News - All PlayStation Network users’ data potentially stolen

[HEXUS]

Sony has come clean over a massive hack of its online network.

Read more.

[3dcandy]

Couldn't happen to a nicer company...

[oolon]

I think this will become ever more common, we are being pushed into downloadable content, on systems were there is only one gatekeeper, creates a honey pot of information. As there is a single gatekeeper there is no competition to provide a better service, you have to use them or not use the hardware. When services were simply gaming connections and people got shiny discs with the media on them, they were of little interest as they didn't have important personal information now payments are involved, they have valuable information however still act like like they don't.

[scottfscottf]

I haven't had an email yet.

[Hicks12]

I only use PSN for my PSP but had to use my card to pay for things so i guess they probably lost mine aswell...

The worst thing is that they havent said anything till now, 1 week is a bloody long time and especially when someones stolen a lot of sensitive data they should have owned up early so that people can cancel cards etc. I think maybe we should all be asking for new cards due to Sony being completely incompetent to protect data.

[Nelviticus]

The worst thing is that they havent said anything till now, 1 week is a bloody long time and especially when someones stolen a lot of sensitive data they should have owned up early so that people can cancel cards etc.

If you read the article that you've just commented on, you'll see that they didn't know any data had been stolen until yesterday.

[Hicks12]

typical, the one line i skimmed over was the date part!

[mycarsavw]

I haven't had an email yet.

I'm guessing it takes a while to send ~70 million emails.

[Arthran]

If you read the article that you've just commented on, you'll see that they didn't know any data had been stolen until yesterday.

Thing is, they say that. But In reality they should have sent out a wave of emails and information a week ago saying something along the lines of:
"We know there has been an Intrusion, we are as yet unsure as to the level, but as a security precaution we suggest all users who added their credit card details to the PSN take the appropriate steps. We are unsure as to whether these details have been compromised, but as a security measure we are suggesting all users be aware."

As stupid as it sounds, to come out like a human being and warn people, would have saved them a whole ton of respect from the public. Rather than the opinion people now have of them

[Dareos]

I'm guessing it takes a while to send ~70 million emails.

Going by the number of viagra emails I have received this year, i dont think it takes that long

I'm on PSN, but thankfully have not put payment details in (havent bought anything) as yet, dont think I will be anytime soon either.

[mcmiller]

Going by the number of viagra emails I have received this year, i dont think it takes that long

I'm on PSN, but thankfully have not put payment details in (havent bought anything) as yet, dont think I will be anytime soon either.

I dont think the main issue here is your bank details unless you have used a debit card, the main issue is that another person can apply for cc's or bank loans in your name.

[3dcandy]

I feel the main issue here is that Sony has been stoopid enough to lose 70 million + user account details including their cc numbers etc. Like I said, couldn't happen to a nicer company...I see a huge fine coming and compensation!

[TaintedShirt]

I've received the email. Scary stuff.

"Although we are still investigating the details of this incident, we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state/province, zip or postal code), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained. If you have authorized a sub-account for your dependent, the same data with respect to your dependent may have been obtained. While there is no evidence that credit card data was taken at this time, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, to be on the safe side we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained.

For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone, and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security, tax identification or similar number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking. When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password. Additionally, if you use your PlayStation Network or Qriocity user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them, as well.

To protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant to review your account statements and to monitor your credit or similar types of reports."

So they have my name, address, email, date of birth. They may possibly have credit card details (altho they don't have mine thankfully I never gave it to Sony). So not only do I have to keep checking every statement (already do this) but I also have to monitor my credit reports too. How much is that gonna cost? Are Sony going to pay for Experian et al reports and monitoring?

[daveyhue]

So glad I have an 360 and not a PS3 at this point in time

[Kirano]

In a way, I can see why Sony have held off until they are sure, but it's a pretty self-serving why.

Yes, the moment they found out about the hack they could have said 'ok, we're not sure how far they've got through our security systems blah so any one has got card data stored on PSN take extra care etc.' But then of course, that *would* be what happened. Even if, after their experts had investigated, they found there had not been an extensive breach and tried to reassure people of this, few would believe them I think. "If they hadn't taken all of our details, why did you warn us? Why did you scare us like that? No, I think they have taken the lot and now you are trying to cover it up!" or something along those lines. I guess what I'm saying is, if they act is if it *could* have happened then the PR disaster will always be as bad as if it *had* happened, even if later it turns out that it... didn't happen!

So Sony waited until they knew for sure, accepted the inevitability of the fallout and announced what they now know to be true...

Which, tbh, paints Sony in an even worse light. A completely self-less company, that cared only for it's customers would have done as others here have suggested. They would have bitten the bullet and said 'Ok, we don't know how bad this is yet, it could be this bad etc.' and warned their customers early because their customers details (and more importantly their finances!) are more important than their own. Instead, they wait until they know for sure, in the hopes of avoiding a PR disaster and in so doing give themselves... and even bigger PR disaster.

It'll be interesting to see how this all pans out for Sony and their customers. I'm not one myself, but I have a number of friends who are and having their credit details stolen is really the last thing they need right now. A couple of them have already started playing games on the pc again via steam, one who has just signed up to steam so he can still get his gaming fix. I wonder how many people will convert to other systems and leave PSN behind...

[aidanjt]

Sony has public relations now?