Valve has officially responded to recent reports suggesting that Steam may have suffered a data breach, firmly denying that its systems were compromised. The company issued a clarification following online discussions regarding a leak of SMS messages allegedly linked to Steam’s two-factor authentication process.
In a statement addressing user concerns, Valve emphasized that the leaked content originated from outside its systems. According to the company, the incident involved old text messages previously sent to Steam users, specifically containing one-time codes that had expired. These codes were only valid for 15-minute windows and included phone numbers they were originally sent to.
Crucially, the leak did not include any information directly linking phone numbers to specific Steam accounts. Valve further clarified that no passwords, payment data, or other personal account information were part of the exposed content.
“We have examined the leak sample and have determined this was NOT a breach of Steam systems,” the company confirmed in its official statement.
Valve acknowledged that the precise source of the leak remains under investigation. The company noted the inherent vulnerabilities in SMS delivery, pointing out that unencrypted messages pass through multiple providers before reaching a user’s device.
Despite the incident, Valve assured users that there is no need to change their account passwords or associated phone numbers at this time. Still, the company used the opportunity to remind users of general security practices.
“It is a good reminder to treat any account security messages that you have not explicitly requested as suspicious,” the company added. Users are encouraged to regularly review their account’s security settings through Steam’s authorized devices page.
Valve also recommended enabling the Steam Mobile Authenticator, which offers a more secure method of receiving notifications and login confirmations. The company reiterated its commitment to user safety and pledged continued monitoring of the situation as the investigation progresses.
