Category: data theft

CEREUS Poker Network in Serious Trouble Again!

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Well the CEREUS Poker Network home of Absolute Poker and newly re-branded UB.com (formerly UltimateBet.com) are in the news again and once again it is not good news. Players may recall the super user issues that plagued both poker rooms in the past and a 60 Minutes television special exposing the issues to millions of viewers.

Late last week the Kahnawake Gaming Commission issued a warning to players using the CEREUS Poker Network that there could be a potential security issue allowing player’s gaming data to be accessed improperly.

Paul Leggett, COO of Tokwiro Enterprises (which owns both UB and Absolute Poker) also issued a statement acknowledging the security issues and promised to do everything he can to fix the problem.

The Kahnawake press release is as follows:

ADVISORY NOTICE RE CEREUS POKER NETWORK SECURITY ISSUE

May 7, 2010

The Commission has been advised of a security issue concerning the CEREUS poker network used by the Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet poker sites. The issue concerns the mechanism used by CEREUS for network transmissions having a potential for player gaming data to be improperly accessed under certain specific circumstances.

The Commission is actively reviewing this matter with senior management of Absolute Poker and Ultimate Bet and with its Approved Agents. The Commission will issue a further notice of its findings as soon as this review is completed.

The Commission is monitoring immediate measures that are being taken to address the security issue and is advised that a more permanent solution is to be implemented on an urgent basis.

Based on information available at this time, it appears unlikely that player gaming data was actually compromised. However, this possibility will be reviewed further and, if necessary, the Commission will direct that the appropriate remedial actions be taken.

Until a solution to the security issue is fully implemented, the Commission recommends that players use caution when accessing the Absolute Poker or Ultimate Bet sites, in particular when using a public network (wired or wireless) or a private wireless network.

For further information, please contact the Kahnawake Gaming Commission at info@gamingcommission.ca .

P.O. Box 1799, Mohawk Territory of Kahnawake, Canada J0L1B0

Telephone: (450) 635-1076 Fax: (450) 635-1139 E-mail: info@gamingcommission.ca

Poker Player US does not promote or recommend the CEREUS Network, Absolute Poker or UB.com to players and has listed the brands on a blacklist since early 2009 and recommends that players avoid playing on the CEREUS network. With a large assortment of reputable online poker rooms, there are plenty of choices for players to make that do not expose them to such unattractive behaviour and software issues.

Rosso Poker Snags PPN Player Data!

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Rosso Poker Attempts theft of dataJust one day after the Poker Pros Network (PPN) announced it’s closing the OpenLot poker software version of the up and coming network, players of the PPN network received emails from Rosso Poker telling them that they can log into the Rosso Poker software using their existing PPN details. This was all done without the knowledge of the PPN network and the player data was reported to been obtained unlawfully.

They went on to say in the email dated April 8, 2010 that players funds would not be included in the move and to contact PPN to "enquire about your balance and how you can gain access to your funds." Rosso Poker went on to offer players a 100% bonus up to $50 on their first deposit. Rosso Poker has been a struggling online poker room since opening in 2008. Perhaps the move was a vain attempt to breath new life into a failing business.

Below is a copy of the email received from Rosso Poker by us today:

Dear Player,

As you may already have learned from e-mails that you received, PPN is in dispute with their software provider regarding the supply of poker software for the PPN Poker Room and the timely payment of license fees due by PPN. Due to this dispute, access to the existing PPN poker servers has been terminated as of 12:01pm ET April 7th, 2010.

As we believe you enjoyed using the poker software, we hereby invite you to join RossoPoker ( www.rossopoker.com ). We are one of the existing poker rooms that uses the same software that you have played on at PPN and that you are already familiar with.

You can download the RossoPoker client from http://www.rossopoker.com/download.php/. Your name and password will remain the same and you can simply log in with the new client or you can create a new account if you so wish.

You account balances will be reset to zero on RossoPoker. If you had any real money balance in your PPN account, please contact PPN support at support@pokerprosnetwork.com to enquire about your balance and how you can gain access to your funds. Unfortunately, this is outside our control.

As Rosso Poker does not support PaylinQ, we would like to introduce you to Datacash, which offers you a range of options for you to make a deposit. Datacash is a trusted on-line payment processor and a listed UK company.

To welcome you to RossoPoker, we will be giving a 100% First Time Deposit Bonus to all players who deposit over $25 with a maximum of $50. (Terms and Conditions apply).

RossoPoker is offering some attractive tournaments, free rolls and ring games to ensure you can always find the game you want.

We look forward to see you once again at the tables!

If you have any comments or concerns please contact the RossoPoker Support Team at support@rossopoker.com

RossoPoker Support

Later today an email from the Poker Pros Network was recieved notifying players of the PPN network of the alleged illegal activity by Rosso. A copy of an e-mail sent to Rosso Poker and OpenLot was included in this email. Below is a copy of the email received:

PPN Pros and Players.

It has come to my attention that Openlot/Rosso has mailed the PPN databsase to invite you to play at Rosso Poker and that when you load the old PPN it creates a ROSSO Account.

This is in direct violation of the contract and a clear violation of all our players rights.

I have notified our legal team to immediatly take action to stop this. Here is a copy of what I sent to Openlot a few moments ago. I look forward to seing you on the new PPN.

Chuck Kidd
CEO

TO OPENLOT/ROSSO
I HAVE NOW BEEN INFORMED THAT YOU ARE USING THE LINK FOR PPN TO CHANGE PLAYERS SOFTWARE TO ROSSO. THIS IS UN ACCEPTABLE AND TOTALLY ILLEAGLE TO DO. I HAVE NOW ASKED MY LEGAL TEAM TO INFORM THE HOLDER OF YOUR GAMING LICENCE OF THIS UNLAWFUL ACTION AND TO DO ANY THING NECESSARY TO PUT A STOP TO IT. I AM GOING TO FORWARD ALL INFORMATION TO THE ONLINE COMMUNITY AT CASINO CITY, CASINOMEISTER, GAMBLING911 AND OTHERS ABOUT THIS ACTION AND I WILL REQUEST ALL 1400 PLUS MEMBERS OF THE PPN INCLUDING PRO PLAYERS OF GREAT REPUTATION TO GO PUBLIC ABOUT THE DEPLORABLE BEHAVIOR.

This has been forwarded to my legal department. All database of players and their information is the property of PPN. Any continued use will result in immediate legal action and to imply a feud over payment for your failure to deliver a useable product is quite frankly &^%$#(I don’t have the words here that I can use).

If another email is sent The gloves are coming off and I will instruct my legal team to take appropriate action to protect my players data. I will also take this to a public forum and ruin any chance that openlot/ rosso will have in the future to be in the poker business. Don’t test me on this.

Chuck Kidd

It will be interesting to see how all this plays out and if Rosso Poker will continue to have Pic-Club as a funding method for the few players that do patronize the Rosso Poker room. Pic-Club and Poker Pros Network are both headed by Chuck Kidd, CEO.