PlayStation Network data thefts confirmed [Updated]
As we reported over the weekend, Sony has acknowledged an external intrusion into its network, one that caused the company to shut down operations of its website and other online services including the PlayStation Network. The PSN issues affected Sony Online Entertainment MMOs such as Free Realms and DC Universe Online. Although the network shutdown was inconvenient, there appeared to be no actual threat to the players themselves. However, that may have changed.
Senior Communications Director Patrick Seybold posted an advisory on the PlayStation blog earlier today. He assures customers that everything should be fully operational again by the end of the week. However, in light of possible leaked personal information, Seybold issued this warning in an email message to registered account holders:
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.
For all the details, we encourage you to check out the full blog post on the PlayStation site, and then keep honed in on Massively as more information comes to light.
[Thanks, Lizzy, for the tip.]
[Update: SOE has emphasized that the company believes no personal information for players of its non-PSN PC Station MMOs was compromised.]
