Lizard Squad returns, takes down Xbox LIVE

Notorious DDoS group Lizard Squad is back, and this time they've targeted Xbox LIVE.

Although Microsoft hasn't updated its Xbox LIVE Status page to confirm the troubles, a number of users have taken to social media to report the issues they're experiencing on both Xbox One and Xbox 360. They've expressed frustration at Microsoft, though it appears the outage isn't an issue with Microsoft's online infrastructure; rather, it seems to be a result of notorious hacker group Lizard Squad. The group, now known as Lizard Patrol on Twitter, is taking credit for taking down Xbox LIVE.

The group teased that tonight's issues are just a "small dose of what's to come on Christmas."

Lizard Squad was notorious for launching DDoS attacks earlier this year. In September, the group targeted multiple online games and services including Sony's PlayStation Network, Twitch.tv, League of Legends, Call of Duty, and Destiny. They also DDoS attacked Sony Online Entertainment, even go so far as to report a fake bomb threat on a plane carrying SOE president John Smedley.

Twitter eventually suspended the group's handle, which actually grew to have quite a following. Lizard Squad re-emerged as Lizard Patrol back in October, but had remained relatively quiet. Only recently have they become more active.

We'll continue to monitor the situation.

***Update***

Bungie has acknowledged the issues with Xbox LIVE which have impacted Destiny.