Security Flaw in Age of Empires II Game Could Let Hackers Take Control of Your Computer

Microsoft patched a security vulnerability in Age of Empires II, a video game that has been popular for decades. The flaw could have allowed hackers to take over a victim's computer simply by sending a malicious game invite.

When a player received and interacted with the infected invitation, the attacker could gain control of their entire system. This affects anyone who plays Age of Empires II on their computer. If you or your children play this game, your computer was vulnerable before the patch.

Hackers could have installed malware, stolen passwords, accessed files, or used your computer for other malicious activities.

The good news is that Microsoft has now fixed the problem. If anyone in your family plays Age of Empires II, take these steps right away:

1. Update the game immediately through Steam, the Microsoft Store, or whichever platform you use.
2. Check your computer for any unusual programs or activity.
3. Run a full antivirus scan if you received any game invites from people you did not know.
4. Change your passwords if you noticed anything suspicious on your computer recently. This incident is a good reminder that video games need security updates just like any other software. Make sure automatic updates are turned on for all games and gaming platforms your family uses. Teach children never to accept game invites from strangers. Treat gaming accounts with the same security care you give to email and banking. Use strong passwords and enable two-factor authentication on gaming platforms whenever possible.