Microsoft is showing who is boss by dropping the Thor-like ban hammer on those unlucky few who were crazy enough to bring an illegal copy of Halo 4 on Xbox Live. The culprits were handed a heavy blow, one they can never rise from since this ban is permanent.

They are multiple reports from several Web sites on 343 Industries' response to those who tried to play Halo 4 multiplayer on Xbox Live. According to a Microsoft spokesperson:

"We have seen the reports of 'Halo 4' content being propped on the Web and are working closely with our security teams and law enforcement to address the situation,"

Soon after, Xbox 360 users began to come forward with sad tales of their accounts being banned from Xbox Live for good. The message they got was from the LIVE Enforcement Team regarding their attempt to play Halo 4 multiplayer. How sad it is for these gamers who might have spent years building their Xbox Live status into something god-like with high Gamerscores, and enough achievements unlocked to make even the most hardcore of Xbox 360 fanboy scream with jealousy.

Those who tried to play Halo 4 multiplayer on Xbox Live are crazy, and they also deserve what happened to them. Playing the single-player version of a game that hasn't been released yet is bad enough, but attempting to play the same game online is just pure madness. What did they expect was going to happen?

If you are patiently waiting for Halo 4 to hit store shelves on Nov. 6, please continue to do so and stay clear of the leaked version and the spoilers if you can control the urge to restrict yourself.

However, if for some strange reason you choose to step into murky waters and play the leaked version of Halo 4, don't go online with the game. It's Common Sense 101.