PS4 8.00 Update Finally Adds More Security To Your PSN Account

This week, Sony released the version 8.00 update for PlayStation 4, introducing improvements to party messages, quick menu options, remote play, and more. Although it may not generate the same level of excitement as other changes and additions, one of the most important aspects of the system update concerns PSN account security.

Sony has offered 2-Step Verification (2SV) for PSN accounts for a long time, but it has stuck to just SMS authentication since its introduction. It's convenient, but also an insecure way of supporting the feature, since it depends on the security of your carrier as well as your smartphone. With version 8.00, Sony has finally added support for third-party authenticator apps, taking one point of failure out of the equation.

After logging into your PSN account, you'll need to deactivate your current 2SV protection before being able to reactivate it with the new app-based method. You'll be supplied with a QR code that can be scanned with numerous authenticator apps (such as Google Authenticator or Authy, among many other options) or enter the authentication code to register your account. Ensure that you take note of your backup codes again and store them in a secure location.

This security improvement will transition to the PS5 when it launches on November 12, as you'll be able to log into your new console with the same PSN account and gain access to all your PS4 titles for backwards-compatibility play. Sony also revealed the PS5 UI recently, which has its own suite of enhancements to look forward to, such as built-in game guides for PS Plus subscribers.