SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

April 26, 2011

The U.S. PlayStation Blog has finally been updated with more information on what's going on with the PlayStation Network and what Sony is doing to expedite the process (thanks to Flamespeak and Andrew Eisen).

SCEA's Patrick Seybold (Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media) said that the service would be back on "within the week," and that they "have a clear path to have PlayStation Network and Qriocity systems back online." This week's releases have been rescheduled for a later time as well - though when that time will be remains a mystery. A letter from SCEA has been sent to PSN account holders’ emails explaining the security breach of the network.

The letter details the steps that SCEA has taken to deal with what it calls a security breach including temporarily turning off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services and bringing in a high profile security firm to conduct a "full and complete investigation." SCEA also says that it has "enhanced security" by re-building the entire system.

On what exactly happened, the letter notes:

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, zip), 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 at this time that credit card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained.

Finally, SCEA thanks PSN users for their patience:

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 1-800-345-7669 should you have any additional questions.

Source: U.S. PlayStation Blog

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Comments

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by nighstalker160 on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 17:47.

At the end of the day this isn't really any worse than any of the other massive data breaches that have occurred at every place from Amazon and Wal-Mart to the banks themselves.

The only difference here is that there was a highly visible service interruption which makes this SOUND much worse than it is. Normally there isn't such a highly visible interruption coupled with the data compromise.

There really isn't a need to go changing your credit card yet. I would change your email password but monitor your credit card statement, watch your credit report (maybe put a fraud alert on it) and just be vigilant.

IF the credit card data was compromised (and that has NOT been confirmed) they have MILLIONS of individual account info so the odds of them using YOURS are very long. You have to weigh the danger against the sheer inconveinence of changing all your credit card info, notifying any auto-bill locations etc.

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by Vake Xeacons on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 17:41.

Let's HOPE Sony's telling the truth that they shut everything down themselves so stuff like that couldn't be stolen.

Of course, the truth will out by the end of the week, sadly enough...

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by killatia on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 17:28.

Oh man, looks like I gotta tell my friend to check on his credit card stament to make sure nothing is wrong.

http://www.magicinkgaming.com/

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by David on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 17:13.

Name, address, and date of birth. That's bad. It's a lucky break I only use prepaid cards (because I was afraid of just this happening).

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by MonkeyPeaches on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 16:58.

Thank God I don't have a credit card.

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by Pixelantes Anonymous on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 16:06.

This is so awesome.

I don't believe that they actually know whether the customer information was stolen or not. I don't think Sony knows anything about what's going on in their network. They're just assuming the worst based on the fact that the hackers had the keys to their entire network infrastructure.

That being said...I keep wondering how anyone could steal my PSN password even if they had access. Surely Sony with all their wizdom and network security expertise would keep my passwords encrypted. /sarcasm

-- http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/

http://pixelantes.blogspot.com/

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by Thad on Wed, 04/27/2011 - 17:39.

"That being said...I keep wondering how anyone could steal my PSN password even if they had access."

Password hint answers aren't encrypted, in case you need to give them to a human over the phone.

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by DorkmasterFlek on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 16:18.

I was just thinking the same thing. Then I remember that we're talking about the guys who completely fucked up basic cryptography on their console.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ECDSA#Signature_generation_algorithm

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by Cattleprod on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 16:04.

Well, bloody hell. Is there a way to change your password while it's down?

Re: SCEA: PlayStation Network Back Online 'Within the Week'

Submitted by Craig R. on Tue, 04/26/2011 - 15:58.

Umm, wow. Sony really set themselves up for a whole heap of trouble if all this information for folks (potentially myself included) was stolen.

Poll

Shout box

Andrew Eisen: Well, the Xbox One reveal certainly had an interesting affect on the big 3's stock prices. https://twitter.com/AndrewEisen/status/33705126448977100805/21/2013 - 10:45pm

PHX Corp: http://kotaku.com/so-the-xbox-one-reveal-screwed-up-a-lot-of-peoples-kin-509179256 So The Xbox One Reveal Screwed With Some People's Kinects05/21/2013 - 10:36pm

Zen: On a funny side note...both of my boys have already voted NOT to get the Xbox One as soon as they found out Minecraft won't transfer lol. Some people have priorities damnit! ;)05/21/2013 - 9:27pm

Andrew Eisen: Here's the full quote on EA making Wii U games according to Neogaf: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=56112105/21/2013 - 8:19pm

Andrew Eisen: Xbox One may not be always on but that doesn't mean you can use it without an internet connection. http://kotaku.com/xbox-one-does-require-internet-connection-cant-play-o-50916410905/21/2013 - 7:39pm

Andrew Eisen: Polygon says EA's CFO says it is developing games for Wii U but doesn't provide that quote. http://www.polygon.com/2013/5/21/4351844/ea-developing-wii-u-games05/21/2013 - 7:11pm

Andrew Eisen: Well, I was right. Both Sony and Microsoft's consoles will be out by the year's end and both will be significantly more powerful than the current gen.05/21/2013 - 5:06pm

james_fudge: thnx05/21/2013 - 4:47pm

Zen: Just to let ya know...you called it the "Xbox 260" in the backwards compatibility article lol.05/21/2013 - 4:26pm

Zen: @PHX Awesome, I will hit those up after class tonight. Going back to college finally! :) My kids have had a blast telling ME to do my homework now lol.05/21/2013 - 4:19pm

PHX Corp: @Zen I sent you a friend request on both PSN and XBL, just a heads up05/21/2013 - 4:16pm

Zen: I noticed it with the football players when EA showed off Madden as well.05/21/2013 - 4:11pm

Zen: Is it just me or is call of duty hitting the "uncanny valley" with their nicely modeled faces and dead looking eyes? I found it distracting and seemed actually "less" real to me lol.05/21/2013 - 4:10pm

james_fudge: it sounds like if you have an HD reciever you'll be able to use it with a pass-through cable... not 100 percent sure yet05/21/2013 - 2:41pm

james_fudge: happening now http://majornelson.com/2013/05/21/xbox-one-architecture-panel/05/21/2013 - 2:20pm

E. Zachary Knight: Some reading material for Microsoft on its used games blocks. That will hurt the console more than helping. http://ezknight.net/?page_id=20505/21/2013 - 2:18pm

james_fudge: yeah good luck with over the air TV05/21/2013 - 2:12pm

E. Zachary Knight: But what if I want to only watch over the air tv? I don't subscribe to pay tv. I never will. If that is a requirement, then MS wasted 45 minutes telling me how great TV will be.05/21/2013 - 2:08pm

james_fudge: EZK it will depend on your provider, just like HBO Go i'd imagine.05/21/2013 - 2:05pm

PHX Corp: @IanC there's also a chance that those titles might be Xbox one exclusive, but it's too early to tell afaik05/21/2013 - 2:03pm

All shouts

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