Sony’s hacker woes: Is the company doomed?

Even the unfortunate people whose personal information was stolen in the great PlayStation data heist of 2011 have to feel a little bad for Sony these days – or maybe some Schadenfreude.

Between the initial hack — in which 77 million accounts were compromised — the continued disruption of the PlayStation Network and the subsequent discovery that another 25 million accounts had been hacked, the once proud tech giant has been brought to its knees. Can it rise again?

Read more at Yahoo! Games

Sony Gives Details on Massive Data Theft to Congress

As Sony continues to determine the severity and scope of a recent cyberattack that saw personal information for over 100 million customer accounts stolen, Congress is demanding answers.

After declining a request by the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade to attend a hearing today on online data theft (including how Sony handled the security breach), the company has released a letter from Kazuo Hirai, chairman of the board of Sony Computer Entertainment America, to the committee.

Read more at CNBC.com

Sony offers more details on data theft

Sony is stopping short of making direct accusations, but pointed an accusatory finger at the collective group of hackers who go by ‘Anonymous’.

The company, in a letter written to the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade, said it does not yet know who was behind the attack, but it had found a file planted on the server of Sony Online Entertainment named “Anonymous”. (SOE just yesterday announced it had discovered hackers had accessed and stolen information from 25 million accounts.)

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

Sony Details Restoration Plans for PlayStation Network

Nearly two weeks after being the subject of one of the largest data breaches in business history, the PlayStation Network will go back online this week, Sony announced Sunday morning.

The company, which says the service restoration will be a phased one, also discussed several new security enhancements, as well as a program meant to encourage gun shy users to return to the PSN.

Read more at CNBC.com

PlayStation Security Breach: What it Means for Other Companies

While Sony says it is still unsure if the hacker who broke into its PlayStation Network and Qriocity Music Service was able to access credit card information, consumer advocates are on high alert.

The potential that criminals could run up fraudulent charges is a logistical nightmare for consumers — even if they won’t be held responsible for those bills. But beyond the consumer impact of this data breach, which is one of the largest on record, corporate America is bracing for a potential impact.

Read more at CNBC.com

Critics take aim at Sony over PSN hacking

With the shock wearing off after yesterday’s announcement about the scope and magnitude of the hacker attack on the PlayStation Network, Sony is now having to deal with the ugly public relations fallout.

Gardner analyst Avivah Litan says the incident is the largest theft of personal information to ever occur. That has spurred politicians in two countries to demand answers. And, as expected, the first of what will likely be several lawsuits has already been filed.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog

What Does the PlayStation Network Hack Mean For You?

Sony’s acknowledgement that hackers have compromised its PlayStation Network put 70 million subscribers on alert — and left a lot of people with a lot of questions.

The security breach has many people worried about identity theft and, if they had made a digital purchase on the console, whether their credit card information is safe. Finding the answers can be a challenge, so here’s what you need to know about what the attack means for you.

Read more at CNBC.com

Playstation Network user info breached

A hacker attack on the online arm of Sony’s PlayStation 3 has compromised the personal information of 70 million members.

Sony, in a statement on its company blog, announced the extent of the breach on its PlayStation Network and Qriocity systems Monday, adding that it was still uncertain if any credit card information tied to those accounts was accessed as well. Sony shut down the PlayStation Network six days ago after discovering the breach, but Monday’s announcement was the first that gave substantial information about the scope of the intrusion.

Read more at Daily Variety

Sony unveils pair of ‘PlayStation Tablets’

Just months after moving the PlayStation into the cell phone world, Sony is adding tablet computers to its repertoire.

The company has launched its first tablets — both of which will come equipped with the PlayStation Suite allowing owners to play first generation PlayStation games. Like the Xperia Play (aka the ‘PlayStation Phone’), the tablets use the Android operating system. They’re expected to hit store shelves this fall.

Read more at Yahoo! Games

PlayStation Network hack worse than anyone expected

After six days of silence, Sony has revealed more about the security breach of its PlayStation Network – and it’s much worse than expected.

The company says hackers obtained personal information for all of the service’s 70 million subscribers. Still unclear is whether the credit card information on file with the service was compromised.

Read more at Variety’s Technotainment blog