PSN ****storm (New Attempted Hack)

[Scarlett.]

STEPS TO AVOID POSSIBLE IDENTITY THEFT/FRAUD

1. Don't trust ANY emails, consider setting up new email accounts
2. Watch out for mail/telephone scams
3. If you use the same password as you used on PSN for anything else, CHANGE IT, and change your PSN password as soon as it comes back online
4. Keep a CLOSE EYE on your bank statements, make sure EVERY purchase/outgoing fund is accounted for

[Stu]

And on the day I bought Killzone 3. Pretty annoying stuff. I wanted to get onto Vidzone for some drunken music video fun too tonight because my 50 quid speakers have blown out from channeling the synth through them.

[Scarlett.]

It's hard for me to be annoyed at them, it's not their fault, it's those lifeless hackers who spend their lives in front of a computer coding crap - plus PSN is free :D

[Doogle]

Argh

[Stu]

It's hard for me to be annoyed at them, it's not their fault, it's those lifeless hackers who spend their lives in front of a computer coding crap - plus PSN is free :D
True. And it's much more open platform. Steam will eventually come to PSN and even Bethesda are talking now about pushing Skyrim mods onto consoles which is a bitch with Micro$oft because they have this content lisense thing going on.

They managed to have mods on Unreal Tournament III on the PS3 so heres hoping it will happen with Skyrim. I'll **** myself if it does.

I don't have a strong enough PC to do a good Oblivion game but the mods people have made are amazing. A Morrowind conversion, the entire province of Elsweyr being playable with full quest and story, you name it.

[Scarlett.]

I see the PS3 as more like a Single Player console, due to the amount of good quality exclusives xD

[Niall]

I actually hate them for this. I'm dying to play the Portal 2 co-op. And I wanna sign into Steam on my PS3 so I can get Portal 2 on my computer. :bored:

The thing is, Sony regularly take PSN offline for maintenance whereas Microsoft never need to do that with Xbox Live. :conf2:

[Stu]

Add me on dEpEchEmodE___ [three underscores] Niall.

I'd be up for Portal co op or Black Ops or whatever some time.

[Tom4784]

I almost feel sorry for the hackers, when Sony catches them they'll be hung out to dry. They won't be left with a penny.

[Doogle]

Why is anyone sad enough to hack though? Ugh PSN really pisses me off. This is why I'm rarely on it. It always seems to be down for maintenance and they only just this year added Crash Bandicoot 2 to the PS Store. I hope it's fixed soon, I want to show off my new trophies for when Lego Harry Potter arrives. :joker: Plus I wanna go on Black Ops and hear a bunch of kids moaning about how PSN was down and that they bought an Xbox & Live in the mean time to continue playing Black Ops. That's always fun.

(Doogle_666, add me ;))

[Niall]

Add me on dEpEchEmodE___ [three underscores] Niall.

I'd be up for Portal co op or Black Ops or whatever some time.

Okay will do. :)

[Niall]

Its day four of no PSN now. This is beyond ridiculous. Xbox Live never goes down, Sony don't give two sh!ts about their customers. Idc if its someone hacking the system, they could at least make more of an effort to get it back online. I am actually so glad I got an Xbox earlier in the year as well, Xbox Live is miles better than PSN.

I just hope so much that it gets fixed like tomorrow. I'm dying to play Portal 2 online, I've finished the single player already. :sad:

[Tom4784]

Its day four of no PSN now. This is beyond ridiculous. Xbox Live never goes down, Sony don't give two sh!ts about their customers. Idc if its someone hacking the system, they could at least make more of an effort to get it back online. I am actually so glad I got an Xbox earlier in the year as well, Xbox Live is miles better than PSN.

I just hope so much that it gets fixed like tomorrow. I'm dying to play Portal 2 online, I've finished the single player already. :sad:

To be fair they are doing the right thing, if hackers can bring the PSN down then they can get to everyone's accounts and cause havoc. Best to sort out the problem and make people a little peeved rather then have something liek that happen and have everyone raging.

[Josy]

We sincerely regret that PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been suspended, and we are working around the clock to bring them both back online. Our efforts to resolve this matter involve re-building our system to further strengthen our network infrastructure. Though this task is time-consuming, we decided it was worth the time necessary to provide the system with additional security.

We thank you for your patience to date and ask for a little more while we move towards completion of this project. We will continue to give you updates as they become available.



Another update from the Ps3 blog.

[Niall]

To be fair they are doing the right thing, if hackers can bring the PSN down then they can get to everyone's accounts and cause havoc. Best to sort out the problem and make people a little peeved rather then have something liek that happen and have everyone raging.

Thats true but they could give us more of a time frame as to when everything is gonna be sorted. :sad:

Another update from the Ps3 blog.

I saw that earlier hehe. I wonder why it was hacked..

[Josy]

It was supposed to have been that Anonymous mob that hacked it, I think they have been watching too much V for Vendetta tbh :joker:

[Scarlett.]

They want to bring Sony down for some stupid reason

[Niall]

It was supposed to have been that Anonymous mob that hacked it, I think they have been watching too much V for Vendetta tbh :joker:

:joker:

But srsly they are ruining my life. :bawling:

They want to bring Sony down for some stupid reason

It must've been Geohot (the one that keeps bringing out Playstation hacks) or someone.

[Josy]

I had a good laugh at some of the comments on the ps3 blog yesterday, some people were acting as if it was the end of the world :laugh:

[Niall]

Ikr some people go so over the top. :laugh:

Apparently they put out an update on Twitter on Friday I think saying "So what everyone doing tonight?" and loads of people started tweeting back saying "Well I won't be on PSN. >: (" and stuff like that. :joker:

[Scarlett.]

A Sony representative has posted about the PSN/Qriocity suspension on the PlayStation blog, saying that the company is essentially rebuilding its online system. Patrick Seybold, senior director of Sony's corporate communications and social media, says that the process is time consuming but necessary, and he thanks Sony's customer's for their patience.

"We sincerely regret that PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been suspended, and we are working around the clock to bring them both back online," wrote Seybold. "Our efforts to resolve this matter involve re-building our system to further strengthen our network infrastructure. Though this task is time-consuming, we decided it was worth the time necessary to provide the system with additional security.

"We thank you for your patience to date and ask for a little more while we move towards completion of this project. We will continue to give you updates as they become available."

[Niall]

I want PSN back now askldjfl;asdf :bawling:

[_Seth]

I hope that nothing gets lost from PSN.

When I eventually get my own PS3 I wanna be able to download all the previous stuff I have. =/

[Locke.]

I wanted to play Fifa online for the first time in months today aswell :bored:

When is it expected to come back online?

[Josy]

I wanted to play Fifa online for the first time in months today aswell :bored:

When is it expected to come back online?

No one knows yet.

[Niall]

I wanted to play Fifa online for the first time in months today aswell :bored:

When is it expected to come back online?

They won't say because they are all smelly. :bored:

[BB_Eye]

Very unfortunate blow to Sony... and hopefully a lesson learned.

[Stu]

The design of the entire interface needs a rethink. You turn on the Xbox and adverts and colours rape your brain. Fire up the PlayStation and the dashboard looks like a cavern. The store is just horid too. A child could have designed it better.

[Scarlett.]

It is all rather last gen, the PSN fuctions seem tacked on rather than being integrated

[Patrick]

The PlayStation Network has been down for more than 48 hours now, leaving consumers confused, concerned, and upset.


Oh Boo-Hoo!
Try having to pay for online.

[Niall]

Sony don't give a rats ass about their whole strategy for gamin in general. They seem to just be throwing stuff at the wall and seeing what sticks. :bored:

[Doogle]

Shame really, PS2 remains my favourite console ever, but PS3 is a pile of mess.

Is it only the EU PSN that's down?

[Stu]

Steady on. It's going to have a much longer lifespan than the 360, It's developed an incredibly robust lineup of exclusives, and it's one of the best Blu Ray players on the market.

In no way is the console anything close to being a faliure. And unlike the 360 it clearly has yet to reach it's peak which is exciting.

[Niall]

Is it only the EU PSN that's down?

The whole of PSN is offline. Its horrid. :bored:

Steady on. It's going to have a much longer lifespan than the 360, It's developed an incredibly robust lineup of exclusives, and it's one of the best Blu Ray players on the market.

In no way is the console anything close to being a faliure. And unlike the 360 it clearly has yet to reach it's peak which is exciting.

Thats true but Sony really haven't put as much effort into the PS3 as they should have.

Thats the thing, Sony make amazing hardware but their software, my God its awful. :bored:

[Stu]

I wouldn't go that far. An interface is just an interface. The PSN isin't perfect but I'm more concerned about the games and not the lurvely menus they get picked from. They still don't have the marketing down though. M$ have made the Xbox as cool as an iPOD. Compare it to Sony's marketing strategy and it's just hysterical.

If anything the hardware is a disaster of a double edged sword. The PS3's architecture is in reality almost a generation above the 360's but it hasn't been utilized yet because it's so cumbersome to code for. Developers are only getting the hang of it about now. As a result the 360 get's picked as the primary platform for developing multiplatform games on because of it's ease of use whilst some B-Team office block of hacks get given the task of making an inferior PS3 port.

Virtually every multiplatform title looks slightly worse on PS3 despite it clearly being the stronger platform whereas the titles designed specifically for the PS3 look amazing. Crysis 2 looks hazy and washed out in the port yet you have some of the best graphics ever in MGS4 and Killzone.

[Doogle]

I wouldn't go that far. An interface is just an interface. The PSN isin't perfect but I'm more concerned about the games and not the lurvely menus they get picked from. They still don't have the marketing down though. M$ have made the Xbox as cool as an iPOD. Compare it to Sony's marketing strategy and it's just hysterical.

If anything the hardware is a disaster of a double edged sword. The PS3's architecture is in reality almost a generation above the 360's but it hasn't been utilized yet because it's so cumbersome to code for. Developers are only getting the hang of it about now. As a result the 360 get's picked as the primary platform for developing multiplatform games on because of it's ease of use whilst some B-Team office block of hacks get given the task of making an inferior PS3 port.

Virtually every multiplatform title looks slightly worse on PS3 despite it clearly being the stronger platform whereas the titles designed specifically for the PS3 look amazing. Crysis 2 looks hazy and washed out in the port yet you have some of the best graphics ever in MGS4 and Killzone.
After reading that I see the PS3 in a new light. :joker:

MGS4 is just stunning to look at, let alone play.

[Niall]

I wouldn't go that far. An interface is just an interface. The PSN isin't perfect but I'm more concerned about the games and not the lurvely menus they get picked from. They still don't have the marketing down though. M$ have made the Xbox as cool as an iPOD. Compare it to Sony's marketing strategy and it's just hysterical.

If anything the hardware is a disaster of a double edged sword. The PS3's architecture is in reality almost a generation above the 360's but it hasn't been utilized yet because it's so cumbersome to code for. Developers are only getting the hang of it about now. As a result the 360 get's picked as the primary platform for developing multiplatform games on because of it's ease of use whilst some B-Team office block of hacks get given the task of making an inferior PS3 port.

Virtually every multiplatform title looks slightly worse on PS3 despite it clearly being the stronger platform whereas the titles designed specifically for the PS3 look amazing. Crysis 2 looks hazy and washed out in the port yet you have some of the best graphics ever in MGS4 and Killzone.



Yeah the marketing for the PS3 is piss poor. You rarely, if ever, see an add for PS3 on the telly. But MS have them on near constantly. That really irks me cause it makes me feel like Sony don't give a flying **** about getting their brand known. No wonder their sales lag so far behind the competition. :/

I never knew about coding issues for the PS3 though, I just assumed the difficulty of coding for the thing was on par with the Xbox's. Interesting. :shocked:

In terms of software though, I meant that Sony's software is really half assed. Take PS Home for example. Sony could have made that a brilliant rival for the Xbox avatars if they wanted too. You could've had your home character as your PSN representation of yourself. That would've been amazing. But nope, they just left Home to be the un-intergrated and boring mess it is. :bored: And don't even get me started on PS+.

[Stu]

In terms of sales it's very strong. Last time I checked Xbox was at 45 million worldwide and PS3 was at 42 or something like that. And that's with the 360's year lead.

And yeah MGS4 is the ****. That, Oblivion and Dead Rising 2 and maybe Crackdown are the only games this generation that have made me feel like a kid playing games again.

I love both systems. The system warz is pointless. Except the Wii. That's for tossers, obviously :D.

[Niall]

I love both systems too. The PS3 can be amazing. Blu-Ray films are :love:. And I love my Kinect too hehe. :lovedup:

[Niall]

But srsly Sony, I expect PSN to be up and running tomorrow. ;D

[Josy]

The Ps3 blog hasnt been updated since yesterday but I found the link to this article on the comments section

We're not sure if anyone bothered to call Sony, but when we did so, we were given an estimate: the PSN would be back by Tuesday evening at the earliest or next weekend at the latest. We have no doubt that Sony is working hard to get this resolved but to some, this downtime might be tough to follow.

http://www.psxextreme.com/ps3-news/8946.html

[Scarlett.]

I love my PS3 for Heavy Rain, MGS4 and the Killzone games
I love my Xbox for online crap (and my other games, since I bought this one first)

[RtooDee2]

I see on the Playstation blog, the green light is now on next to the PSN sign.
Thats the first time in 4 days.
Ive been checking every couple of hours and reading some comments.

You can also download game patches now, again the first time in 4 days.

Looks like online is back soon.:elephant:

[Josy]

I see on the Playstation blog, the green light is now on next to the PSN sign.
Thats the first time in 4 days.
Ive been checking every couple of hours and reading some comments.

You can also download game patches now, again the first time in 4 days.

Looks like online is back soon.:elephant:

The blog is green now but the forum is still red.

[Josy]

Update from the US ps3 blog

Thank you for your patience while we work to resolve the current outage of PlayStation Network & Qriocity services. We have a clear path to have PlayStation Network and Qriocity systems back online, and expect to restore some services within a week. We’re working day and night to ensure it is done as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and feedback.

[Doogle]

I doubt they appreciate the feedback they're probably getting. :laugh:

[Scarlett.]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13192359

FAN****ingTASTIC job Sony, you bunch of idiotic monkey ****ers

1. Don't trust ANY emails, consider setting up new email accounts
2. Watch out for mail/telephone scams
3. If you use the same password as you used on PSN for anything else, CHANGE IT, and change your PSN password as soon as it comes back online
4. Keep a CLOSE EYE on your bank statements, make sure EVERY purchase/outgoing fund is accounted for

http://www.gamingtarget.com/images/content/news/ps3spoofad.jpg

[Scarlett.]

Sony is in deep ****, there's Senators and lawyers knocking at their door, they had a legal requirement to inform users of this possiblity as soon as the servers went down, no matter how little proof there was, the press release should have been out last week, not yesterday

[Stu]

It's just legal requirment to inform the public. I doubt anyone's money is going to get stolen.

[_Seth]

I never use PSN but I have bought stuff off there with my credit card. This is worrying stuff. =/

[Locke.]

Don't think I've ever put my credit card details in :)

[Josy]

I already removed my cc details a few months back because someone hacked my account :bored:

[Scarlett.]

I used my debit card for the first time on it about two weeks ago :/

[Niall]

Well done Sony! Brilliant job you've done on building a secure system there! /sarcasm

:bored:

[Tom4784]

It just gets worse and worse, it just makes me glad that I use prepaid cards for online stuff like that. I don't think I'd trust it to hold my credit card details. It's disgraceful how badly they've been compromised though, Sony should have wrapped up those details with tons of firewalls and protection. It's shocking that a small group of people have brought the whole thing to it's knees so badly.

[Ramsay]

thats me ****ed so
DAMN YOU FINAL FANTASY 7!!!

[Doogle]

Oh ****..

[Sam:)]

Thankfully nevr put my debit card details in but i use my psn password for facebook,gmail,tibb,yahoo,windows live,itunes and mymeteor

[Doogle]

Mine has credit card details, and I have 3 accounts.
1 for PSP
1 I made for PS3, but made myself too young to go online on MW2 so had to make ANOTHER one.

Sony have ****ed up majorly, this is a massive thing if people are gonna start losing all the money out their cards and be hacked. :-/

[Doogle]

Mine has credit card details, and I have 3 accounts.
1 for PSP
1 I made for PS3, but made myself too young to go online on MW2 so had to make ANOTHER one.

Sony have ****ed up majorly, this is a massive thing if people are gonna start losing all the money out their cards and be hacked. :-/

[Stu]

Nothing will happen. Banks have more robust systems of security in place than Sony did anyway. They don't just let unauthorized, suspicious transactions happen like clockwork. Unless you are the type of person who is going to not watch out and gullibly respond to every African lottery or viagra email you're going to be alright.

[Doogle]

Nothing will happen. Banks have more robust systems of security in place than Sony did anyway. They don't just let unauthorized, suspicious transactions happen like clockwork. Unless you are the type of person who is going to not watch out and gullibly respond to every African lottery or viagra email you're going to be alright.

My aunt was gullible enough to email her password and email address to an email from "Yahoo!" saying she needed to confirm her account due to lack of email addresses. We had to change the password and change everything on an extremely slow internet today and they probably already hacked everything. :bawling:

[Scarlett.]

Q: Are you working with law enforcement on this matter?
A: Yes, we are currently working with law enforcement on this matter as well as a recognized technology security firm to conduct a complete investigation. This malicious attack against our system and against our customers is a criminal act and we are proceeding aggressively to find those responsible.

Q: Was my personal data encrypted?
A: All of the data was protected, and access was restricted both physically and through the perimeter and security of the network. The entire credit card table was encrypted and we have no evidence that credit card data was taken. The personal data table, which is a separate data set, was not encrypted, but was, of course, behind a very sophisticated security system that was breached in a malicious attack.

Q: Was my credit card data taken?
A: While all credit card information stored in our systems is encrypted and 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. Keep in mind, however that your credit card security code (sometimes called a CVC or CSC number) has not been obtained because we never requested it from anyone who has joined the PlayStation Network or Qriocity, and is therefore not stored anywhere in our system.

Q: What steps should I take at this point to help protect my personal data?
A: 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 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 reports.

Q: What if I don’t know which credit card I’ve got attached to my PlayStation Network account?
A: If you’ve added funds to your PlayStation Network wallet in the past, you should have received a confirmation email from “DoNotReply@ac.playstation.net” at the email address associated with your account. This email would have been sent to you immediately after you added the funds, and will contain the first 4 digits and last 4 digits of your credit card number. You can also check your previous credit card statements to determine which card was attached to your PlayStation Network or Qriocity accounts.

Q: When or how can I change my PlayStation Network password?
A: We are working on a new system software update that will require all users to change their password once PlayStation Network is restored. We will provide more details about the new update shortly.

Q: Have all PlayStation Network and Qriocity users been notified of the situation?
A: In addition to alerting the media and posting information about it on this blog, we have also been sending emails directly to all 77 million registered accounts. It takes a bit of time to send that many emails, and recognize that not every email will still be active, but this process has been underway since yesterday. At this time, the majority of emails have been sent and we anticipate that all registered accounts will have received notifications by April 28th. Consumers may also visit www.us.playstation.com/support and www.qriocity.com for notices regarding this issue. In addition, we have taken steps to disseminate information regarding this issue to media outlets so that consumers are informed.

Q: What steps is Sony taking to protect my personal data in the future?
A: We’ve taken several immediate steps to add protections for your personal data. First, we temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services and, second, we are enhancing security and strengthening our network infrastructure. Moving forward, we are initiating several measures that will significantly enhance all aspects of PlayStation Network’s security and your personal data, including moving our network infrastructure and data center to a new, more secure location, which is already underway. We will provide additional information on these measures shortly.

Q: Has Sony identified the party or parties responsible for the PlayStation Network hack and subsequent theft of personal information?
A: We are currently conducting a thorough investigation of the situation and are working closely with a recognized technology security firm and law enforcement in order to find those responsible for this criminal act no matter where in the world they might be located.

Q: When will the PlayStation Network and Qriocity be back online?
A: Our employees have been working day and night to restore operations as quickly as possible, and we expect to have some services up and running within a week from yesterday. However, we want to be very clear that we will only restore operations when we are confident that the network is secure

It's sounding a little more protected now

[Scarlett.]

Lmao, US Homeland Security is getting involved now, who ever did it is ****ed xD

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

just got this email

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 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.

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 www.eu.playstation.com/psnoutage should you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,
Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment Teams

Sony Network Entertainment Europe Limited (formerly known as PlayStation Network Europe Limited) is a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited the data controller for PlayStation Network/Qriocity personal data

D:

did everybody get one of these? http://i.imgur.com/Iu8a5l.jpg

[Josy]

^ Yeah I got mine about 3 days ago.

[Scarlett.]

They're sending it out to everyone

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

good http://i.imgur.com/Iu8a5l.jpg

i havent used PSN since 2009 http://i.imgur.com/Iu8a5l.jpg

[Niall]

Scott do you have a PS3? :shocked:

[Scarlett.]

Phased Global Rollout of Services to Begin Regionally; System Security Enhanced to Provide Greater Protection of Personal Information.

Tokyo, May 1, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) announced they will shortly begin a phased restoration by region of PlayStation®Network and Qriocity™ services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. The company also announced both a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty.

Following a criminal cyber-attack on the company’s data-center located in San Diego, California, U.S.A., SNEI quickly turned off the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, engaged multiple expert information security firms over the course of several days and conducted an extensive audit of the system. Since then, the company has implemented a variety of new security measures to provide greater protection of personal information. SNEI and its third-party experts have conducted extensive tests to verify the security strength of the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. With these measures in place, SCE and SNEI plan to start a phased rollout by region of the services shortly. The initial phase of the rollout will include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Restoration of Online game-play across the PlayStation®3 (PS3) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems
• This includes titles requiring online verification and downloaded games
• Access to Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity for PS3/PSP for existing subscribers
• Access to account management and password reset
• Access to download un-expired Movie Rentals on PS3, PSP and MediaGo
• PlayStation®Home
• Friends List
• Chat Functionality

Working closely with several outside security firms, the company has implemented significant security measures to further detect unauthorized activity and provide consumers with greater protection of their personal information. The company is also creating the position of Chief Information Security Officer, directly reporting to Shinji Hasejima, Chief Information Officer of Sony Corporation, to add a new position of expertise in and accountability for customer data protection and supplement existing information security personnel. The new security measures implemented include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Added automated software monitoring and configuration management to help defend against new attacks
• Enhanced levels of data protection and encryption
• Enhanced ability to detect software intrusions within the network, unauthorized access and unusual activity patterns
• Implementation of additional firewalls

The company also expedited an already planned move of the system to a new data center in a different location that has been under construction and development for several months. In addition, PS3 will have a forced system software update that will require all registered PlayStation Network users to change their account passwords before being able to sign into the service. As an added layer of security, that password can only be changed on the same PS3 in which that account was activated, or through validated email confirmation, a critical step to help further protect customer data.

The company is conducting a thorough and on-going investigation and working with law enforcement to track down and prosecute those responsible for the illegal intrusion.

“This criminal act against our network had a significant impact not only on our consumers, but our entire industry. These illegal attacks obviously highlight the widespread problem with cyber-security. We take the security of our consumers’ information very seriously and are committed to helping our consumers protect their personal data. In addition, the organization has worked around the clock to bring these services back online, and are doing so only after we had verified increased levels of security across our networks,” said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. “Our global audience of PlayStation Network and Qriocity consumers was disrupted. We have learned lessons along the way about the valued relationship with our consumers, and to that end, we will be launching a customer appreciation program for registered consumers as a way of expressing our gratitude for their loyalty during this network downtime, as we work even harder to restore and regain their trust in us and our services.”

Complimentary Offering and “Welcome Back” Appreciation Program

While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, the company is committed to helping its customers protect their personal data and will provide a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs. The implementation will be at a local level and further details will be made available shortly in each region.

The company will also rollout the PlayStation Network and Qriocity “Welcome Back” program, to be offered worldwide, which will be tailored to specific markets to provide our consumers with a selection of service options and premium content as an expression of the company’s appreciation for their patience, support and continued loyalty.

• Each territory will be offering selected PlayStation entertainment content for free download. Specific details of this content will be announced in each region soon.
• All existing PlayStation Network customers will be provided with 30 days free membership in the PlayStation Plus premium service. Current members of PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days free service.
• Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity subscribers (in countries where the service is available) will receive 30 days free service.

Additional “Welcome Back” entertainment and service offerings will be rolled out over the coming weeks as the company returns the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services to the quality standard users have grown to enjoy and strive to exceed those exceptions.

SNEI will continue to reinforce and verify security for transactions before resuming the PlayStation®Store and other Qriocity operations, scheduled for this month.

For more information about the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services intrusion and restoration, please visit http://blog.us.playstation.com or http://blog.eu.playstation.com/

[Scarlett.]

Phased Global Rollout of Services to Begin Regionally; System Security Enhanced to Provide Greater Protection of Personal Information.

Tokyo, May 1, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) announced they will shortly begin a phased restoration by region of PlayStation®Network and Qriocity™ services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. The company also announced both a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty.

Following a criminal cyber-attack on the company’s data-center located in San Diego, California, U.S.A., SNEI quickly turned off the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, engaged multiple expert information security firms over the course of several days and conducted an extensive audit of the system. Since then, the company has implemented a variety of new security measures to provide greater protection of personal information. SNEI and its third-party experts have conducted extensive tests to verify the security strength of the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services. With these measures in place, SCE and SNEI plan to start a phased rollout by region of the services shortly. The initial phase of the rollout will include, but is not limited to, the following:

• Restoration of Online game-play across the PlayStation®3 (PS3) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems
• This includes titles requiring online verification and downloaded games
• Access to Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity for PS3/PSP for existing subscribers
• Access to account management and password reset
• Access to download un-expired Movie Rentals on PS3, PSP and MediaGo
• PlayStation®Home
• Friends List
• Chat Functionality

Working closely with several outside security firms, the company has implemented significant security measures to further detect unauthorized activity and provide consumers with greater protection of their personal information. The company is also creating the position of Chief Information Security Officer, directly reporting to Shinji Hasejima, Chief Information Officer of Sony Corporation, to add a new position of expertise in and accountability for customer data protection and supplement existing information security personnel. The new security measures implemented include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Added automated software monitoring and configuration management to help defend against new attacks
• Enhanced levels of data protection and encryption
• Enhanced ability to detect software intrusions within the network, unauthorized access and unusual activity patterns
• Implementation of additional firewalls

The company also expedited an already planned move of the system to a new data center in a different location that has been under construction and development for several months. In addition, PS3 will have a forced system software update that will require all registered PlayStation Network users to change their account passwords before being able to sign into the service. As an added layer of security, that password can only be changed on the same PS3 in which that account was activated, or through validated email confirmation, a critical step to help further protect customer data.

The company is conducting a thorough and on-going investigation and working with law enforcement to track down and prosecute those responsible for the illegal intrusion.

“This criminal act against our network had a significant impact not only on our consumers, but our entire industry. These illegal attacks obviously highlight the widespread problem with cyber-security. We take the security of our consumers’ information very seriously and are committed to helping our consumers protect their personal data. In addition, the organization has worked around the clock to bring these services back online, and are doing so only after we had verified increased levels of security across our networks,” said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. “Our global audience of PlayStation Network and Qriocity consumers was disrupted. We have learned lessons along the way about the valued relationship with our consumers, and to that end, we will be launching a customer appreciation program for registered consumers as a way of expressing our gratitude for their loyalty during this network downtime, as we work even harder to restore and regain their trust in us and our services.”

Complimentary Offering and “Welcome Back” Appreciation Program

While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, the company is committed to helping its customers protect their personal data and will provide a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs. The implementation will be at a local level and further details will be made available shortly in each region.

The company will also rollout the PlayStation Network and Qriocity “Welcome Back” program, to be offered worldwide, which will be tailored to specific markets to provide our consumers with a selection of service options and premium content as an expression of the company’s appreciation for their patience, support and continued loyalty.

• Each territory will be offering selected PlayStation entertainment content for free download. Specific details of this content will be announced in each region soon.
• All existing PlayStation Network customers will be provided with 30 days free membership in the PlayStation Plus premium service. Current members of PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days free service.
• Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity subscribers (in countries where the service is available) will receive 30 days free service.

Additional “Welcome Back” entertainment and service offerings will be rolled out over the coming weeks as the company returns the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services to the quality standard users have grown to enjoy and strive to exceed those exceptions.

SNEI will continue to reinforce and verify security for transactions before resuming the PlayStation®Store and other Qriocity operations, scheduled for this month.

For more information about the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services intrusion and restoration, please visit http://blog.us.playstation.com or http://blog.eu.playstation.com/

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

Scott do you have a PS3? :shocked:

no i had a PSP go

[Scarlett.]

PSP Go = ****e, lol

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_cCJ6rxJuTdo/RraSNflykFI/AAAAAAAAADM/YJD-ZKu4A8E/s320/emoticon+hmph.gif

i only had it for like a month

[Scarlett.]

The normal PSP's are much better, I hate the idea of games going digital

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

ive had all 4 psps :amazed:

[Scarlett.]

Will you get the NGP though? :3

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

idek what it is

-googles-

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

probably not http://i.imgur.com/Iu8a5l.jpg

[Scarlett.]

But it's a proper successor and not just a new model lol

[Tom4784]

The normal PSP's are much better, I hate the idea of games going digital

I doubt we'll see anything like the PSP Go again for a long time, it was a huge failure. Proper games will never fully be digitally sold I think, people don't mind spending odd change on an arcade title or an app but full price games are different story, We'll see games on demand I think since it works decently enough for the Xbox but I don't think we'll ever get another totally digital based platform.

[Fetch The Bolt Cutters]

But it's a proper successor and not just a new model lol

i dont really like portables though :sad:

[Scarlett.]

I doubt we'll see anything like the PSP Go again for a long time, it was a huge failure. Proper games will never fully be digitally sold I think, people don't mind spending odd change on an arcade title or an app but full price games are different story, We'll see games on demand I think since it works decently enough for the Xbox but I don't think we'll ever get another totally digital based platform.

I've bought one or two games on demand on the Xbox, they work decently enough, but I only use them when it isn't convinent to go to the shop, for a game I like, I'd prefer a hard copy xD

[Niall]

no i had a PSP go

Ew. :yuk:

[Niall]

Sony's just announced that a "phased restoration" of PlayStation Network and Qriocity is beginning today, and that online gaming, Music Unlimited, Netflix, Hulu, Vudu and MLB.TV should rolling out right now in Europe and North America. That and there is software update 3.61 which will force you to change your PSN account password.

The U.S is already completely back online, I was just about to check my PS3 to see if Europe is on again.

Here's an apology video and shizzle from Kaz Hirai the C.E.O of Sony:

2tHl6O5Sp8w&feature=player_embedded

Well at least we've finally had some good news. :')

[Stu]

[traded in PS3 already]

[Niall]

[traded in PS3 already]

:shocked: :joker::joker::joker:

[Glenn.]

Is it back online now then?

[Niall]

I'm updating now hehe.

[Niall]

Its still dead here. *Bombs Sony's headquarters*

[Josy]

Still offline here too :bored:

[Ramsay]

downloading a system update now

[Patrick]

http://cdn.aussie-gamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/xbox-live.png

[Ramsay]

http://cdn.aussie-gamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/xbox-live.png



xbox got hacked a few years ago and was down for 2 weeks

[Stu]

http://cdn.aussie-gamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/xbox-live.png


http://www.legaljuice.com/yawn%20big%20funny.jpg

[Niall]

http://cdn.aussie-gamer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/xbox-live.png



*Has this*

[Ramsay]

its back for me now
playing killzone 2 its all fine :)

[Niall]

WAT?! :amazed:

*Checks PS3*

[Niall]

askldhgkljhdsfjklg YAY I CAN FINALLY PLAY PORTAL 2 ONLINE. :amazed:

[Ramsay]

i want the 2 free games we were promised lol

[Niall]

Oh yeah I forgot about that. http://i.imgur.com/Iu8a5.png

I wonder if they'll let us have the CoD map pack for free. :amazed:

[Locke.]

Right

Where is all this free crap

[Josy]

Right

Where is all this free crap

Probably get it when the store is back online.

[Doogle]

Will go on tomorrow. :D

[Ramsay]

Now that certain PSN services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming, it seems a good time to confirm what is being offered as part of the Welcome Back programme.
Once we restore PlayStation Store, which will be just a little while longer, you will have the opportunity to claim your Welcome Back gifts. Please note that the Welcome Back programme is only available for those countries with access to PlayStation Store*.
All existing PlayStation Network members will be able to access the following from PlayStation Store*:
Two PS3 games from the following list:
LittleBigPlanet
Infamous*
Wipeout HD/Fury
Ratchet and Clank: Quest for Booty
Dead Nation*
For those with PSP accounts, you will also be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list:
LittleBigPlanet PSP
ModNation PSP
Pursuit Force
Killzone Liberation*
- 30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PS Plus subscribers*
- Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will be given 60 days free subscription.
- For existing Music Unlimited subscribers, you will be given 30 days free subscription.
- We are working on a Welcome Back offer in PlayStation Home and will share that when it is confirmed.
I would like to thank all of the developers and publishers involved in this programme for their support in making this happen. We certainly couldn’t have done it without you.
You will be able to access this content once PlayStation Store comes back online and we are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible.
Thank you for your support and keep checking back on the blog for more information.
For eligibility for the welcome back programme consumers must be an account holder on 20 April 2011. Specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live. All existing PSN registrants have 30 days from when the welcome back programme goes live to redeem their content.
For the German market, InFamous and Dead Nation will be replace with Super Stardust HD and Hustle Kings in the selection of PS3 games.
For the German market, Pursuit Force and Killzone Liberation will be replaced with Everybody’s Golf 2 and Buzz Junior Jungle Party in the selection of PSP games. Killzone Liberation will not offer online gameplay functionality.
Access to the 30 days free PS Plus subscription is only available for those countries where PS Plus is offered. You will have access to the PS Plus content planned for May for 30 days. Access to the free games and exclusive features finishes at the end of the 30-day subscription period. Anything you buy with exclusive discounts, dynamic themes and premium avatars are yours to keep forever.

Infamous and Littlebigplanet so :dance::dance:

[Niall]

*Has LittleBigPlanet already* :mad:

[MeMyselfAndI]

*Has LittleBigPlanet already* :mad:

this D:

[MeMyselfAndI]

I'll pick between Dead Nation, Ratchet and Clank and Infamous

[Scarlett.]

Sony's PlayStation Network headaches continue to mount, with the discovery of an exploit on the company's website. In response to the issue, which allowed unauthorized users to reset PSN account passwords, Sony has temporarily shut down access to accounts on its site.

Eurogamer says it saw the exploit in action via a live demonstration after it was reported on by Nylevia. Essentially, hackers with access to the e-mail address associated with an account and the account holder's birthdate could reset the password, blocking the original user from accessing his account.

Sony has shut down that functionality on its site, and posted a statement simply saying that the server is currently down for maintenance. There's no word on how long it will be until it's restored.

[Niall]

Well done Sony! :amazed:

I see that month and a half period you took to make everything secure was very productive! :amazed:


:bored:

[Scarlett.]

They really are just being plain dumb now

[Niall]

Ikr. :bored:

[King Gizzard]

Some people on my twitter were saying/retweeting people who had people log in on their accounts :shocked:

There is only one answer

http://images.dailytech.com/nimage/5305_xbox_360.jpg

[Niall]

That's the old Xbox. New Xbox >>>>

http://cdn3.afterdawn.fi/v3/news/xbox_360_slim_console.png

*Has new Xbox + Kinect* :lovedup:

[King Gizzard]

old xbox is classic and i will never get rid of it

[Niall]

But the old one gets red rings. :thumbs2:

[King Gizzard]

I've had mine since 06/07 and have had no RRoD :thumbs2:

[Niall]

You'll get them soon. http://www.greendaycommunity.org/Forum/public/style_emoticons/Dark/hmph.png

[LaLaLand]

Definitely going to be getting Little Big Planet and R&C!

[King Gizzard]

i'm going to get the playstation 1 and get all the tony hawks games :thumbs2:

[Stu]

They are really, really dated. Tried that a few months ago. Sure THPS3 onwards are all backwards compatible on the Xbox. Get them.

[Niall]

Playstation Store is back up! You can get your free PSN+ and games now. :amazed: I'm downloading Infamous atm. :amazed:

[Doogle]

I thought it was down again?! :conf: http://oi56.tinypic.com/23ubh3b.jpg

By the way Niall, what's your PSN name?

[Niall]

No that was just another Sony website that got hacked.

My PSN is: Niall50 (very unique, I know :joker:) .

[Doogle]

No that was just another Sony website that got hacked.

My PSN is: Niall50 (very unique, I know :joker:) .

Oh ahaha. I don't care about other Sony stuff. :amazed: I just panicked thinking it was PSN.

And haha yeah very good name. ;) Mine was Doogle3097 (duh) but then I made myself too young and couldn't play COD online, so yah it's Doogle_666 now.

Some prick in Year 8 stalks me around school shouting "DOOGLE_666" and calls me a nerd for having a PSN account, yet he's on it every day just to see if I'm online, and I go on my PS3 like once a month. :joker:

[Niall]

666?! DEVIL CHILD! :hugesmile:

And thank you hehe, I made that name in Year 9. And lmao. :joker:

[Doogle]

Ikr, LOL. Not as bad as my original one for the PSP which I made in Year 7.

DoogleNinjaKid

[Niall]

Lmfao Doogle omfg. :laugh2: Ah well we all make stupid names for stuff when we're younger. :laugh:

[Doogle]

I know haha. I have some really embarassing usernames on websites. :joker:

But now I have 3 ****ing PSN accounts which was a nightmare when trying to transfer my PS1 classics from PSP to PS3, and when PSN was down I was extra scared since I had 3 accounts.

Only 2 of them had account details though.

[Niall]

Lmao. :laugh:

Well I don't think anyone actually got ahold of credit card info and shizz so I think we're all relatively safe for now hehe. http://oi54.tinypic.com/rm5w6q.jpg

[Doogle]

I hope so. :tongue:

Ugh my internet is so slow, it's gonna take a year to download the free games. :bored:

-doesn't know what games to get-

[Niall]

I'm getting Infamous and WipEout HD. :amazed:

[Niall]

There's more free shizzle in PS Home as well. :amazed:

[Doogle]

My internet wont load PS Home :bawling:

I'm gonna go on my PS3 in a bit and see what free games I can get.

Do you just go to download it and you just get it free or what? :tongue:

[Niall]

Well you have to download a thingy that lets you get them for free first. Thenyou can get two free games.

It'll make sense when you see it on the PS Store yourself. :tongue:

[Doogle]

Okay. omg I bet it takes like 3 hours to download the "thingy". :bored:

[Niall]

No the thingy isn't even a proper file. Ahh its hard to explain pmsl. Just go and have a look on your PS3. :tongue:

[Doogle]

Okay but it's upstairs and omfg it's nearly 4 and I haven't even had a shower. :bored:

Right, I'm off to get washed and dressed, download some free games and play them all day hehe.

Bye for now. :wavey:

[Niall]

Hehe au revoir. :wavey:

[Stu]

InFamous is really quite dire stuff. It sounds great on paper but it's dull and repetetive.

Wipeout is ace though. Full of bright colours and weird electronic music. It was originally made for the PSP though so the races are annoyingly short.

[Niall]

Oh. :/ Well Infamous is a freebie so I guess I can't complain. I didn't want Rachet and Clank at all. :yuk:

And yaay I had a WipEout demo on my PSP before and I really liked it. :')

Tbh though, all the other free choices look ****. ¬_¬

[Iceman]

PlayStation Network is to go offline for a second time this week, Sony has announced.

The service will be unavailable from 5pm to 7pm BST tonight for scheduled maintenance, according to Eurogamer.

Testing will continue to around 9pm, but it is understood that all services will be usable after 7pm.

All PlayStation Network features, including the PlayStation Store, account registration and management, will be unavailable.

Users who wish to play throughout the maintenance period are recommended to sign in before 5pm.

PlayStation Network went offline on Monday "for testing purposes", and saw a period of unannounced downtime last week.

[Niall]

^And thats why I shall be buying the New CoD on my Xbox. c:

[Iceman]

^And thats why I shall be buying the New CoD on my Xbox. c:

:bored:

[Iceman]

Sony has confirmed that a third-party has tried to access 93,000 active accounts using a "compromised list" from outside the company.

The firm said in a statement released to the media on Wednesday evening that "a large amount of unauthorised sign-in attempts" had been made across networks including the PlayStation Network (PSN).

Other networks affected include the Sony Entertainment Network and Sony Online Entertainment.

Confirming that the affected accounts have been locked and customers informed, Sony's statement added: "Credit card numbers associated with these accounts are not at risk as a result of these unauthorised attempts.

"Only a small fraction of these 93,000 accounts showed additional activity prior to being locked. We are continuing to investigate the extent of unauthorised activity on any of these accounts."

Sony also stressed that the information is not thought to have come from its secure servers, but from "a large amount of data obtained from one or more compromised lists from other companies, sites or other sources".

The company added that this is because the data tested included pairs of usernames and passwords and that "an overwhelming majority" of attempts to access accounts failed.

All affected customers will be asked to perform a secure password reset.

The PlayStation Network was taken down in April following hacker activity. Sony executive Tim Schaaff recently described the hacking as "a great learning experience", but added: "I would not like to do it again."

> Sony Pictures website targeted by hackers

Sony's statement in full:

We want to let you know that we have detected attempts on Sony Entertainment Network, PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment ("Networks") services to test a massive set of sign-in IDs and passwords against our network database. These attempts appear to include a large amount of data obtained from one or more compromised lists from other companies, sites or other sources.

In this case, given that the data tested against our network consisted of sign-in ID-password pairs, and that the overwhelming majority of the pairs resulted in failed matching attempts, it is likely the data came from another source and not from our Networks. We have taken steps to mitigate the activity.

Less than one-tenth of one percent (0.1%) of our PSN, SEN and SOE audience may have been affected. There were approximately 93,000 accounts globally (PSN/SEN: approximately 60,000 accounts; SOE: approximately 33,000) where the attempts succeeded in verifying those accounts' valid sign-in IDs and passwords, and we have temporarily locked these accounts.

Only a small fraction of these 93,000 accounts showed additional activity prior to being locked. We are currently reviewing those accounts for unauthorised access, and will provide more updates as we have them.

Please note, if you have a credit card associated with your account, your credit card number is not at risk. We will work with any users whom we confirm have had unauthorised purchases made to restore amounts in the PSN/SEN or SOE wallet.

As a preventative measure, we are requiring secure password resets for those PSN/SEN accounts that had both a sign-in ID and password match through this attempt. If you are in the small group of PSN/SEN users who may have been affected, you will receive an email from us at the address associated with your account that will prompt you to reset your password.

Similarly, the SOE accounts that were matched have been temporarily turned off. If you are among the small group of affected SOE customers, you will receive an email from us at the address associated with your account that will advise you on next steps in order to validate your account credentials and have your account turned back on.

We want to take this opportunity to remind our consumers about the increasingly common threat of fraudulent activity online, as well as the importance of having a strong password and having a username/password combination that is not associated with other online services or sites. We encourage you to choose unique, hard-to-guess passwords and always look for unusual activity in your account.

[Niall]

Fgs Sony. :bored:

[Ramsay]

Lolzerz

[Niall]

Its actually silly that a massive conglomerate like themselves can't get their **** together to create a secure network. Microsoft can do it. Why can't they? :bored: