Sony is holding a press conference in Japan this very minute. What do we know? Right now, the following important details are known.
- PlayStation Network is expected to return "this week"
-- When it goes live again, a required system update will be pushed to all users
-- This update will make users change their PSN passwords upon first logging in
-- The PlayStation Network Store will return "this month"
- Name, email, password, and login name are "definitely" taken
- Information such as credit card numbers, billing information, and security questions "possibly" taken
-- They have seen NO evidence to indicate that credit card numbers were taken, however they do advise users to keep a vigilant eye on account activity for anything unusual
- Sony will give users a free month of PlayStation Plus, free unannounced software, and additional "goodies" that will be announced
- Sony has updated totals for PSN accounts broken down by country
-- United States: 31 million
-- U.K.: 9.2 million
-- Japan: 7.5 million
-- Canada: 3.5 million
-- When it goes live again, a required system update will be pushed to all users
-- This update will make users change their PSN passwords upon first logging in
-- The PlayStation Network Store will return "this month"
- Name, email, password, and login name are "definitely" taken
- Information such as credit card numbers, billing information, and security questions "possibly" taken
-- They have seen NO evidence to indicate that credit card numbers were taken, however they do advise users to keep a vigilant eye on account activity for anything unusual
- Sony will give users a free month of PlayStation Plus, free unannounced software, and additional "goodies" that will be announced
- Sony has updated totals for PSN accounts broken down by country
-- United States: 31 million
-- U.K.: 9.2 million
-- Japan: 7.5 million
-- Canada: 3.5 million
Most of this information courtesy of Mark MacDonald via Twitter. Sony has just rolled out a lengthy press release that specifically breaks down everything PSN users can expect to see when services begin returning this week.
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:
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:
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.
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
-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
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.