MikeMcD

<span class="articleText">
Gaining an advantage in online multiplayer games using in-game exploits is one thing (cheating, but technically legal), but going so far as to develop malicious software to attack a game's servers is something else entirely. The BBC reports that's exactly what a 17-year-old gamer in Manchester did to get ahead in Call of Duty, and he's now under arrest.
We should point out, though, that the timeline of the alleged offense -- and which Call of Duty was affected -- is a little unclear. The Sun reports the attack was launched against Black Ops, but the BBC report doesn't specify which Call of Duty was affected, and also reports that Activision notified police in September -- obviously a couple of months before Black Ops was even released. Still, both describe the alleged offense the same way: the teen evidently used a malicious software he developed called "Phenom Booter" to launch a Denial of Service attack against Activision's servers, keeping a large number of gamers from being able to play. The teen even allegedly offered to sell this program to others through an unnamed forum.
Police eventually tracked the teen's IP address to find his location, and was arrested on suspicion of offences under the Computer Misuse Act. He currently remains under custody.

More...