Sony: PlayStation Network compromised

Electronics giant warns that "a small percentage" of download service's users might have had personal information swiped, store funds spent as a result of security breach.

April Fools' Day isn't until next week, but Sony has already fallen prey to one nasty trick. The electronics giant updated the consumer alerts section of its official PlayStation Web site to say that "there has been a possibility of unauthorized access to personal information on the PlayStation Store through PCs..."

From the description given, it appears users' passwords were at risk. Given access to such passwords, unauthorized users could sign on to an account, obtain the real user's personal information, change the password, and rack up charges at the PlayStation Store. While the store saves credit card numbers, it does not display the full number to the user, so thieves would be unable to swipe credit card information for use elsewhere.

Sony said that it has already fixed the issue and that the network's security has been restored. The company has contacted users that it believes may have been victims of the security breach and suggests that concerned gamers can ensure their accounts are safe simply by logging in with their preset passwords.

If users are unable to log in, Sony is asking them to reset their passwords, check to see what unauthorized activity has taken place, and e-mail the company at PSN_account_support@playstation.sony.com for assistance.

496 Comments

  • advandam

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 12:48 pm PT

    bad that it's happened but it's good publicity for sony, as i would feel safer if i owned a ps3 because off it. i own, xbox360, would like to think MS would address the situation this well. ps: ragrds some off the comments made - sorry to all ps3 owners on behalf off 360 community (we're not all sad fanboys!) although i would add you do have your share too if you read articles about xbox360!

  • Louis_Routledge

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 9:55 am PT

    Most of the ignoramuses below really have no idea what they are talking about.

    Your definitions of hacked are a load of trash.

  • MidniteShadow

    Posted Mar 31, 2008 9:40 am PT

    One word for PSN...

    Potential

  • st3wi3

    Posted Mar 30, 2008 4:58 pm PT

    @Leegamespot,
    Those are some smart words. Playstation's home network will be sony's answer to xbox live. Since you put it that way, it makes total sense

  • darkride66

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 10:27 am PT

    dunthisb4 said "and people willingly giving info to others to get achievements"
    I couldn't agree with you more on this point. As for the XBL hack, I've read speculation that in addition to the socially engineered account hijacks there was a brief problem with accounts being hacked through MS's XBL service on the PC. If this was an issue it doesn't surprise me MS was able to keep it quiet considering it's been 2 1/2 years now and the public still doesn't know how many 360's are doomed to experience RROD. If MS can continue to keep this quiet, a few hacked accounts shouldn't be too hard to manage. Sony's had quite a history of PR gaffes as well. Good for them for coming clean with this.

  • dunthisb4

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 7:13 am PT

    The smartest thing to do is exactly what ms has done. I do not have credit card info on 360. i buy my points and live time on prepaid cards at retail. the 360 was not hacked. it was social engineering , and people willingly giving info to others to get achievements' Anyone willing to participate in such stupidity gets what they deserve. as for those who were suckered socially that's unfortunate , but its not a hack. So no, this has not happened to live.

  • TehUndeadHorror

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 3:34 am PT

    @ClassicPlayer

    You... are... a tard.

  • kuda001

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 2:54 am PT

    At least they are admitting to the problem and resolved it, that's all that matters.

  • Leegamespot

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 1:10 am PT

    Sony has to step up in the online marketplace world. Microsoft is taking a large chunk of the cyber transactions that occur these days. I hope this won't delay the launch of Sony's HOME NETWORK too long. IMO that's will be Sony's rebuttal towards the 360's LIVE.

  • Devvy01

    Posted Mar 29, 2008 12:48 am PT

    well there's goes any creditability sony had left. when will people realise how dangerous internet traffic is, especially as there "Live" download things don't stop, spam, trojans. Don't these hardware giants realise that firewalls are a must ???

  • gatsbythepig

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 9:37 pm PT

    That's kid of scary.

  • leimeisei

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 3:36 pm PT

    rasterror, did you even read the article? This issue didn't even have anything to do with the PS3 console...

  • christopherneal posted Mar 28, 2008 3:35 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    christopherneal

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 3:35 pm PT (hide)

    I'd like to hear from everyone who says they'd never pay for XBL now? Kiddies, when you pay for something it keeps the riff raff out. When you have an open network things of this nature can happen. Especially when you have online transactions. I see many more XBL customers in the near future once this comes to a PR head. Told ya! LOL

  • laitheybaby posted Mar 28, 2008 2:51 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    laitheybaby

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 2:51 pm PT (hide)

    never cared for the psn personally, just an undeniable immitation of xbox 360s innovative community focused service. sonys top priority this gen was winning the blu ray war which it did by taking advantage of gamers, i dont care for consoles that dont prioritise games FIRST im afraid.

  • ClassicPlayer posted Mar 28, 2008 12:27 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    ClassicPlayer

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 12:27 pm PT (hide)

    They should give some credit money for the victims of it, Sony fails now end of. They were just concerned about winning the Blu-Ray V HD DVD battle, which they won (and Blu Ray is no different to a UMD!)

  • Pie_FOREVER

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 10:52 am PT

    I find it sad that these console arguments have come to comparing security breaches of companies to justify a purchase of your console. They unfortunately happen to EVERY giant company once in a while.

    This DID happen to Xbox Live last year, and it's unfortunate that while newer technologies are always immune in the beginning to hacking, there are hackers with their grubby little hands on these technologies the second they come out, spending countless hours finding the way to crack it because they have nothing better to do with their lives besides ruining others

    It's an unfortunate fact of life that affects every single form and area of ANY business that is run digitally. The best way you can prevent such fraud is by not providing your Credit Card information on your account, and instead enter it only when you're making a purchase, so that it isn't connected or linked to any account information anywhere behind the scenes.

  • nsmnpc5000

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 10:45 am PT

    It's too bad that a breach happened, but good job on Sony's side for getting the word out quickly.

  • darkride66

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 9:27 am PT

    theshredmaestro "THIS NEVER HAPPENS TO THE 360."
    Um, yeah it does. Do yourself a favor and do a google check when responding to something like this. Otherwise you may end up looking foolish.

  • rasterror

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 8:37 am PT

    The Cell Broad Band processor should be powerful enough to not allow this to happen. It should be powerful enough to out run a bullet, leap tall buildings, and stop a locomotive. I bet Sony hacked themselves on purpose.

  • StarFox-Elite posted Mar 28, 2008 7:37 am PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    StarFox-Elite

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 7:37 am PT (hide)

    lol I never trusted sony...

  • darkride66

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 7:13 am PT

    Way to go Sony! Quick response, fixed the issue and notified people at risk. That's the type of response I would have liked to have seen from MS last year when XBL was compromised. Instead, MS denied there was a problem and refused to help players who had their accounts hijacked. Hopefully they'll learn for next time.

  • ukpet_anime

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 6:15 am PT

    I'm very content to own a PS3 and I totally agree DarkStreetDev, that every console will have it's problems.
    I'd rather have this reliable state-of-the-art piece of technology that enables more than just games.
    Am satisfied that the general population online isn't a bunch of kids who do nothing but taunt, swear and then hide themselves behind the anonymity of the internet. I've struck up good, mature conversations with people in Burnout Paradise which is more than some online communities have currently aspired to.
    Surely the recent news of Microsoft doing a crackdown on cheaters implies THEIR service is much more open to corruption anyway.

  • leimeisei

    Posted Mar 28, 2008 5:55 am PT

    DarkStreetDev:

    Dont you mean 30%?

  • DarkStreetDev

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 11:45 pm PT

    Every console has it's own problems. I'd rather have a minor breach like this than a 16%-failure-rate XBox 360.

  • Loucetios

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 8:14 pm PT

    360 fanboys are so funny, the Playstation Store for PCs, guess what, IS FOR THE PSP, this has absolutely NOTHING to do with the Playstation Store thats on the ps3, they are 2 completely different things, its amazing how people assume things

  • mohammadan

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 6:23 pm PT

    Sony, you better release those store cards ASAP !

  • swimmi_34 posted Mar 27, 2008 6:21 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    swimmi_34

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 6:21 pm PT (hide)

    Good thing i don't own a ps3

  • Vash67

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 6:18 pm PT

    This is adds to yet another reason why i dislike paying for downloadbale content using a credit card. If Sony wants my money, they better start putting out those PSN Gift Cards. I do not use my credit card on ANYTHING that can be used without constantly asking me for the numbers or something.

  • NeoNavarro

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 6:11 pm PT

    I really hope there will be no more scares like this in the future for the PS3 and that goes for the 360 too.

  • aznhayato7

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 6:02 pm PT

    All you Xbox 360 fanboys need to shut up. The problem has been fixed and there really is not enough content on the PC store to make anybody go into serious debt. Since there is only about 200-300 bucks worth of content on the website, Sony doesnt have much problem refunding the money. In fact, there really isnt that much content that anybody wants anyways. I may be wrong, because I havent checked the PC store in 4 months, but the only stuff thats on there is some cheap PSP content. The PS Store on PS3 is safe and that is all that matters. I have all 3 consoles, I think the PS Store is great, and Marketplace is great too, but sometimes they charge too much for stuff like gamer pictures and themes. I havent ever been onto the Wii virtual console yet.

  • zombey1333

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:55 pm PT

    Suck. Hopefully things won't get to out of hand with stuff like this.

  • treyballard

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:44 pm PT

    I don't see why everything always has to boil down to Xbox being better than Playstation or the other way around. I own a 360 but I don't necessarily think it's better than a PS3. All the "Fanboys" need to grow some and quit acting stupid

  • Evanrocknuma

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:37 pm PT

    If its fixed I don't care. Dang I thought I could dig up crap to brag to my sony fan boy friend about that makes the xbox 360 better.

  • arou_ghamazer

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:34 pm PT

    Has No Credit Card

  • AgentA-Mi6 posted Mar 27, 2008 5:33 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    AgentA-Mi6

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:33 pm PT (hide)

    Let them do as many spin attempts as they want, this is the Ps3 year .

  • leimeisei

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:29 pm PT

    I love it.. it states clearly in the article that no credit card numbers could have been compromised from this hack, yet n00bs logon to this site, see "PlayStation Network Compromised" as a news headline, and then immediately skip the article and just post something about how xbox is better.

    amazing. I do think the title is misleading, because really only the Store for PC was compromised, and its not like something major happened at all, just a few unlucky people got their account passwords changed.

  • oskermayor

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:28 pm PT

    @jrabbit69 - Actually I have heard something similar has happened at microsoft. Apparently with xbox live, you can call customer service and if you are lucky, you can supply a gamertag and they could give you the password associated with that account.

  • jrabbit99 posted Mar 27, 2008 5:15 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    jrabbit99

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:15 pm PT (hide)

    While it's funny at first, just think of the people who had thier money spent by this hacker. It's a good thing last week that I bought a 360 and not a PS3.

  • Leick3 posted Mar 27, 2008 5:10 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Leick3

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:10 pm PT (hide)

    I laugh in sonys face, but that sucks for the people who had that happen to them. and in this story nintendo comes up on top. Its a great time to be a Nintendo fan, no one can deny that lol

  • Xerion_12

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 5:01 pm PT

    Only cool companies get hacked~

  • Blazius2

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 4:57 pm PT

    Fanboys rejoice, more bad news about the ps3 that Gamespot conveniently provides for you.

  • Michaelas10 posted Mar 27, 2008 4:53 pm PT (does not meet display criteria. login to show)

    Michaelas10

    Posted Mar 27, 2008 4:53 pm PT (hide)

    Thank God I'm a 360 fanboy.

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