Xbox live down: Hackers Lizard Squad on second Xbox Live takedown

Hacking group Lizard Squad is picking on Microsoft all over again. After shutting down the online service of Xbox Live at the start of the month, the hacker launched another DDOS that caused major outage last Friday, Dec. 6. Lizard Squad seems to be proud of its newest exploit, as it spelled out its role on the issue by tweeting "Xbox Live #offline." 

While Xbox One remains untouched, Xbox 360 users are faced with failed app download attempts. Many who planned to watch The Game Awards through it must have been agitated, too (good thing there is another way to witness the show). 

But in the midst of the quandary, Microsoft assured Xbox Live members that it is all-out in ending the outage to minimize, and eventually avoid, more inconvenience. 

"We want you to know we're aware of the issue and currently hard at work to find a fix. Thanks for being patient during this process. We'll update you when more information is available," reads an update on the Xbox Live Status page. 

In another ominous tweet, Lizard Squad posted on Dec. 7 that this won't be their last. 

"Time to resume the chaos," the tweet reads. 

Express UK reported that the hacker is going for a third strike and it plans to execute its evil plan on the actual Christmas day. It may be the biggest one yet, as the site stated that the third stab may be Lizard Squad's ultimate stunt in tearing down Xbox Live permanently. 

"This is not a threat but a promise," the message reads. 

In another, Lizard Squad, as Express cited, warned, "On December 25 aka Christmas, we will tap in to Microsoft and shut down Xbox Live, FOREVER! So enjoy it while it lasts." 

As per Cinema Blend, Lizard Squad made their menacing presence felt to gamers and gaming firms by attacking PSN three months ago with a destructive DDOS that razed the service across all platforms. For their weekend amusement, the group found susceptible targets in "World of Warcraft," "League of Legends" and "PlanetSide 2." Lastly, the hacker group went for a bomb threat with Sony Online Entertainment president John Smedley on the receiving end.

With the massive nuisance brought by the group, many find it best to start a White House petition and seek help from a bigger body, thinking that Lizard Squad may finally be defeated with a government effort.