do not access the website through links in your email. I recommend just directly accessing it via xbox.com. Also never provide your xbox live password to any website that asks for it besides xbox.com

According to Microsoft most phishing attempts will appear as one of the following
Account security for Xbox LIVE

Email messages that appear to be from a coworker or friend with links to a website or asking for information about you or your account(s).
An instant message that appears to come from someone in your friends list with a link to a website
An email appearing to come from Xbox or Microsoft.

In-game messages claiming to be from Xbox Support.
A "spoof" website, pretending to be an Xbox LIVE website with a Windows Live ID login page.
Gamerscore-boosting websites.
Websites offering free points or achievements.

Change Your Password
If you keep your password the same for a long time or maybe it is not very secure then it is time to change it. The only real way to change your password(the best way) is to change it through http://www.passport.net/ For best practices I would recommend changing it every 90 days or so, if you are extremely secured no more than every 30 days(might become inconvenient)

Might seem a little meshed but that is because it is!

Nice Information shared.