What's new

Things move to "Very Bad" on the Sony/PSN Front.. (1 Viewer)

mattCR

Reviewer
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
10,897
Location
Lee Summit, Missouri
Real Name
Matt
http://uk.playstation.com/home/news/articles/detail/item369506/PSN-Qriocity-Service-Update/



Valued PlayStation Network/Qriocity Customer:

We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this intrusion, we have:


1) Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services;

2) Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and

3) Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by re-building our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.


We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.


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 passwords 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 that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may also 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.


We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience. Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. Sony takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information. Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority. Please contact us at uk.playstation.com/psnoutage should you have any additional questions.

In other words: the hackers got the house. They got your name, address, phone numbers, passwords, purchasing information, credit card information.. red alert, they have it all.. so, there you go. If you had a Credit Card tied to PSN, I don't know if monitoring it for fraudulent charges is the right idea as much as just spiking it. I'm more concerned because Sony used other information (like damn social security numbers and address) for verification, and so if they really got compromised they f--- all, they just turned it all over to whoever to use however they want.


This may be one of the largest events of data being compromised I can ever remember.
 

Edwin-S

Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2000
Messages
10,000
Is that only in the UK and Europe? I haven't received any e-mail regarding this incident.
 

mattCR

Reviewer
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
10,897
Location
Lee Summit, Missouri
Real Name
Matt
Originally Posted by Edwin-S

Is that only in the UK and Europe? I haven't received any e-mail regarding this incident.


The impact is global, just that the UK one updated their blog.. but the impact is for all PSN users.
 

Carlo_M

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 31, 1997
Messages
13,385
Wow, that is majorly messed up. Where's the class-action lawsuit and how do I join?


What's even more disappointing is their laissez-faire response. When another company's data was jeopardized (and they didn't get credit card info, just names) they auto-enrolled me in a fraud protection company free of charge. This is a weak-sauce answer from Sony.
 

Edwin-S

Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2000
Messages
10,000
Great! This type of situation is exactly why I don't like online shopping. Now, I'm going to have change most of my passwords and cancel my credit card. Wonderful! Thanks, Sony.
 

Brandon Conway

captveg
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Sep 30, 2002
Messages
9,623
Location
North Hollywood, CA
Real Name
Brandon Conway
Originally Posted by Carlo Medina

Wow, that is majorly messed up. Where's the class-action lawsuit and how do I join?


This. Really hope we can send those responsible to prison for 20+ years once all is said and done.
 

Edwin-S

Premium
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Aug 20, 2000
Messages
10,000
I'm sure somewhere in the small print of the almost unreadable user agreement there is a small line that will state that Sony and its partners are not liable for any compromising of their systems and loss of information thereby.
 

Adam Gregorich

What to watch tonight?
Moderator
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 20, 1999
Messages
16,530
Location
The Other Washington
Real Name
Adam
Originally Posted by Edwin-S

I'm sure somewhere in the small print of the almost unreadable user agreement there is a small line that will state that Sony and its partners are not liable for any compromising of their systems and loss of information thereby.

Especially since PSN is free. I can see there being more accountability for a paid service like XBL.


While there is no evidence that credit card data was taken at this time, we cannot rule out the possibility.
I think people would have been better off to have had only their CC info stolen, All the personal info with security questions and answers stolen is bad news.
 

Carlo_M

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 31, 1997
Messages
13,385
While this may be true, if they want to be in the business of having people spend money on their services, they better step up and try to make this right to the best of their ability. While a catch-all may protect them from lawsuits, if they lose the public's trust in their online services, they face the potential of a massive exodus away from their services, which would hurt their future revenues more than a class action lawsuit would.


I know personally I'll not put my credit card info on their server ever again if they don't take steps to remedy the situation (not just for the future, but to help protect us from harm/fallout from this security breach).


They need to pay and contract with a credit protection bureau and auto-enroll those affected free of charge.
Originally Posted by Edwin-S

I'm sure somewhere in the small print of the almost unreadable user agreement there is a small line that will state that Sony and its partners are not liable for any compromising of their systems and loss of information thereby.
 

Citizen87645

Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
May 9, 2002
Messages
13,056
Real Name
Cameron Yee
Consider placing a security freeze on your credit reports. Better than just watching credit report activity, it prevents most from ever happening. Strangely, this step never gets the kind of promotion it should, but then it also doesn't involve a monthly service fee.


More info:


A freeze can be placed with all three credit reporting agencies online.


Equifax: https://www.freeze.equifax.com/


Experian: https://www.experian.com/freeze/center.html


Transunion: https://annualcreditreport.transunion.com/fa/securityFreeze/landing
 

Adam Gregorich

What to watch tonight?
Moderator
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 20, 1999
Messages
16,530
Location
The Other Washington
Real Name
Adam
Carlo-

I should preface this by saying I don't have a PS or a PSN account, but I agree that they need to do something other than say "ooops".
 

mattCR

Reviewer
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
10,897
Location
Lee Summit, Missouri
Real Name
Matt
Sony has now put up a FAQ:
http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=2356


I will say this: the fact that it took them a week before they divulged that Hackers had usernames/passwords/email accounts is annoying as piss. If they had a thought this happened, they should have been almost required to tell people as soon as possible. I can't believe they didn't know what DB had been compromised a week ago. It basically means they let their users passwords/usernames/addresses/info hang out in the wind for a week. I have no problem changing all my passwords, but I would have liked to not give the hackers a week head start if I can avoid it. I don't duplicate passwords many places, but all it takes is one place, and then the dominoes start to fall..
 

ThomasC

Senior HTF Member
Joined
Dec 15, 2001
Messages
6,526
Real Name
Thomas
Originally Posted by TravisR

I know nothing about online gaming but why does Sony require a SSN from people to play a game?


They would not ask for that. Sony did warn people about not giving out that information as a result of the hack:


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.
 

mattCR

Reviewer
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
10,897
Location
Lee Summit, Missouri
Real Name
Matt
And the hack begins! I just had someone try to open up a Facebook account using an email address that only exists one place: PSN. When I found the email come through asking me if I wanted to change my password it looked like:


Code:
 Hey Patrick, We've received your request to associate your account with the email address [url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url]. An email was sent to [url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url] to confirm the request and account ownership. To confirm that email address, just click on the confirmation link in the email sent to [url=mailto:[email protected]][email protected][/url]. However, if that address is not familiar or you did not request to change your contact email, please follow this link to cancel the request: [url=http://www.facebook.com/cancel_contact.php?t=1303932629&u=1623700127&n=321956674]http://www.facebook.com/cancel_contact.php?(edited) [/url](If clicking on the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it into your browser.) If you cancel the contact email change request, your account will remain with your current email (psnaddress@) and you will be asked to reset your password as a security precaution. Thanks, The Facebook Team

But:


(a) I'm not Patrick

(b) I have no idea who this spambot in India is

(c) Why is some spambot setting up phony facebook pages using my email address?
 

Ruz-El

Fake Shemp
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2002
Messages
12,539
Location
Deadmonton
Real Name
Russell
Originally Posted by mattCR (If clicking on the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it into your browser.) If you cancel the contact email change request, your account will remain with your current email (psnaddress@) and you will be asked to reset your password as a security precaution. Thanks, The Facebook Team [/CODE]

But:


(a) I'm not Patrick

(b) I have no idea who this spambot in India is

(c) Why is some spambot setting up phony facebook pages using my email address?


[/quote]

Creepy! so far I've had nothing with my info that was probably stolen. there was a report that hackers are selling the information, including credit cards with the 3 digit security deals, but I know I've never given sony those security digits, so it sounds like BS.


http://gawker.com/#!5797077/playstation-hackers-hock-22-million-credit-cards-on-underground-forums
 

mattCR

Reviewer
HW Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Oct 5, 2005
Messages
10,897
Location
Lee Summit, Missouri
Real Name
Matt
At some point, you did. I know I had to when I updated mine for PSN+.. I have to admit, the purchase of PlaystationPlus subscription looks really stupid right about now.. HOWEVER, I keep a completely throw-away Walmart(TM) Moneycard that is only for things like this. I never give online stores real money for the most part (few exceptions) as I just draw the cash out, put it on the WM card, and spend it there.. that way if it gets compromised, there is nothing there. And since I generally spend more then a thousand a month online, Walmart gives me the card for free no interest, no fees, so win-win
 

Ruz-El

Fake Shemp
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Sep 20, 2002
Messages
12,539
Location
Deadmonton
Real Name
Russell
Really? I don't remember entering it. I got PSplus mid march (great timing), and didn't have to enter anything different then when I buy anything off the store. It's been so long a go that I used my credit card to buy PSN credit, I don't remember entering the 3 digit security code. I don't remember entering my address either though, so what do I know ha ha.


That said, now that this has happened, I'm going back to buying point cards. I found them a nuisance, and figured that sony would be a big enough company it wouldn't be a problem to use my credit card with them ridiculous!
 

Adam Gregorich

What to watch tonight?
Moderator
Reviewer
Senior HTF Member
Joined
Nov 20, 1999
Messages
16,530
Location
The Other Washington
Real Name
Adam
Originally Posted by mattCR (If clicking on the link doesn't work, try copying and pasting it into your browser.) If you cancel the contact email change request, your account will remain with your current email (psnaddress@) and you will be asked to reset your password as a security precaution. Thanks, The Facebook Team [/CODE]

But:


(a) I'm not Patrick

(b) I have no idea who this spambot in India is

(c) Why is some spambot setting up phony facebook pages using my email address?


[/quote]

That is a good question. What do they gain by having a fake FB page?
 

Users who are viewing this thread

Top