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April 29th, 2011, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster
News via http://streetskaterfu.blogspot.com/2...formation.html
The PSN is down, all accounts got dumped by an anonymous hacker and the community is cryin' for answers. 77 million accounts with password and sometimes CC info are worth a lot in several hack chans. This is a very huge case.
 Now SONY engaged an external security company to discover the holes in SONY's system and find answers. As I was wondering if there may be some information about the actual case we can find out publically, I researched a bit myself.
One interesting point I found is a not secured access log of a PSN environment.
You will quickly notice the IP 214.1.211.251, which sends requests like a vulnerability scanner.
The IP points to the DoD Network Information Center, based in Ohio USA.
The first log entry of this IP is [03/Mar/2011:07:10:38 -0800]. As the DoD is knows as beeing easy to hack, the anonymous hacker could have used this as proxy.
Maybe SONY might want to take a look at this IP, I hope soon we get some news and details about the case...
- SKFU
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April 29th, 2011, 00:18 Posted By: wraggster
News via http://wololo.net/wagic/2011/04/28/p...n-the-hackers/
Unless you’ve been under a rock for the past days, you probably know that Sony announced they have been hacked, and our private information (potentially including credit card numbers) has been stolen from the PSN. This potentially impacts 77’000’000 customers.
I’ve received many emails/comments telling me “Wololo, you’re always in favor of CFW, and always on the side of the hackers, so what do you say now?”
Well, clearly I’m not happy that some people did that, I’m not happy that my information got stolen by these people. I want to point out that I never claimed that hacking into a corporation’s network was a good thing. Just like other people who are in favor of hacking and jailbreaking, I think customers should be able to enjoy their hardware the way they want, as long as they do not interfere with other people’s freedom. This makes things very clear: I’m not in favor of piracy, cheating online, identity theft, or anything like that.
This attack is unrelated to jailbreak
I’ve seen various comments on the net that this attack was performed “thanks” to some Custom firmware installed on some PS3s. This triggered new “anti jailbreak” comments from various people, including this guy who, despite making the efforts to do some research on the subject (and that’s good, because most people don’t do that), clearly should not be talking about stuff he doesn’t understand. I’m a computer engineer, I don’t talk about fashion. He’s a gamer and shouldn’t talk about security.
So, why do I claim that this has nothing to do with jailbreaks? Well, assuming the hack was performed “thanks” to a hacked PS3, it means Sony’s servers “trust” a PS3 accessing their system to not be hacked or modified. This is crazy, and this is security 101: the server should NEVER trust the client, end of story, NO exception. I trust Sony’s engineers to know this, so I believe this is not what happened. If I’m wrong, and if indeed there was some backdoor in the Sony system that allowed to trust a PS3 more than say, MediaGo running on a PC, then whoever designed such a backdoor in place is highly responsible for what happened. And Sony is guilty of believing that security through obscurity works. As I read somewhere, the good thing about open source software is that you can’t start to believe that your “opponent” won’t be able to read your code. So you design your security accordingly.
Now, my opinion is that a Jailbroken PS3 was not involved with this. Why would it be needed? You can connect to the PSN on a PC with MediaGo. It sounds fairly reasonable to me that somebody could investigate the code from that client and find some flaws in there, who knows? So for all we know, PS3 hardware wasn’t even involved in this attacks, making even a stronger point that this has nothing to do with jailbreaking a PS3. And if a PS3 was actually involved and you think it means jailbreak is related to this issue, then read the paragraph above.
As customers, Sony is the one responsible for our security, we can’t trust 6 billion people to play nice
Whatever you do, there will be people in the world trying to screw you, people not respecting the law. When these people attack you, you are free to hate them. As I said, I’m not happy some people stole my information, I don’t like these guys, but I know the world is made of people stealing your stuff, and it will always be the case.
Would you give your credit card number to me, or would you enter it on a form in my website? No. Because I’m a nobody, and there is no history of me not being a bad guy. I also have no way to be contacted easily in person. But you give your credit card information to Sony. Because it is a respected company, and you trust them to handle that kind of stuff correctly. By putting your trust in them, you implicitly ask them to be responsible, and by accepting your money and your credit card number, they accept to be responsible for your information’s security, even if their stupid PSN License says they can’t be responsible for a security breach.
Sony store the account information for 77’000’000 people. With such a big number of customers, I expect them to dedicate time and energy into securing their system. No system is perfect, but I expect them to apply the minimum security rules to their systems. First, the information retrieved by the hackers shouldn’t be usable in any way, because the information they stole should be encrypted, or hashed. Passwords should be hashed. It allows login systems to recognize that your password is correct without really knowing it. How comes Sony announced that our passwords were stolen then? How can they even be “unsure” if our credit card information was stolen? Our credit card information shouldn’t even be stored on their system, at worst it should be an encrypted version, and the rest should be 100% handled by Visa or Mastercard.
It is difficult to understand exactly what information was stolen. I completely understand that my birthday, my address, my email, etc… are stored in clear, it’s the only way for the system to be able to re-display them on edit pages, or for Sony to contact me. But password and credit card info? Come on. So was this a wording mistake in the PR? Or a major encryption mistake in their system? Either way this is bad, and Sony will have to explain this to their customers.
So yeah, bad guys screwed up with Sony, but Sony screwed up by playing in League 1 against companies like Google, Amazon, or Apple, without having the necessary software skills (or without investing enough in these skills) to actually play this game. As I mentioned many times, Sony is a great hardware company, but they should definitely outsource their software and their security to companies that have more experience/resources.
This is why I blame them more than the hackers, who have been doing nothing more than what robbers have done for centuries: picking locks.
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April 29th, 2011, 00:10 Posted By: wraggster
 The PSN outage has caused another (online) casualty: the PlayStation Blog's comment system. Commenters are required to sign in using their PlayStation Network accounts, which, of course, are inaccessible. Only those who signed in before the PSN went down are able to comment.
The European PS Blog warns that the cookies on comment account logins expire after a week, which means that even those lucky enough to have signed in just before PSN went kaput will lose their online voices soon. The site lists Twitter accounts for each country, and directs users to leave feedback there. Though, if we were Sony, we would have a hard time looking at that feedback.
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April 29th, 2011, 00:07 Posted By: wraggster
As the PlayStation Network / Qriocity outage stretches into its second week, over on the PlayStation Blog rep Patrick Seybold has just posted an updated Q&A based on the inquiries of concerned users. Beyond the security of our personal information, the most important question is when service might be restored and he reiterates Sony expects to have "some services" up and running within a week from yesterday. When it comes to the most important personal information like credit card numbers, there are assurances that the credit card database was encrypted and there is no evidence anything was taken, but that's a possibility that still cannot be ruled out completely. To keep things secure, Gamasutrareports game developers are getting new SDKs with updated security features as well. When the service comes back up, expect a mandatory system update that requires a new password before getting back to your Mortal Kombat or Portal 2-related plans.
http://www.engadget.com/2011/04/27/s...s-up-and-runn/
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April 28th, 2011, 23:56 Posted By: wraggster
Lovefilm is "as frustrated" as PS3 owners about the forced temporary outage of its premium console service, the company has told Eurogamer.
And rest assured that your account information "completely safe and secure".
Nevertheless, monthly subscribers to Lovefilm on PS3 haven't been able to use the service since PSN went down on 21st April. Will there be some form of compensation? Doesn't look like it.
"You may have heard the news that Sony's PlayStation Network has been closed for some days after it came under attack. This, in turn, has made our streaming service on the PS3 temporarily unavailable," Lovefilm informed Eurogamer.
"Please don't worry about the personal details on your Lovefilm account - it is not possible to access these through the PlayStation Network (we hold this information, not Sony), so it all remains completely safe and secure.
"Even if you used the PS3 to sign-up for Lovefilm, your data is still locked tight in our vaults.
"We will, of course, keep you updated as soon as Sony give us an indication of when the PlayStation Network might resume," Lovefilm added.
"Sorry for the hassle, we're as frustrated as you are."
Lovefilm went on to point out that the film-streaming service is "unaffected" on PCs, Macs and internet-connected tellies. Head to the Lovefilm website for that.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...identity-theft
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April 28th, 2011, 23:54 Posted By: wraggster
Next month Dead or Alive fighting games return after a five year hiatus with Nintendo 3DS brawler Dimensions, but what about Dead or Alive 5?
"Dead or Alive Dimensions received positive feedback and responses from consumers, so there is definitely a future ahead," Team Ninja boss Yosuke Hayashi told Eurogamer.
"Team Ninja would like to progress and work towards that future."
Will Dead or Alive 5 appear on home consoles, including the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360?
"We'll think about it. We will take that into consideration."
Dead or Alive 5 was first rumoured to be in development in January 2010.
It was said to be planned for launch on PlayStation 3 – although a Xbox 360 release was not ruled out.
Dimensions is the first Dead or Alive fighting game to launch since the high-profile exit of Tomonobu Itagaki from Team Ninja.
There have been a number of Dead or Alive games since its 1996 debut, four of them in the fighting genre.
The last Dead or Alive fighting game was Dead or Alive 4, which launched on the Xbox 360 exclusively in 2005.
Eurogamer's Dead or Alive 4 review smashed in a 6/10.
Dimensions is described as a "collection" of all of the DOA fighting games, and a return to the series' roots.
It features 60fps visuals – if you turn the 3D effect off. With 3D on, it runs at 30fps.
While Hayashi confirmed Dead or Alive has a future – possibly on home consoles - he said the development team has "no desire" to make another game in the series for the Nintendo 3DS.
"Dimensions has just finished being developed," he said. "So for the time being there is no desire. But what we want right now is for people to play the game and hear their opinions."
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ead-or-alive-5
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April 28th, 2011, 23:39 Posted By: wraggster
A PlayStation 3 owner in Alabama has been the first to initiate a lawsuit against Sony, following the security breachand potential theft of data from the PlayStation Network.
The complaint was filed on behalf of Birmingham, Alabama resident Kristopher Johns, in the US District Court for the Northern District of California. Johns is asking for the lawsuit to be raised to a class action, which if granted would allow any US PlayStation Network user to become a plaintiff in the case.
The details of the lawsuit, as first reported by CNET, cover the basics of the case as already reported. Sony is accused of not taking, "reasonable care to protect, encrypt, and secure the private and sensitive data of its users".
Sony is also accused of taking too long to notify customers of the seriousness of the problem and that personal information was at risk. This, argues the lawsuit, made it impossible for customers to, "make an informed decision as to whether to change credit card numbers, close the exposed accounts, check their credit reports, or take other mitigating actions".
Johns is seeking compensation and free credit reporting services - the latter something which US Senator Richard Blumenthal has already demanded from Sony for all US customers.
Although Sony has already been heavily criticised on both of the lawsuit's two main complaints so far there is still no evidence of fraud or misuse of any stolen data. If such evidence does emerge then Sony's position could weaken significantly.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ver-psn-breach
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April 28th, 2011, 23:37 Posted By: wraggster
Security experts have attempted to estimate the cost of the ongoing PlayStation Network security scandal to Sony, with suggestions ranging from around $20 million to $24 billion.
Wedbush Morgan analyst Michael Pachter, speaking to websiteShacknews, suggests that PSN generates around $10 million in revenues and $3 million in profits per week. The service has already been down for over a week now.
However, Pachter's estimate does not take into account indirect losses from reduced customer confidence in the service and nor does he address the question of legal compensation. In his opinion though: "If they offer some free stuff and continue to follow up, this will all be forgotten in a few months."
According to data security research firm The Ponemon Institute, as quoted by Forbes, the average cost of a data breach involving a criminal act is currently $318 per record.
Forbes suggests that with 77 million registered accounts worldwide this creates a potential cost to Sony of over $24 billion.
US streaming video service Hulu has already offered subscribers one week's credit as a result of the service downtime, with website Kotaku reporting that Sony Online Entertainment will offer a range of special events and compensations this weekend for titles DC Universe Online and Free Realms.
In related news, reports suggest that Sony is asking developers to install new SDKs (software development kits) on their PlayStation 3 development kits during the PSN downtime.
According to Gamasutra the new SDKs include advanced security features, meant to avoid any repeat of the current problems.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-USD24-billion
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April 28th, 2011, 23:36 Posted By: wraggster
Sony has claimed that credit card data stored on the PlayStation Network was encrypted and that there is still no evidence that credit card information has been stolen following last week's security breach of the online service.
Although on Tuesday Sony admitted that it could not rule out the possibility that credit card data had been taken, there is still no suggestion that the breach has been that serious.
The entire credit card table was encrypted and we have no evidence that credit card data was taken.
Sony
According to an update on the official PlayStation Blog, "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."
While Sony still cannot guarantee that credit card information, encrypted or otherwise, was not taken it continues to offer the same advice to customers: " 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."
The protection of credit card data could be the first positive news for Sony during the ongoing scandal, but the admission that personal data was not encrypted could still prove damaging.
This data has already been confirmed as compromised and would be of significant use to criminals in terms of identity theft and as an aid to phishing scams.
Yesterday it was revealed that the Information Commissioner's Office in the UK is to quiz Sony over its online security arrangements.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...-was-encrypted
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April 28th, 2011, 23:34 Posted By: wraggster
In the aftermath of Sony's PlayStation Network breach, security expert LogRhythm has warned that organisations do not place enough importance on user data, and a culture of "inherited apathy" can exist towards valuable personal information.
This week Sony admitted that over 75 million PlayStation Network accounts have been compromised, with the platform holder unable to determine whether credit card details have been stolen.
And today it admitted that personal information including user's email address, passwords and online IDs were not encrypted.
Bearing in mind that 80 percent of attacks are from insiders, who is the most likely person to have been able to conduct or assist with this attack?
Martin Landless, LogRhythm
"Personal details such as names and addresses have long been seen as unimportant assets and as an organisation's services grow, the inherited apathy - or insufficient risk assessment - can prevail," Martin Landless, technical director of international markets at LogRhythm toldGamesIndustry.biz.
"When this information is combined with dates of birth and credit card numbers, the value and potential to lead to further attacks increases exponentially. Even if the passwords were encrypted, the method used may not have been strong enough to ensure they remained secure."
While the current focus is on the violation of the PlayStation Network, Landless questioned whether the perpetrators were able to access other classified Sony information.
"What other systems did they access during that period? Is there a possibility that intellectual property has been compromised such as new specifications for PlayStation 4?"
He also pointed out that the majority of hacks are committed by internal staff, not outside forces.
"Bearing in mind the 80/20 rule that 80 percent of attacks are from insiders, who is the most likely person to have been able to conduct or assist with this attack?
"One would imagine there would be multiple external perimeters to compromise, and monitoring should have been conducted on these layers. There may not have been so many detection mechanisms within the network for a trusted administrator."
Sony has been criticised for not informing users sooner that their details had been compromised. Landless said that the company may not have been aware of the scale of the attacks and should now monitor security in real-time to improve reaction times.
"There is a very good chance it was unaware of the scale of the problem. Many organisations have a poor understanding of what is happening across their IT infrastructure, making it difficult to identify security incidents when they occur and the root causes responsible.
"There is often too much focus on the traditional security products that attempt to build a fence around the IT estate," he added. "Repeated high profile incidents of data loss have proven that these solutions are not infallible and are not enough to ensure network security.
"Sony needs to accept the inevitability of data breaches and take new courses of action to prevent similar incidents. It is now essential that systems are in place that can recognise breaches in real-time so that appropriate action can be taken immediately. Sony needs to automate and centralise the collection and analysis of 100 percent of its data logs, so that any aberration can be detected and investigated as it occurs."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ards-user-data
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April 28th, 2011, 23:29 Posted By: wraggster
Nothing to throw a hissy fit over - Red Faction Armageddon will arrive later than previously announced, but only by a week.
The May 31 (US) and June 3 (UK) release date's previously announced have been scrapped, and the game will now hit shop shelves on June 7 (US) and June 10 (UK).
The demo will go live as planned on May 3, which sounds like it'll keep you busy for a bit, as THQ explains: "In the demo, consumers will be introduced to Darius Mason and fight their way through the Martian sewers and an oncoming alien infestation. Meanwhile, Darius must clear his name as the colonists have blamed him for unleashing the alien threat that has ravaged the underground cities of Mars.
"Players will have at their disposal the Nano Forge as they combat alien invaders with concussive blasts and core-shattering tremblers. Rebuild all that you destroy with the Nano Forge's incredible Reconstruction ability. Finally, throw entire buildings at your enemies with Red Faction's signature weapon, the Magnet Gun."
The demo will hit PSN on May 3 "or once the PlayStation Network has been restored," says THQ.
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS
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April 28th, 2011, 23:26 Posted By: wraggster
Studios not told of any such update since the PSN hack, Sony source says
Sony is not updating the PS3 SDK as a counter-measure against the massive data breach that has rocked the PlayStation Network.
No general notice of new SDKs has been issued to studios, nor is one currently available, Develop understands.
Confusion surrounding the matter had arisen yesterday when news reports claimed the SDK update “will provide new security features in response to a massive data leak”.
Since then, Develop has heard from multiple studios who appeared perplexed by the news.
Last week, a notice was sent to some studios that suggested the PS3 SDK would be updated to version 3.6 for general improvements.
That notice was issued before the massive PSN data leak, a Sony development source told Develop.
Yet there remains confusion on the matter, as one independent outfit told Develop that studios currently submitting games to Sony might not be able to do so without the new SDK.
This appears to be incorrect, or unrelated to the issue.
A Sony spokesperson has declined to comment.
On Tuesday, Sony revealed that the data of "possibly all" PSN users had got into the hands of an unauthorised individual.
Usernames, passwords, user locations and other information has been taken in one of the biggest data thefts in history.
Some 70 million PSN customers are thought to have their info compromised.
Encrypted credit card details may have been taken, Sony said.
So far the stolen information has not led to reports of illicit credit card activity or identity theft, Sony claims.
“Not at this point in time,” the firm said on Tuesday.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...-to-PSN-issues
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April 28th, 2011, 23:24 Posted By: wraggster
Unless you're some sort of internet surfing ninja, the PlayStation Network news has been hard to avoid. Sony's online platform provides online gaming, new video game, movie and music content to millions - and it has been hit hard by nefarious hackers.
While we can all live without playing online for a few days, the PSN hacking fallout may have bigger repercussions. Earlier this week Sony issued achilling official statement confirming that the personal information of its users had been compromised as a result of the illegal "intrusion".
It admitted, much to consumers' horror: "We believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birth date, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID".
While there is no evidence at this time that any credit card data was used fraudulently, the possibility cannot be ruled out. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, an "abundance of caution" is advised.
Sony has said it hopes to restore PlayStation Network services within a week - but the question is... will you go back?
With the service and personal details compromised on such a broad and fundamental level will you be able to once again place your sensitive information in Sony's hands after being burned? Are you thinking it might be time to jump ship and join Xbox Live? Or are you confident that Sony will be able to address the security issues once and for all and are happy to forgive, forget, and go on enjoying the PlayStation Network's multiplayer gaming and content offerings?
As ever, let us know your thoughts in the comments section below...
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS
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April 28th, 2011, 00:34 Posted By: wraggster
The UK financial services industry has moved to calm growing fear among PlayStation gamers that they may be the victim of identity theft following the PlayStation Network security breach.
Financial Fraud Action UK (FFA UK), an organisation that co-ordinates fraud prevention in the UK, has told Eurogamer that there is no need for gamers to cancel their credit cards "at this stage".
The comments come amid growing intensity around Sony, which confirmed last night that over 70 million PSN users have had their personal details stolen by a hacker.
Worryingly, Sony is unable to say whether credit card details have also been compromised.
Now, as revealed by Eurogamer, the Information Commissioner's Office is involved – and may bring action against Sony if it finds it in breach of the Data Protection Act.
Despite this, the FFA warned against an overreaction.
"FFA UK has been made aware that out of the 70 million Sony PlayStation accounts compromised worldwide in the Sony PlayStation Network incident, three million are based in the UK," the organisation told Eurogamer.
"Sony has not yet confirmed if card details have been compromised but FFA UK is liaising closely with Sony with regard to this.
"The banking industry has robust processes in place to protect its customers' accounts by monitoring for suspicious or irregular card transactions. If Sony confirms that card details have been compromised, and provides details to us of those accounts, card issuers can place alerts on these accounts. Further steps, such as blocking the account and/or issuing new cards can be taken if necessary.
"There is no need for customers to contact their bank or card company at this stage. However, customers should continue to do what they should normally be doing - checking their statement and keeping a close eye on their account for any unusual activity – if they spot any they should then contact their bank or card company."
However, FFA UK recommends gamers who use the same passwords for their PlayStation account as they do for other financial accounts change these passwords to something else "as soon as possible".
"Similarly, customers may have had their email addresses and telephone numbers compromised in this incident, so they should be wary of responding to any unsolicited emails or telephone calls that ask for sensitive or financial information."
The FFA reiterated information provided to Eurogamer by consumer advice organisation Which? earlier today, and reassured those worried that they will not lose money as a result of the security breach.
"In the event that anyone is the innocent victim of fraud as a result of this incident, customers can have peace of mind that they will get their money back from their bank or card company."
The PSN identity theft furore is perhaps the most devastating crisis in PlayStation's history.
Last night Sony began sending emails to PSN users warning them their personal information, including PSN usernames and passwords, addresses and email addresses, had been stolen by an unauthorized user. There are 77 million PlayStation Network users across the world, and three million in the UK.
The service has been down since last Wednesday in the US, and many are now wondering why it took so long for Sony to warn its customers to change their passwords and check their credit card statements.
Sony also faces accusations that it failed to protect user data properly. It is currently rebuilding PSN in order to improve it.
Sony has apologised for the episode, and vowed to track down the hackers.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...ity-theft-fear
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April 28th, 2011, 00:31 Posted By: wraggster
Fans of Sony Online Entertainment games can breathe a sigh of relief - the great PlayStation Network identity theft hasn't affected them.
"We wanted to update you on the status of our examination of the SOE system intrusion we announced last week," SOE director of community relations Linda Carlson wrote on the DC Universe forum.
"We have been conducting a thorough investigation and, to the best of our knowledge, no customer personal information got out to any unauthorized person or persons. We are continuing that investigation and monitoring the situation carefully; should the situation change, we will of course promptly notify you."
Accounts may not have been jeopardised, but DC Universe Online and Free Realms have been unplayable on PS3 since PlayStation Network went down.
Carlson, hours later, added:
"We apologise for any inconvenience players may have experienced as a result of the recent service interruption. As a global leader in online gaming, SOE is committed to delivering stable and entertaining games for players of all ages.
"To thank players for their patience, and we will be hosting special events this weekend across our game portfolio, including a Double Station Cash day on Saturday, April 30th.
"We are also working on a 'make good' plan for players of the PS3 versions of DC Universe Online and Free Realms."
Details on that "make good plan", she added, will be available "soon".
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...identity-theft
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April 28th, 2011, 00:22 Posted By: wraggster
The recent attacks and subsequent user information breach is evidence that internet fraudsters are now increasingly targeting social and other such networks because of their softer security measures compared to banks and online retailers.
That's according to data protection expert and Open University lecturer Blaine Price, who told BBC that networks such as Sony's PSN are forced to sacrifice security in favour of usability.
"Any lock can be picked," said Price, adding, "There's always a trade off in security between usability - being able to get at what you want, and making it secure.
"Your online banking site is much more sophisticated," he went on to explain, making it a more strenuous process for users to get their details, but is more secure because of it.
"A bank would usually use two-factor authentication, where you've not just got a password. It would be a real pain if every time you want to start up a game you had to scan your thumb, type in 15 digits and pull out a card reader.
"Any time you're just using a user ID and password, it's going to be a risk," said Price.
David Emm, a senior security researcher for Kaspersky Labs, chimed in with age-old advice - don't use the same passwords for all your site/network accounts. "The weakest link is always the individual," said Emm, noting peoples' tendency to use the same password across the internet to make logins easier to remember.
"Clearly, trying to undermine a bank's security is a lot of effort. Whereas if you go after an individual, it's not going to be noticed, it's going to be easier to do."
Meanwhile, the Information Commissioner's Office's (ICO) David Smith questions companies need to collect such extensive amounts of personal data. "It's a very important data protection principle that you shouldn't collect excessive information or keep it longer than is necessary.
"The question about, for example, why an organisation asks for a specific date of birth, as opposed to an age band, is at the centre of our work," he said.
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April 28th, 2011, 00:21 Posted By: wraggster
Anyone else wake up this morning with an icky feeling in their stomach?
Stupid, really. No-one died, there was no physical damage. I'm still here, you're still here. I'm sure your mum's fine.
And yet such a wave of immediate vulnerability, combined with a crash of breathtaking, stomach-crippling naivety... it was almost bleak.
The non-gaming world still hasn't fully grasped it yet, but it's one hell of a scary day to be a tech-savvy citizen. Our very way of life has been attacked, and consciously acknowledged or not, we are reeling.
The immediate and vicious communal ire, unsurprisingly and to a large degree deservedly, has been directed at Sony. These are, after all, the personal and financial details with which over 70 million consumers - roughly the population of the entire UK - confidently entrusted the platform holder.
It seemed a simple deal: we'll give you oodles of cash for brilliant content, you take our money with a grin. Oh, and don't be frivolous with our entire online identity. Cool?
Overnight, that unspoken contract (or, indeed, that contracted contract, depending on the inevitable litigious tussle) has been eroded with a single, crushing phrase: "An unauthorized person has obtained the following information." I still feel slightly winded after reading it.
Sony may tell us that it's received no reports of credit card fraud from PSN users, but that will be shallow comfort to an uneasy, woozy consumer base. Under its guard, the safety apparatus has been ripped off our personal wealth - in some cases, the very funds that will bedrock our future livelihood. Some degree of inflated panic is entirely condonable.
But to lay the blame solely at Sony's feet is to do injustice to the guile, deviousness and frightening perspicacity with which the PlayStation Network has been invaded. And, moreover, to the rabid motivation that has driven it.
It is a fact that there may have been vulnerabilities in Sony's security that were overlooked. They should be independently investigated - and Sony fully held to account for any proven wisp of negligence.
But in fairness, the platform holder has been doing battle with a far greater force than a mere deficiency-seeking drone, out to wheedle its weak spots; it has been dealing with the rapacious human will of a fanatical foe.
It has, to all intents and purposes, been turned on by a technological terrorist - one without the malevolence for bloodshed or tragedy, but a terrorist nonetheless. Our cosy reliance on Sony's steel walls has been splintered; our trust in the system spooked.
Thankfully - and I'm typing with fingers crossed and rabbit foot firmly attached - the perpetrator who shattered PSN's previously impenetrable digital fortress is more likely to be a spliff-in-mum's-garage nerd than a hardened, profit-seeking criminal. A nerd like the unfortunate Gary McKinnon, who - perspective alert! - allegedly snuck behind the digital perimeters of NASA and the US Navy, Army and Air Force in 2001. From his mum's computer. Just to check on UFOs.
Like McKinnon, PSN's nemesis is likely hyper-intelligent and, no doubt, not exactly a darling of high society.
The fact that a full week has passed since the PSN attack without any reported credit card fraud is reason for us all to relax at least a little - and to suggest that the end-game for Sony's public enemy no.1 was to expose, rather than embezzle; to win, rather than wound.
But what kept them ticking? Whoever successfully 'intruded' (Sony's Carry On euphemism does bring some light relief to proceedings, don't you think?) PSN last week was a demonstrable zealot; fixated on leaving Sony red-faced, and bringing its establishment crashing down.
If I were a betting man, and I'm not (or at least, I can't afford to be whilst my VISA lies legs akimbo to the criminal underworld), I'd put 50,000 MS Points on why I think PS3 was targeted in such a furious manner: Simply, because Sony beat the hackers.
Not only did its console lay non-moddable for years - the Batmobile of gaming next to Nintendo and Microsoft's relative Robin Reliants - but when Sony's Blu-ray beast was finally jailbroken, the company hit back. Hard.
It took the livewire king of the community, one George Hotz, and neutered him explicitly and unrelentingly, right in front of his acolytes. 'GeoHot' and Sony may have settled out of court, but Hotz's passive-aggressive, tail-whipped final rallying whispers to his fans were an embarrassment; a lobotomised whimper compared to the "fudge-packer" grandstanding heentertained us with at his height.
One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest analogies rush into view: The establishment had won, and made a clear example of the rebels' bloodied hero - all the while sending out a very clear message: 'Do not f*ck with us. Do not try and outwit us. Do not challenge our rule." So that's exactly what somebody in the hacking community decided to do, bigger and bolder than ever before.
Now it is Sony, not Hotz, which finds itself with its pants around its ankles; whilst a rebelliously-minded networking genius probably sits shaking, stunned at his own lawlessness and anonymous (Anonymous?) notoriety.
Perhaps he's in the mire of an archetypical realisation of a crime of passion; perhaps every knock at the door wrenches his gut, and every ring of the doorbell spells the melodic demon-acronym F-B-I.
Wherever he is hiding, whatever his mental state, the true impact of this individual's actions may be yet to bear fruit. His legacy may be the most frightening part of the entire saga.
As he may have been inspired by Hotz, the villain of Black Wednesday may yet inspire. Just as he has left many of us wobbly-headed, he may leave a handful basking in admiration - and embolden them to fight harder against technological titans.
Scarring Sony's underbelly so publicly, so shockingly and so globally is no mean feat. This was, remember, a company that outwitted the sharpest hacking minds for years; who up until Hotz's release of his initial PS3 exploit in January 2010, boasted the most bulletproof kit in the games industry.
Who, conceivably could be next on the hacking hitlist?
How about that social networking site you've pumped so many of your locational, visual, emotional and - eeeek! - sinful secrets into for the past five years? What of that digital music platform, which not only bears a very tasty billing history, but a mind-boggling library of costly, one-click media to purchase? And what of that set-top box which, on paper, offers a reassuring entertainment alternative to Sony's now deflowered PS3?
What if next time, it's not a boy in a garage driven by victory; but a boy in a million-dollar house, driven by the perks of organised illegality? Suddenly, all these nightmarish scenarios seem that little bit more possible - and that little bit more terrifying.
In his restrained final ta-ta to fans, Hotz left one spiteful, furious forecast: "There is much more to come."
Well done George. You were right. And now - unless the wardens of our most valuable digital data can completely avoid suffering Sony's frailties - it's going to hurt us all.
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April 27th, 2011, 19:47 Posted By: wraggster
Sony has vowed to "proceed aggressively" in its attempts to track down hackers responsible for the PlayStation Network security breach, although customer anger at the incursion is already beginning to mount.
Although the basic PSN service is free to use some users are already demanding refunds for PlayStation Plus, music and video service Qriocity, and downloadable games - many of which do not work without a connection to PSN.
As a result Sony has updated its FAQ on the incident, but has so far made no promises regarding compensation: "When the full services are restored and the length of the outage is known, we will assess the correct course of action."
As the FAQ points out some games, mainly downloadable PSN titles, require PSN access for Trophy syncs and security checks.
Speaking to website IGN indie developers Mad Block Alpha and Open Emotion have indicated that Sony has already offered to help overcome problems from the outage. Both studios were due to see new content added to PSN last week, with Open Emotion CEO Paddy Murphy commenting:
"Sony will be helping us retain key focus [prominent placement on the PSN Store] for an extra few weeks as they understand how something like this can affect a small dev studio like ours."
"As it's our first week in the US, I'm sure it will affect sales, but we have to understand that Sony wouldn't take down the entire PSN on a whim. As long as they can give us some marketing assistance when the PSN is back up, we are sure we will be able to recoup our potential losses," he added.
Ordinary users though have not been so understanding, with the official PlayStation websites now filed with angry and concerned comments.
"What makes Sony look so bad is the silent treatment you have been giving us from day one. Facts are you knew that your system was compromised, you did [not] say a thing about it till days later and even then didn't tell us you suspected personal information might have been compromised," said user 'Agriel'.
"Sony you dropped the ball big time on this, you should fire your PR department because they don't have a [DELETED] clue what they are doing, and totally screwed you in this," he continued.
"I loved this set up on PSN and now I'm so [DELETED] off with what has happened I shall never trust Sony again ever. Looks like I'm going to be getting a [DELETED]box," added user 'Sutman'.
Some customers have been more understanding though, with 'Carnivius_Prime' commenting: "I can understand the frustrations but if anything it should be the hacker getting all the blame here. Why these guys can't simply just leave things alone. I'm sure Microsoft and Nintendo would have reacted the same way as Sony if it had happened to their services. I hope the hackers are tracked down and jailed."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...sers-vent-rage
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