Users of the Sony online gaming network could have had their personal information stolen, following on from last week’s online attack. The hack which occurred on the 20th April has left the network offline since, which has angered many of its users. This admission by Sony will heighten the concern of its members, by what already has been termed “a PR Disaster” by one technology consultant.
Only today has Sony admitted that its users may have had their personal information stolen following the hack. This is no small amount of data either given the number of users registered on the network is over 70 million worldwide.
Posting on the Sony websites blog, Nick Caplin, head of communications at Sony, states “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”.
Sony believes that user information including Names, Addresses, email accounts, Dates of Birth and user log in details have all been compromised, which has lead Sony to warn its users to be aware of email, postal and telephone scams. Additionally if users have used their credit card through the network – for example users can purchase games online – this may have also been obtained.
One senior technology consultant, Graham Cluely who works for Sophos, believes hackers could very well start using the information gleaned from the hack to attempt log ins at other sites as well as into personal email accounts. He says “The impact of this could be much greater than your typical internet hack.”
Users posting on blogs largely have been disgusted by Sony handling of the matter and why it has taken them almost a week to inform its members that a data breach has happened. Sony hasn’t indicated when the service will be available again and still remains offline.
