Why PSN went down: Lizard Squad’s capabilities ‘far exceed typical DDoS groups’

The threat is real, and it is only getting worse.

The group that has claimed responsibility for taking down the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live online gaming services is capable of doing real damage, according to NexusGuard chief scientist Terrence Gareau. NexusGuard is a cyber-security firm that specializes in dealing with distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, which is precisely what overwhelmed Sony’s and Microsoft’s servers on Christmas and the following days. And while Gareau says that Lizard Squad is likely exaggerating with some of its claims, he warns that the group is potentially wielding some serious power.