PSN & SEO Outage and Security Breach

[TheLaughingMan]

Hmmm. Is PSN currently down for anyone else? Last time i managed to login was like friday. And since it's been giving me errors. And it's not my connection, when i go to make the network test it's the PSN that fails. I've caught many similar posts a few days ago but nothing confirming it for 3 days straight and still today...What's up?
It's running worse currently then when Anonymus were hacking it. :sweat:

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Hmmm. Is PSN currently down for anyone else? Last time i managed to login was like friday. And since it's been giving me errors. And it's not my connection, when i go to make the network test it's the PSN that fails. I've caught many similar posts a few days ago but nothing confirming it for 3 days straight and still today...What's up?
It's running worse currently then when Anonymus were hacking it. :sweat:
Yes I'm having issues logging in at times and I keep getting the error code 8010072. Sony for some reason is keeping tight lipped on the subject. I also have noticed that the playstation blog is down as well. I have been able to get into the store on occasions. From what I am reading on the US Playstation forums it looks like it's affecting people around the world.

[joelgundam01]

Hmmm. Is PSN currently down for anyone else? Last time i managed to login was like friday. And since it's been giving me errors. And it's not my connection, when i go to make the network test it's the PSN that fails. I've caught many similar posts a few days ago but nothing confirming it for 3 days straight and still today...What's up?
It's running worse currently then when Anonymus were hacking it. :sweat:
Yes I'm having issues logging in at times and I keep getting the error code 8010072. Sony for some reason is keeping tight lipped on the subject. I also have noticed that the playstation blog is down as well. I have been able to get into the store on occasions. From what I am reading on the US Playstation forums it looks like it's affecting people around the world.

Sony's CS department seems to be informed. According to them, they are adding more servers to the PSN this week. This will of coarse create disruptions in the service, especially during the busy hours.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Hmmm. Is PSN currently down for anyone else? Last time i managed to login was like friday. And since it's been giving me errors. And it's not my connection, when i go to make the network test it's the PSN that fails. I've caught many similar posts a few days ago but nothing confirming it for 3 days straight and still today...What's up?
It's running worse currently then when Anonymus were hacking it. :sweat:
Yes I'm having issues logging in at times and I keep getting the error code 8010072. Sony for some reason is keeping tight lipped on the subject. I also have noticed that the playstation blog is down as well. I have been able to get into the store on occasions. From what I am reading on the US Playstation forums it looks like it's affecting people around the world.

Sony's CS department seems to be informed. According to them, they are adding more servers to the PSN this week. This will of coarse create disruptions in the service, especially during the busy hours.
Well that's some good news, thanks.

[TnAdct1]

That's odd, PSN was working fine more me when I was downloading various classic outfits for Mortal Kombat.

[joelgundam01]

That's odd, PSN was working fine more me when I was downloading various classic outfits for Mortal Kombat.

It works fine during this time of day, since the amount of traffic is pretty normal. It's the evenings when it gets hectic and that when you'll notice the problems.

[Darkex]

Hmmm. Is PSN currently down for anyone else? Last time i managed to login was like friday. And since it's been giving me errors. And it's not my connection, when i go to make the network test it's the PSN that fails. I've caught many similar posts a few days ago but nothing confirming it for 3 days straight and still today...What's up?
It's running worse currently then when Anonymus were hacking it. :sweat:
Yes I'm having issues logging in at times and I keep getting the error code 8010072. Sony for some reason is keeping tight lipped on the subject. I also have noticed that the playstation blog is down as well. I have been able to get into the store on occasions. From what I am reading on the US Playstation forums it looks like it's affecting people around the world.
Was working fine for me yesterday, didn't have time to go online today yet.

[broodwars]

Yeah, PSN's been extremely flaky the last few days, but it seems to be working fine today. For a while, I thought Anonymous had gotten bored and had decided to take down the PSN again.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Yeah, PSN's been extremely flaky the last few days, but it seems to be working fine today. For a while, I thought Anonymous had gotten bored and had decided to take down the PSN again.
Looks like Sony has finally given an official statement on the blackouts. It doesn't look good.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/21/latest-update-on-psn-outage/

[Betenoire]

The network going down was a combo of hacker attacks and Sony taking the system down to investigate.

Link (http://www.destructoid.com/sony-admits-hackers-have-taken-down-playstation-network-199468.phtml).

Love how Sony felt being silent was a good idea...

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

The network going down was a combo of hacker attacks and Sony taking the system down to investigate.

Link (http://www.destructoid.com/sony-admits-hackers-have-taken-down-playstation-network-199468.phtml).

Love how Sony felt being silent was a good idea...
Yeah it's really messed up they waited nearly five days to tell us. Also Anonymous is denying any responsibility this time.

[guyverfanboy]

Rampant Piracy May be to Blame for PSN Downtime (http://www.1up.com/news/rampant-piracy-blame-psn-downtime)

[Ryos]

Rampant Piracy May be to Blame for PSN Downtime (http://www.1up.com/news/rampant-piracy-blame-psn-downtime)

Just one more reason why the download only scheme will never work. It may be there in part to decrease piracy, but where there's a will, there will always be a way...

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

If you use a credit card to make PSN purchases Sony says if can't be certain info is safe.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6310198.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1
Thankfully I don't, I just buy PSN cards.

[Kaikou]

If you use a credit card to make PSN purchases Sony says if can't be certain info is safe.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6310198.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1
Thankfully I don't, I just buy PSN cards.

Crap. Oh well, just gotta keep an eye on my CC that is on file.

[stfram]

Thankfully I don't, I just buy PSN cards.

As do I. No reason not too, unless one has no Target or BB nearby.

[Betenoire]

Thankfully I don't, I just buy PSN cards.

As do I. No reason not too, unless one has no Target or BB nearby.

Unless one just wanted a small $10 or so expansion set and cards don't come in that denomination-or if they do they aren't carried at nearby stores.

[Ryos]

If you use a credit card to make PSN purchases Sony says if can't be certain info is safe.

http://www.gamespot.com/news/6310198.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1
Thankfully I don't, I just buy PSN cards.

Crap. Oh well, just gotta keep an eye on my CC that is on file.

Honestly, if you use a credit/debit card anywhere, it is susceptible to be hijacked. Taking a look at the particulars here, I doubt anything financial was compromised in this particular attack, but you should always keep a close eye on statements for any/all cards for signs of fraud. Especially small charge amounts because those are more easily overlooked than several thousand dollars at a sports place or adult phone number or whatever. It's so easy to steal information that I would never use a debit card except in a dire emergency.

[Betenoire]

And now it is personal data and maybe credit card numbers... (http://kotaku.com/#!5795913/sony-comes-clean-playstation-network-hackers-have-stolen-personal-data)

Real nice with the communication Sony. Sure makes me want to sign up for their plus service now.

[EnigmaticWarrior]

And now it is personal data and maybe credit card numbers... (http://kotaku.com/#!5795913/sony-comes-clean-playstation-network-hackers-have-stolen-personal-data)

Real nice with the communication Sony. Sure makes me want to sign up for their plus service now.

:cry:

Oh my God. Ugh...

[Ryos]

And now it is personal data and maybe credit card numbers... (http://kotaku.com/#!5795913/sony-comes-clean-playstation-network-hackers-have-stolen-personal-data)

Real nice with the communication Sony. Sure makes me want to sign up for their plus service now.

If they got that much information, I'd be surprised if they didn't have the card numbers too. I'd suggest a fraud alert as a precaution for affected users with credit cards on the service.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Well I don't know if this is just a US thing but someone in the Sony higharchey needs to if not fired at least be demoted for allowing such weak security. Personalty I blame the "VP of PSN security" KEVIN BUTLER!! lol :P

[stfram]

Unless one just wanted a small $10 or so expansion set and cards don't come in that denomination-or if they do they aren't carried at nearby stores.

I can get $10 PSN cards at my local BB and Target, and probably Walmart and 7-11. :)

[DiGiKerot]

And now it is personal data and maybe credit card numbers... (http://kotaku.com/#%215795913/sony-comes-clean-playstation-network-hackers-have-stolen-personal-data)

Real nice with the communication Sony. Sure makes me want to sign up for their plus service now.

If they got that much information, I'd be surprised if they didn't have the card numbers too. I'd suggest a fraud alert as a precaution for affected users with credit cards on the service.

There's been people over at GAF complaining about fraudulent charges for the last couple of days now. It was just being written off as coincidence, but after this, the timing seems suspect enough for me to assume the worst.

[Darkex]

And now it is personal data and maybe credit card numbers... (http://kotaku.com/#%215795913/sony-comes-clean-playstation-network-hackers-have-stolen-personal-data)

Don't have any credit card data stored in my account, I prefer to buy PSN cards. It saves me some money.

[TnAdct1]

With this piece of information, I am very upset at two certain beings.

The first being is obviously Sony itself. Face it, Sony should have told people about the hacker attack stealing people's information on day 1, not wait a few days to do so. Not saying anything until now would have given the hacker plenty of time to ruin numerous people's credit ratings with fraudulent purchases. Also, the fact that Sony is not going to reimburse PSN users who couldn't go online last week and this week (especially PSN users and those who are playing DC Universe Online) is going to alienate a lot of people from the Playstation brand.

However, the main person I'm mad at is the hacker himself. Basically, what he has done has pretty much affected not Sony, but the over 75 million PSN users whom he committed identity theft on (and deprived them of enjoying video gaming online and a week of PSN store releases). I really hope that the hacker gets a very strict jail sentence when he gets captured, cause he deserves it after what he did.

[Nork22]

And now it is personal data and maybe credit card numbers... (http://kotaku.com/#!5795913/sony-comes-clean-playstation-network-hackers-have-stolen-personal-data)

Real nice with the communication Sony. Sure makes me want to sign up for their plus service now.

Meh... I'm rather indifferent. If my CC has been compromised, my bank is usually good in handling a replacement card and all the fraud charges. It just means that I have to update a few other online stores/Paypal that store my CC details.

[ellone]

The first being is obviously Sony itself. Face it, Sony should have told people about the hacker attack stealing people's information on day 1, not wait a few days to do so. Not saying anything until now would have given the hacker plenty of time to ruin numerous people's credit ratings with fraudulent purchases.

Having your credit card number stolen does not affect your credit rating. It's not the same as identity theft (when they get your SSN). You report the fraudulent charges to the credit card company, they cancel the card and have you sign something that states you didn't make the charges and you move on. Sometimes the credit card company can spot the fraudulent charges before you do. Chase has stopped some for me.

[EnigmaticWarrior]

Clarifying a Few PSN Points (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/26/clarifying-a-few-psn-points/)

I wanted to take this opporuntity to clarify a point and answer one of the most frequently asked questions today.

There’s a difference in timing between when we identified there was an intrusion and when we learned of consumers’ data being compromised. We learned there was an intrusion April 19th and subsequently shut the services down. We then brought in outside experts to help us learn how the intrusion occurred and to conduct an investigation to determine the nature and scope of the incident. It was necessary to conduct several days of forensic analysis, and it took our experts until yesterday to understand the scope of the breach. We then shared that information with our consumers and announced it publicly this afternoon.

For those who were looking there’s also an FAQ with some more frequently asked questions (http://us.playstation.com/support/answer/index.htm?a_id=2356).

Thank you for your continued patience and support.

[stfram]

11. I want my money back (subscription fee, content) since the PSN/Qriocity was not available.

While we are still assessing the impact of this incident, we recognize that this may have had financial impact on our loyal customers. We are currently reviewing options and will update you when the service is restored.


This could get expensive for Sony...

With that said, if they offer me a months extension for PS+, or a free game or two, I won't complain.

[broodwars]

This could get expensive for Sony...

With that said, if they offer me a months extension for PS+, or a free game or two, I won't complain.

Indeed, I'm in a similar place. If I were looking at this objectively, I have every reason to never buy a Sony product again after this. They designed half-assed security for PSN that they couldn't even bother to keep tabs on for three days while these hackers did their damage, and then they didn't even bother to warn me that my Identity is now possibly in significant danger.

That said, I really love playing games on my PS3, as well as now my PSP. I'm really interested in future Sony titles and consoles. I have exactly 0 faith that Nintendo will churn out a console that will satisfy me, and I really dislike Microsoft's 1st party titles, so Sony's the only game in town after that. If Sony handles this the right way with something like that (or even more significant), than I'll probably be satisfied.

[Tratious]

glad I use PSN Cards....

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

This could get messy if companies have delay upcoming games for a significant amount of time cause of the hack.

[lockmastah]

I split off this discussion from the existing PSN thread since the other one is fairly general and this issue is critical enough to warrant a separate topic.

[lockmastah]

This could get messy if companies have delay upcoming games for a significant amount of time cause of the hack.

Unless PSN is back up this week, some downloadable games will be delayed at least a little. Regular titles sold on disc will still be released on schedule.

[TnAdct1]

11. I want my money back (subscription fee, content) since the PSN/Qriocity was not available.

While we are still assessing the impact of this incident, we recognize that this may have had financial impact on our loyal customers. We are currently reviewing options and will update you when the service is restored.


This could get expensive for Sony...

With that said, if they offer me a months extension for PS+, or a free game or two, I won't complain.
That's pretty much what I was expecting in the first place when it comes to reimbursement for the downtime.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

This could get messy if companies have delay upcoming games for a significant amount of time cause of the hack.

Unless PSN is back up this week, some downloadable games will be delayed at least a little. Regular titles sold on disc will still be released on schedule.
True, However some expansion packs and of course DLC could be affected by a long term outage. I have a feeling it will several more days at least before PSN starts to come back online since they have said they are in the process of "Rebuilding" it. BTW thanks for splitting this topic off into it's own folder.

[demonix00]

This could get messy if companies have delay upcoming games for a significant amount of time cause of the hack.

Unless PSN is back up this week, some downloadable games will be delayed at least a little. Regular titles sold on disc will still be released on schedule.

Well the latest is that they're expecting some services will be back on in around 6 days time (but I'm not holding my breath on that).

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Now Sony is saying that credit card info was encrypted and that there is no evidence that the info was stolen. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6310549.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1

At this point It's hard to believe a whole lot they say.

[Citizen Klaus]

Now Sony is saying that credit card info was encrypted and that there is no evidence that the info was stolen. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6310549.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1

At this point It's hard to believe a whole lot they say.

Either way, my bank advised me to close my CC account and have them issue me a new card.

This whole thing has become a royal pain in the ass.

[Senku]

Now Sony is saying that credit card info was encrypted and that there is no evidence that the info was stolen. http://www.gamespot.com/news/6310549.html?tag=latestheadlines%3Btitle%3B1

At this point It's hard to believe a whole lot they say.

Since I run the money for the household, I use online banking almost every day. So at least for me, I won't have to go out of my way to check for fraud.

I'm secretly hoping for free passes to the plus service for x amount of time.

[guyverfanboy]

Sony sued over PlayStation Network hack (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110429/ts_afp/usjapanitinternetvideogamescrimetrialsony)

[Ryos]

Sony sued over PlayStation Network hack (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110429/ts_afp/usjapanitinternetvideogamescrimetrialsony)

I'm surprised it took this long for some gold digger to strike.

[Betenoire]

Sony sued over PlayStation Network hack (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110429/ts_afp/usjapanitinternetvideogamescrimetrialsony)

All 77 million memebers have been contacted via E-mail?

Well then they missed one as I wasn't.

[stfram]

Well then they missed one as I wasn't.

I got an email. You must be special! :)

[joelgundam01]

Well then they missed one as I wasn't.

I got an email. You must be special! :)

Nope! I didn't receive one either and I have two PSN accounts.

[Sensuifu]

Well then they missed one as I wasn't.

I got an email. You must be special! :)

Nope! I didn't receive one either and I have two PSN accounts.

I got the e-mail, for both of mine (US/JP).

[Ryos]

Well then they missed one as I wasn't.

I got an email. You must be special! :)

Nope! I didn't receive one either and I have two PSN accounts.

Just to make sure, did you check your spam folders? I'm just curious because it looks like it was an automated email sent to everyone with an account. It was kind of pointless since everything in the email was pretty much guessed days earlier, but eh. :P

[joelgundam01]

Well then they missed one as I wasn't.

I got an email. You must be special! :)

Nope! I didn't receive one either and I have two PSN accounts.

Just to make sure, did you check your spam folders?

Yep!

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

So it looks like Kaz Hirai is going to hold a press conference in Tokyo Sunday afternoon to address the PSN hack directly to the media. It will take place at 2pm(Japan time) 1am EST/10pm PST in the US.

[EnigmaticWarrior]

Press Release: Some PlayStation Network and Qriocity Services to be Available This Week (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/30/press-release-some-playstation-network-and-qriocity-services-to-be-available-this-week/)

SOME PLAYSTATION®NETWORK AND QRIOCITY™ SERVICES TO BE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
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.

Central components of the “Welcome Back” program will include:


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/

About Sony Corporation

Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $78 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.

Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.

[nekonene]

damnit sony.. i wanted catgirl maids! This is the only thing that can sooth my CoD withdrawal! :catgirl:

[Fencedude]

I just want my damn Dynasty Warriors 7 DLC already.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Well I'm glad to see they are going to make amends to us with some free stuff.

[Betenoire]

Well I'm glad to see they are going to make amends to us with some free stuff.

Bet you have to agree to terms to get it and hidden deep in their user agreement (possibly even the newest one they update) will be a tiny line about not holdin Sony responsible for site hacks and waving all right to become part of a class action suit. :devil:

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Well I'm glad to see they are going to make amends to us with some free stuff.

Bet you have to agree to terms to get it and hidden deep in their user agreement (possibly even the newest one they update) will be a tiny line about not holdin Sony responsible for site hacks and waving all right to become part of a class action suit. :devil:
Yeah I'll bet they will have something like that up there sleeve but I have no plans to join that suit just to get like 5 dollars out of it. :P
Kinda sucks we have to change our login password but oh well. Also we will have to download a new firmware update - Joy! That will take about half an hour. Looks like the store will not be online right away next week when they turn it back on.

[Ryos]

Yeah I'll bet they will have something like that up there sleeve but I have no plans to join that suit just to get like 5 dollars out of it. :P
Kinda sucks we have to change our login password but oh well. Also we will have to download a new firmware update - Joy! That will take about half an hour. Looks like the store will not be online right away next week when they turn it back on.

Judging by the previous Google lawsuit, it actually would be closer to about $.60. Don't go spending that all in one place! Considering what's happened in terms of the breach, a forced password change should not be surprising.

[TnAdct1]

I just want my damn Dynasty Warriors 7 DLC already. As for me, I want my Mortal Kombat DLC (which is supposed to start this week according to Toys R Us).

BTW, I hope the "valid email confirmation" bit isn't complicated, as the system that I activated my account on stopped playing BD-games properly in December 2009, with me going to Best Buy to exchange it for a new system.

[Daichi]

I haven't minded the outage that much. Plus, a free 30 day PSN+ subscription & some games definitely don't hurt.

[Citizen Klaus]

damnit sony.. i wanted catgirl maids! This is the only thing that can sooth my CoD withdrawal! :catgirl:

"Master... is everything okay-nya? Did you make sure to change your passwords-nya? Will you still have money to buy Momo's milk and tuna-nya?"

[cutliquidsnake]

If I can get some free PS1 classics (Xenogears or Wiild Arms or something) that would be all I need. :)

[demonix00]

I just want my damn Dynasty Warriors 7 DLC already. As for me, I want my Mortal Kombat DLC (which is supposed to start this week according to Toys R Us).

BTW, I hope the "valid email confirmation" bit isn't complicated, as the system that I activated my account on stopped playing BD-games properly in December 2009, with me going to Best Buy to exchange it for a new system.

I'm guessing that process is just sending a e-mail with a link to reset the password (which is the process I'll have to go through since my account (at least for my UK account) was created over the web and not on a PS3).

[Ryos]

http://ca.kotaku.com/5797858/more-than-12700-credit-cards-stolen-from-sony-online-entertainment

Sony should fire their security guys. All of them. Seriously.

[Betenoire]

http://ca.kotaku.com/5797858/more-than-12700-credit-cards-stolen-from-sony-online-entertainment

Sony should fire their security guys. All of them. Seriously.

And also just cut their servers hardlines until they figure out what the hell they are going to do about this. Good god this is some high level incompetence going on.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

http://ca.kotaku.com/5797858/more-than-12700-credit-cards-stolen-from-sony-online-entertainment

Sony should fire their security guys. All of them. Seriously.

And also just cut their servers hardlines until they figure out what the hell they are going to do about this. Good god this is some high level incompetence going on.
The way things are going they will have to spend most of there E3 time saying "oops our bad"

[stfram]

I haven't minded the outage that much. Plus, a free 30 day PSN+ subscription & some games definitely don't hurt.

Agreed.

An extra month of PS+ (my prediction was right!) and free games with soothe whatever irritation I had (which is not much).

[stfram]

The way things are going they will have to spend most of there E3 time saying "oops our bad"

"Look at the NGP! Ooh, pretty colors!"

[cutliquidsnake]

I feel really bad for Playstation customer service right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wiwmn9OPskQ

*Sigh* :/

[EnigmaticWarrior]

Sony’s Response to the U.S. House of Representatives (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/04/sonys-response-to-the-u-s-house-of-representatives/)

Today, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing in Washington, DC on “The Threat of Data Theft to American Consumers.”

Kazuo Hirai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sony Computer Entertainment America, submitted written answers to questions posed by the subcommittee about the large-scale, criminal cyber-attack we have experienced. We wanted to share those answers with you (click here).

In summary, we told the subcommittee that in dealing with this cyber attack we followed four key principles:

1. Act with care and caution.
2. Provide relevant information to the public when it has been verified.
3. Take responsibility for our obligations to our customers.
4. Work with law enforcement authorities.

We also informed the subcommittee of the following:

* Sony has been the victim of a very carefully planned, very professional, highly sophisticated criminal cyber attack.
* We discovered that the intruders had planted a file on one of our Sony Online Entertainment servers named “Anonymous” with the words “We are Legion.”
* By April 25, forensic teams were able to confirm the scope of the personal data they believed had been taken, and could not rule out whether credit card information had been accessed. On April 26, we notified customers of those facts.
* As of today, the major credit card companies have not reported any fraudulent transactions that they believe are the direct result of this cyber attack.
* Protecting individuals’ personal data is the highest priority and ensuring that the Internet can be made secure for commerce is also essential. Worldwide, countries and businesses will have to come together to ensure the safety of commerce over the Internet and find ways to combat cybercrime and cyber terrorism.
* We are taking a number of steps to prevent future breaches, including enhanced levels of data protection and encryption; enhanced ability to detect software intrusions, unauthorized access and unusual activity patterns; additional firewalls; establishment of a new data center in an undisclosed location with increased security; and the naming of a new Chief Information Security Officer.

We told the subcommittee about our intent to offer complimentary identity theft protection to U.S. account holders and detailed the “Welcome Back” program that includes free downloads, 30 days of free membership in the
PlayStation Plus premium subscription service; 30 days of free service for Music Unlimited subscribers; and extending PlayStation Plus and Music Unlimited subscriptions for the number of days services were unavailable.

We are working around the clock to have some PlayStation Network services restored and we’ll be providing specific details shortly. We hope this update is helpful to you, and we will continue to keep you posted as we work to restore our network and provide you with both the entertainment and the security you deserve.

[Daniel_Perales]

I feel really bad for Playstation customer service right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wiwmn9OPskQ

*Sigh* :/


Yep. What was so pathetic. The caller on the video, I mean.:puke: Not the customer service rep.



Danny

[EnigmaticWarrior]

Anonymous members 'likely' behind PSN attack - Report (http://www.gamespot.com/news/6312444/anonymous-members-likely-behind-psn-attack-report)

Two "veteran" members of collective tell the Financial Times that fellow hacktivists staged devastating data breach of Sony's PlayStation Network.

In a letter sent to the US Congress on Wednesday, Sony Corp. executive vice president Kaz Hirai implicated members of the "hacktivist" collective Anonymous in the cyberattack that brought down the PlayStation Network. The following day, the group sent out a press release saying that any inquiry into the matter would prove the organization is innocent in the data breach, which led to the leak of some 77 million PSN users' personal information as well as that of Sony Online Entertainment's user base.

Now, two individuals claiming to be "veteran" members of Anonymous are singing a different tune. Speaking to the Financial Times, the pair say that the people behind the information theft were almost certainly elements of the collective engaged in an anti-Sony crusade dubbed "OpSony."

"The hacker that did this was supporting OpSony's movements," one unnamed Anonymous member told the Times.

"Kayla," another member, went even further, saying, "If you say you are Anonymous, and do something as Anonymous, then Anonymous did it. Just because the rest of Anonymous might not agree with it, doesn’t mean Anonymous didn’t do it."

OpSony began in early April as a response to Sony's legal action against PlayStation 3 hacker George "GeoHot" Hotz. Anonymous then engaged in a series of denial-of-service attacks on a variety of Sony sites, leading to some instability.

Some 11 days later, the PlayStation Network suffered a data breach between April 17 and 19, which led to Sony taking the online service offline. In a press release several days later, Anonymous denied the organization had sanctioned the attacks.

As of Friday, the PSN remained down, although Sony said Thursday it is engaged in "final testing" for it to resume operations soon.

:beat:

[EnigmaticWarrior]

PSN Restoration Timeline Update (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/10/psn-restoration-timeline-update/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=psn_restoration_051011)

I know you all want to know exactly when the services will be restored. At this time, I can’t give you an exact date, as it will likely be at least a few more days. We’re terribly sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work through this process.

Here's hoping "a few more days" will be before the end of this week. :sd:

[TheLaughingMan]

Meh, i want my PSN. And the store.

But hey, at least it's a few more days and not may 31st like many sites are wrongly posting as news. Though i reckon the store will probably take that long...But it's good to know i'll possibly (hopefully) play online next weekend.

[Orihimes_Boyfriend]

Meh, i want my PSN. And the store.

But hey, at least it's a few more days and not may 31st like many sites are wrongly posting as news. Though i reckon the store will probably take that long...But it's good to know i'll possibly (hopefully) play online next weekend.
At least we have LA Noire to look forward to next week.

[demonix00]

Meh, i want my PSN. And the store.

But hey, at least it's a few more days and not may 31st like many sites are wrongly posting as news. Though i reckon the store will probably take that long...But it's good to know i'll possibly (hopefully) play online next weekend.

The May 31st date that is being reported is the date that the PSN will be fully back on since this is a phased restoration with some online functions coming back on first with (most likely) the store being the last component which will come back online around May 31st.

[Daichi]

There's probably going to be a whole bunch of stuff that will be released on to the store once it goes back up. I don't exactly know if this is a good or bad thing for me. :sweat:

[broodwars]

The PSN is being restored tonight, at least as far as online play and access to the Sony music service no one uses goes. Follow the progress on the link below. When your state is "illuminated" on the map, you may then log-in. You may have to wait a bit until the servers are "populated" before you can, though. In the meantime, if you attempt to sign-in you may download the new firmware update and allegedly change your password (I downloaded the update, but currently cannot do a damn thing with my password).

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/14/play-on-%E2%80%93-psn-restoration-begins-now/

[EnigmaticWarrior]

It's finally coming back!!!!!! (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/14/play-on-–-psn-restoration-begins-now/) :bowsmiley:

Thank you for your patience and encouragement over the last few weeks. As covered in the post from earlier today, you can now update the firmware on your PS3 and change your password. Kazuo Hirai just announced that we have begun the phased restoration by region of some of the services, starting with online multiplayer functionality.

Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated and change your password, both of which are required to get online.

I'm gonna be refreshing that page for the next several hours now. :sd:

EDIT: broodwars beat me to the punch. :sd:

[Fencedude]

Very nice, but I'm not going to bother with it tonight. I don't feel like turning on my Plasma since the AC in my house decided friday night was a good time to up and quit working.

Also I really need the store back up, more than anything else.

[nekonene]

It's finally coming back!!!!!! (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/14/play-on-–-psn-restoration-begins-now/) :bowsmiley:

Thank you for your patience and encouragement over the last few weeks. As covered in the post from earlier today, you can now update the firmware on your PS3 and change your password. Kazuo Hirai just announced that we have begun the phased restoration by region of some of the services, starting with online multiplayer functionality.

Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated and change your password, both of which are required to get online.

I'm gonna be refreshing that page for the next several hours now. :sd:

EDIT: broodwars beat me to the punch. :sd:

to quote a 4chan meme....
F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 F5 :catgirl:

[broodwars]

According to the newly-updated map, PSN has now been restored in the Northeast United States (Maine, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Vermont).

Hopefully, the restoration moves East-to-West, as I live in Florida. ^_-

[porkchopexpress]

Signed into playstation network with my new password. Thats all I can do though, as the playstation store hasn't been phased back in yet.

[Daniel_Perales]

It's finally coming back!!!!!! (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/14/play-on-–-psn-restoration-begins-now/) :bowsmiley:

Thank you for your patience and encouragement over the last few weeks. As covered in the post from earlier today, you can now update the firmware on your PS3 and change your password. Kazuo Hirai just announced that we have begun the phased restoration by region of some of the services, starting with online multiplayer functionality.

Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated and change your password, both of which are required to get online.

I'm gonna be refreshing that page for the next several hours now. :sd:

EDIT: broodwars beat me to the punch. :sd:


I see that NY, NJ, and the rest of the New England states are lit up right now.


Danny

[broodwars]

Signed into playstation network with my new password. Thats all I can do though, as the playstation store hasn't been phased back in yet.

Are you able to sync your trophies?

[porkchopexpress]

Signed into playstation network with my new password. Thats all I can do though, as the playstation store hasn't been phased back in yet.

Are you able to sync your trophies?

Yup all the trophies I received playing portal 2's single player are on my profile now. Doing anything takes sever attempts though. 10 - 15 tries to get into my billing info to check if I had a valid credit card still listed, but there is no info there anymore which is prolly for the best since I only use those prepaid psn cards now.

[broodwars]

Signed into playstation network with my new password. Thats all I can do though, as the playstation store hasn't been phased back in yet.

Are you able to sync your trophies?

Yup all the trophies I received playing portal 2's single player are on my profile now. Doing anything takes sever attempts though. 10 - 15 tries to get into my billing info to check if I had a valid credit card still listed, but there is no info there anymore which is prolly for the best since I only use those prepaid psn cards now.

Nice. That'll take me a while. I've gotten 4 Platinums and quite a few assorted trophies since PSN went down.

EDIT: Ugh...California just got added. Sony's doing this randomly. Why am I not surprised?

[Fencedude]

EDIT: Ugh...California just got added. Sony's doing this randomly. Why am I not surprised?

California's probably their single largest concentration of customers, I'm not surprised it went up early.

I'm just ignoring this till monday or so probably. Whats the rush?

[broodwars]

EDIT: Ugh...California just got added. Sony's doing this randomly. Why am I not surprised?

California's probably their single largest concentration of customers, I'm not surprised it went up early.

I'm just ignoring this till monday or so probably. Whats the rush?

Eh, this is just kind of fun. It's almost like waiting for the election returns, actually, the way that map is done. It's just been a good day (free Pirates of the Caribbean: Curse of the Black Pearl Blu-Ray!) and I'd like to cap it off with a restoration of the service here and finally being able to sync my trophies so I can jump into the Fallout 3 DLC.

EDIT: Quick PSN Update: The Southeast United States has now been added to the restored list: Maryland, North & South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. 4 Weeks of Trophies synched. ^_^

[EnigmaticWarrior]

All of the US and Canada is now back up (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/14/play-on-%E2%80%93-psn-restoration-begins-now/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PSBlog+%28PlayStation.Blog%29 )!!!!!!!!!!! :bigsmile:

[GHDpro]

Either the phased restart is based on the address in your account or they're not checking IP addresses - I am downloading the v3.61 firmware update now (US account on US PS3 located in the Netherlands).

I'll try my EU and JP accounts when the update finishes...

Edit: Nope, I was just prompted for the firmware update. I still can't login on any account (incl. US one).

[Senku]

Anybody having problems with multiple accounts?

I was able to change the password and sign onto PSN no problem with my main account. I have other PSN names I use, and my wife has an PSN account too. I was able to change the passwords of the other accounts, but I cannot sign onto any other accounts. I just get a "timed out" message, or "please check your connection" message.

Even doing the internet test under settings; it works perfectly fine with my main user account - but all the other user accounts it comes up "Failed, Timed Out".

Has anyone else experienced this? It's probably something that'll fix itself once the network is in full gear; but I thought it was worth mentioning.

[TheLaughingMan]

Yeah, played some Killzone 3 online last night! Feels good. Now the wait for the Store begins...it'll be crazy loaded when this gets back up (with added freebies)!

[stfram]

Just downloaded the firmware update and updated my password.

Yay. I mostly utilize the PSN Store so not much has changed.

[EnigmaticWarrior]

Details for PlayStation Network and Qriocity Customer Appreciation Program in North America (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/16/details-for-playstation-network-and-qriocity-customer-appreciation-program-in-north-america/)

Now that some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming and entertainment, we’re happy to provide details about the “Welcome Back” appreciation program for customers in North America. We developed the program as an expression of our gratitude for your patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage. From all of us at PlayStation, thank you and welcome back!

This package will be made available to all existing registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users in North America (US and Canada), and will be made available shortly after we have fully restored the service. More specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live.

All PlayStation Network customers can select two PS3 games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.


Dead Nation
inFAMOUS
LittleBigPlanet
Super Stardust HD
Wipeout HD + Fury



For PSP owners, you will be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.


LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
ModNation Racers
Pursuit Force
Killzone Liberation



A selection of “On Us” rental movie titles will be available to PlayStation Network customers over one weekend, where Video Service is available. Those titles will be announced soon.
30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an additional 60 days of free subscription.
Existing Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription members will receive an additional 30 days of free premium subscription.
Additional 30 days + time lost for existing members of Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription free of charge for existing Premium/Basic members.
To welcome users Home, PlayStation Home will be offering 100 free virtual items. Additional free content will be released soon, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game.

We’d like to thank all of our publishing and development partners who’ve contributed to the Welcome Back program, including Bigbig Studios, Codeglue, Digital Leisure, Guerilla Games, Heavy Water, Housemarque, Lockwood, Loot, Mass Media, Media Molecule, SCE Cambridge Studios, SCE Studio Liverpool, SCE San Diego Studios, and Sucker Punch Productions. We couldn’t have created such a compelling package without them!

As a reminder, you will be able to access the above content shortly after services are fully restored. We are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible. Please visit the following sites for more information about the Welcome Back program in Europe and Latin America.

Thank you again for your support!

[TheGreenMan]

Details for PlayStation Network and Qriocity Customer Appreciation Program in North America (http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/16/details-for-playstation-network-and-qriocity-customer-appreciation-program-in-north-america/)

Now that some PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been restored and you’re once again enjoying online gaming and entertainment, we’re happy to provide details about the “Welcome Back” appreciation program for customers in North America. We developed the program as an expression of our gratitude for your patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage. From all of us at PlayStation, thank you and welcome back!

This package will be made available to all existing registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users in North America (US and Canada), and will be made available shortly after we have fully restored the service. More specific details about these offers and eligibility requirements will be posted as the services go live.

All PlayStation Network customers can select two PS3 games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.


Dead Nation
inFAMOUS
LittleBigPlanet
Super Stardust HD
Wipeout HD + Fury



For PSP owners, you will be eligible to download two PSP games from the following list. The games will be available for 30 days shortly after PlayStation Store is restored and can be kept forever.


LittleBigPlanet (PSP)
ModNation Racers
Pursuit Force
Killzone Liberation



A selection of “On Us” rental movie titles will be available to PlayStation Network customers over one weekend, where Video Service is available. Those titles will be announced soon.
30 days free PlayStation Plus membership for non PlayStation Plus subscribers.
Existing PlayStation Plus subscribers will receive an additional 60 days of free subscription.
Existing Music Unlimited Premium Trial subscription members will receive an additional 30 days of free premium subscription.
Additional 30 days + time lost for existing members of Music Unlimited Premium/Basic subscription free of charge for existing Premium/Basic members.
To welcome users Home, PlayStation Home will be offering 100 free virtual items. Additional free content will be released soon, including the next addition to the Home Mansion personal space, and Ooblag’s Alien Casino, an exclusive game.

We’d like to thank all of our publishing and development partners who’ve contributed to the Welcome Back program, including Bigbig Studios, Codeglue, Digital Leisure, Guerilla Games, Heavy Water, Housemarque, Lockwood, Loot, Mass Media, Media Molecule, SCE Cambridge Studios, SCE Studio Liverpool, SCE San Diego Studios, and Sucker Punch Productions. We couldn’t have created such a compelling package without them!

As a reminder, you will be able to access the above content shortly after services are fully restored. We are doing everything we can to make that happen as soon as possible. Please visit the following sites for more information about the Welcome Back program in Europe and Latin America.

Thank you again for your support!

Awesome. I'll take Infamous, Wipeout for my PS3 and LBP and Modnation Racers for my PSP.

[MadL]

Does anyone know if there's a way to find out what your security question was? It seems as if they're not using security questions now (and if that really is the case, they have my gratitude - I hate sites that make you create a security Q&A), but I'd still like to know if my PSN question was one I used elsewhere - and I don't remember ever creating a PSN security question in the first place, never mind what it was. I've checked all the account settings, and I can't find it.