SOME PLAYSTATION®NETWORK AND QRIOCITY™ SERVICES TO BE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
Phased Global Rollout of Services to Begin Regionally;
System Security Enhanced to Provide Greater Protection of Personal Information
Tokyo, May 1, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) announced they will shortly begin a phased restoration by region of PlayStation®Network and Qriocity™ services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. The company also announced both a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty.
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:
- 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
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
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.
The company is conducting a thorough and on-going investigation and working with law enforcement to track down and prosecute those responsible for the illegal intrusion.
“This criminal act against our network had a significant impact not only on our consumers, but our entire industry. These illegal attacks obviously highlight the widespread problem with cyber-security. We take the security of our consumers’ information very seriously and are committed to helping our consumers protect their personal data. In addition, the organization has worked around the clock to bring these services back online, and are doing so only after we had verified increased levels of security across our networks,” said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. “Our global audience of PlayStation Network and Qriocity consumers was disrupted. We have learned lessons along the way about the valued relationship with our consumers, and to that end, we will be launching a customer appreciation program for registered consumers as a way of expressing our gratitude for their loyalty during this network downtime, as we work even harder to restore and regain their trust in us and our services.”
Complimentary Offering and “Welcome Back” Appreciation Program
While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, the company is committed to helping its customers protect their personal data and will provide a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programs. The implementation will be at a local level and further details will be made available shortly in each region.
The company will also rollout the PlayStation Network and Qriocity “Welcome Back” program, to be offered worldwide, which will be tailored to specific markets to provide our consumers with a selection of service options and premium content as an expression of the company’s appreciation for their patience, support and continued loyalty.
Central components of the “Welcome Back” program will include:
- Each territory will be offering selected PlayStation entertainment content for free download. Specific details of this content will be announced in each region soon.
- All existing PlayStation Network customers will be provided with 30 days free membership in the PlayStation Plus premium service. Current members of PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days free service.
- Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity subscribers (in countries where the service is available) will receive 30 days free service.
Additional “Welcome Back” entertainment and service offerings will be rolled out over the coming weeks as the company returns the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services to the quality standard users have grown to enjoy and strive to exceed those exceptions.
SNEI will continue to reinforce and verify security for transactions before resuming the PlayStation®Store and other Qriocity operations, scheduled for this month.
For more information about the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services intrusion and restoration, please visit https://blog.us.playstation.com. or https://blog.eu.playstation.com/
About Sony Corporation
Sony Corporation is a leading manufacturer of audio, video, game, communications, key device and information technology products for the consumer and professional markets. With its music, pictures, computer entertainment and on-line businesses, Sony is uniquely positioned to be the leading electronics and entertainment company in the world. Sony recorded consolidated annual sales of approximately $78 billion for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010. Sony Global Web Site: http://www.sony.net/
About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
Recognized as the global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes and markets the PlayStation® game console, the PlayStation®2 computer entertainment system, the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system and the PlayStation®3 (PS3®) system. PlayStation has revolutionized home entertainment by introducing advanced 3D graphic processing, and PlayStation 2 further enhances the PlayStation legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP is a handheld entertainment system that allows users to enjoy 3D games, with high-quality full-motion video, and high-fidelity stereo audio. PS3 is an advanced computer system, incorporating the state-of-the-art Cell processor with super computer like power. SCEI, along with its subsidiary divisions Sony Computer Entertainment America Inc., Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and Sony Computer Entertainment Korea Inc. develops, publishes, markets and distributes software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in the respective markets worldwide. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI is an independent business unit of the Sony Group.
Whoever carried out the attack and whatever their reason, the damage to Sony is worsening by the day. Sony’s shares fell more than 4 percent in Tokyo Friday and are now trading at their lowest level in nearly two years, It’s not yet clear how much of a hit to its earnings this incident will cause, though one has to assume that many customers are probably lost both from the Playstation Network and from Qriocity for good.
Hirai said the company may offer to pay fees that credit card companies charge to issue new cards for affected customers. Add to that the costs from additional security measures that will certainly follow, the expense from multiple lawsuits some of which are already filed, and the cost to respond to regulators and lawmakers around the world who are now lining up against Sony, and it appears this problem is going to get expensive really fast.
Cross game chat
Xgc…xgc…xgc…xgc…xgc…xgc…cmon give it to us!!!!
My advice in this time is to take a step back, think Long nad hard befor we psot out of anger. We can not decide who is rite nor wrong. People have the right to recover and do what they feel they need to do. We can not say and individual does not have the right to do what they feel they need to do. For some it is simply protecting there families, For Some they are angry and for others they may have there own agenda.
The truth is that what has been done has been done . We can not nor should we control or try to control the actions of others. Instead we should for better of for worse be human to one another. And remember Everyone This Goes Way Beyond the PSN Network . It effects Not jsut the PSN but many major companies.
We can’t just view this as a PSN issue as it far exceeds the PSN Network.
So with that being said I wish you well. and take this time to be with family and friends or go for a walk or go play with your dog or cat or go work in a garden :)
http://newenterprise.allthingsd.com/20110501/sony-apologizes-for-the-playstation-network-breach/?mod=googlenews
Like I say I stay with sites that try to keep things in perspective.
What we need to realize is that even though a company may in deed have a 2.2 trillion dollar bank account this truly can become expensive. The PS4 also would rely heavily up on the PSN network as well.
So Don’t be surprised if you hear of Sony Laying more people off and shutting down businesses so that they can remain afloat and ahead of the game. Sony also already closed two Business in my area which didn’t do our economy much good. You can find the story when you google Sony Axes 250 Jobs in its gaming department .
Sony is having a very difficult job right now. I am not an apologist nor am I a supporter of Hacking, With all the other Crap laid aside, this effects all and every one that has or did have a PSN account.
I have one comment awaiting moderation, should it become available please view its link as it pertains a great deal to what is happening.
The information I have obtained is not from any gaming site but a financial site which bears more light on the situation at hand.
What has occurred goes beyond the PSN. This is the reason why there will be multiple lawsuits and this will become very expensive very fast for Sony.
What I was hoping for was an exact date on when services would resume (or at least begin to come back online). The “Welcome Back” program is a nice gesture, just as long as that 30 day trial of PS+ does not kick in until the PS Store is actually back up and running. You can’t really take advantage of the program unless the store is up!
Thanks for the update, look forward to more in the future.
WOW, thanks Sony!
it ABout time PSN is back online this week FINALLY!!!! :D
That is a good Start Sony, Many of these implementations should have been Started Long befor the breach. though, I am not sure what re-location has to do with Security. it sounds like you jsut had to move to a better Location to house more servers.
I care more then about gaming. I care about my identity and so forth. I think Sony has learned there lesson about What true Security is now. I just may update my console Now. Don’t get me wrong, I still want the Other OS back.
After all , the person that did this Didn’t use Other OS. And the Hacker (s)
Now, there are sites suggesting that there is roughly 2.2 million credit cards out there floating about up for sale. So there is a 1 in 2.2 million chances your card is up for sale.
@121
yes, that would be awesome
Honestly though you guys didn’t really have to give us anything for this downtime. It is a free service and it’s not really your fault you got attacked; it does happen to a lot of companies and Sony just seemed to be a big enough target for those criminals to attack.
I hope they do get caught since that’s a lot of personal info out there; at the very least all it means is a bit more spam going into the spam folder.
I do like that for two weeks of downtime that PS+ users get another 30 days since I love the PS+ service (especially cause of all the goodies around Christmas) and hopefully this shows other users that the service is much better than Live’s “pay just to play” service.
The first thing I have to do once the PSN is back up is sync my Portal 2 progress since I beat the game and want to finally play some online co-op. XD
And still, even though you’ve gotten some flak for this downtime and also some stuff still not available to Canadians (Comic Store for one) you guys still treat Canadians way better than MS does since even years later we still get overcharged for their MS Points (acting as if our dollar is still 69 cents US), yet you guys were pretty quick to match our prices with the American ones; so good on that.
u guys need to give a date know u have the system ready and have said that its secure so switch the [DELETED] thing back on this is far too long now and the line in the letter is worrying “sometime this month” thats a bit vauge guys really???? that could mean up to 4 weeks!!!! im sorry guys but i have been paitent for almost 2 weeks now and straight away onthe 1st of the month u pull this on us its not fair and unjustified i have jus used my last bit of patince writing this post and i am offically pissed off now im a psplus subsciber and i am also on me 2nd console
so how is this password thing gonna work will it let me do it on my 2nd slim 120gb ps3? how/where is this email link to reset the password how is this secure if the hackers have our emails for the account wont they be able to get into my yahoo account and change it b4 me this is worrying as i have spent 350 gbp on the system. i have two accounts on my system and i have bought on that also so will i be able to change that 1 as well as ive spent about 60 gbp on that one as well its an account for my little brother who stays over sometimes and cant play on my account so i set 1 up just 4 him
just please tell us a date because if its annother 2-3 weeks i will be getting something else to play and will be selling my ps3 to fund the new console buy because todays conoles are made for online play and are quite usless without it nearly 2/3 of my games are usless at the mo as i have finished all the sp bits and just keep them for the online elements cant take another 31 days of no online gaming.
as for this new post its a bit slimy u wait til the 1st of the month to issue a statement that it will be back on sometime this month which gives u guys 31 days to work on it which is a bit evil and very sly on your customers i do not want 30 days of this and that, i dont want a [DELETED] PSN game i most probaly own already i want the psn back on this week thats all i want from u guys u have my loyalty and support already(though its wearing extremely thin after this new update) o hurry up and wise up because if it is out for annother 31 days this is the point in time you will lose alot of customers me included.
thanks
obiadekanobi1980
15 year loyal playstation user
We need a definitive date. I don’t think anyone wants to sit in front of their PSN checking the status online 24/7.
Please give us a date/day on when PSN will come back online.
Thank you.
Thanks Sony! We are all here for you.
I’m breathing easy now. Can’t wait to get back onto the Network.
im am a ps plus user for the nxt 30 days!
Looking forward to being able to see my avatar again!
I didn’t see the PS Store on that list. I really want that Shift 2 Unleashed Legends Pack!
Man, It’s going to be one HELL of a PS Store Update whenever it gets back up. Really looking forward to that. ;D
Will Oddworld still be free to PS+ users when the network comes back up? c
I wish I can select the time I want to activate my free 1 month PS + (within a year of course)
HI SONY I WOULD LIKE A REPLY TO THIS POST: Did any of the information that I have sent you about who the hackers are and their methods they used Help to catch them. I call your Foster City Headquarters and was treated like a chump. I know my way around tracking people online, I am an ex white hat hacker…….If you need anymore info, check Noel’s voicemail….. Thanks for the update, extra ps plus is a nice thank you. the best gift would be free u3 for all.
@ Digital-Big-Boss did you know they are working on a new oddworld?
Sony I ask,
Please offer alternatives to the Music Unlimited offering to those in Canada also equity affected by this outage.
Thank You.
This Welcome Back program is nothing more then a marketing tool.
Giving us 30 day access to PS+ & 30 day access to Qriocity is not something of appreciation. Lets be real! If we consumers were at all interested in these programs we would have subscribed to them when they came out or even during the many months since they were released. This is just a way for you guys to market your service without having to actually give away nothing.
I mean come out your “giving” away things that will expire if we dont keep paying for the service after the “free” 30 days. Honestly SONY this makes you look even worse. At least to those of us that realize what you are doing. Everyone else thinks this is a great “gift” when in reality it sucks. SONY is losing no money at all by offering you access to 2 programs that unless you keep paying after wards you will lose access to those “free” games/music.
A REAL welcome back would have been to deposit $20 into everyone’s PSN wallet and let them decide on what they wanted to buy.
@mixedkidbx: They also mention wealth of free content on return (though nothing has been detailed yet).
What else can they do, come and clean your house….?
As per the live blog happening at engadget I saw this: We’re creating an information security officer to improve that. Can I have that job? I’m a man in the know of all things SONY. Official or Otherwise. Hire me and you will never have to worry about hackers again…Isn’t it obvious from all the info I sent you that I would be the perfect candidate? I am willing to relocate immediately.
I like video games!
Dont get me wrong im HAPPY PSN is finally coming back online.
BUT im just saying ppl need to realize that what they are offering comes with a lot of strings attached. Mostly the one fact that if you dont pay the fees after the “free” 30 days you will lose all access to said “Welcome Back” features.
As for the other free stuff they are supposedly offering. Lets hope its not the same stuff they have offered on PS+ 10 over already. You know those games that have been out since the start of PSN lol.
Hmm why arent any of my comments showing up now?
they are mixedkidbx, just clear your cookies and it will be fine. then they will show up.
Try this again…..
Dont get me wrong. Im HAPPY that PSN is coming back online. Ive missed playing online with all my friends.
What im not happy about is this so called “Welcome back” 30 days free of PS+ & Qriocity where if you dont pay the fees after the 30 days you lose access to all this “Welcome back” stuff u got during those 30 days.
As far as the other “free” stuff they say they will give out. Lets just pray its not some old PSN game thats been out since the start of PSN and has been offered on PS+ 10 times over. We all know what im talking about lol.
what’s this about earning back my loyalty? I’ve always been loyal, and I don’t think there’s anything short of Sony selling my personal info that would make me not loyal. Thanks so much for working so hard Sony, and kudos on the short implementation time for the new security :)
@Soopergooman187
Oh…. well that sucks. If i clear my cookies i wont have access to post on the blog no more. Thats why i havnt been able to use the main forums since the service went down. :-(
@mixedkidbx I see nothing wrong in doing that. They are taking a negative situation and making it positive. Plus it gives people the chance to try the services for free and see if it is worthwhile and if they like it they can continue the service. Some people have wanted to try PSN+ or Quricity. Good for both sides, Sony and it’s consumers
mikedbx is spot on there worried about losing the current psplus users and are basicaly blackmailing ppl into buying the psplus service all this time they have had they could have introduced something of use like ps2 backwards comp or even the dreaded x game chat (which me personally dont want it but i know a lot of others do want) as to putting $20/15GBP would cost sony alot of money do the math 55 million active users X the amount = a lotof money.
all i want is to know when i can log in to a service which we all rely on at some point, what i dont understand is that some of my games i aint played in ages have still dowloaded the update for the game how is this possible if the network is down are the game updates handled by annother network?
they say this week but also in the post they state that “sometime this month” and this is very worring to me
god/sony only knows how much they have lost in these two weeks of sales both disc & digital & dlc plus other stuff so youd think they want the service up and running asap.
as long as it is on this week ill be happy but any more delays and ill give up toatly on sony and will try other systems.
Yay free PS+ for a month! What’s that Sony? Playstation Store won’t be up until… TBA? Let me get this straight, playstation Store is not coming live next week? What the hell are we supposed to do with PS+ without PStore?
Wait a second, I can keep the stuff I buy or try for free after my free PS+ runs out right? No? Why? Oh… sorry I did not realize that you were a freaking piece of sheeeeet
wow people your PSN+ subscription doesn’t start until you activate it throught the PS Store so your not getting the welcome back package untill store is up so it won’t expire or anything
Yeah $20 in everyone’s PSN wallet (well just the actual PSN accounts that have used the store before, because like Sony said not all 77 million PS3 are using the PSN store) would be a lot. But maybe its something Sony should lose. I mean yes someone attacked their service, but the service wasnt that protected to begin with.
I mean look at what they are doing NOW. Moving to a more secure location, with better security, advanced monitoring, and many additional firewalls. Um ok….. why wasnt all of this done to begin with? Sony really didnt think that all the consumers using PSN and buying games/movies/etc, that their personal info didnt need a lot of protection? We are living in a time where the internet has become a major way of life. Most people conduct a lot of their personal business online, like paying bills thru their bank accounts.
If Sony had been more proactive before now about security, they might not be in this mess. Then again they might…. but you never will know. What would really suck is if Sony gets everything up and running again and then the same thing happens. At least then we would know someone out there really doesnt like Sony.
+ obiadekanobi1980 on May 1st, 2011 at 9:26 am said:
“all i want is to know when i can log in to a service which we all rely on at some point, what i dont understand is that some of my games i aint played in ages have still dowloaded the update for the game how is this possible if the network is down are the game updates handled by annother network?”
Separate channels. This keeps the main channel from getting overburdened or clogged. Thank goodness for this or we wouldn’t have been able to get current patches for the games we play.
Wow. Awesome job Sony.
As for all of those constant commentors since the outage happened that have either whined, complained, or “threatened” to sell all things PS3 and switch to another console and are now praising Sony: … That’s right, you have me at a loss for words. Just goes to show how childish, impatient, and bratty so many kids and people are nowadays.
@mixedkidbx
The new data center has been in the works for months so if they had more time it would have been more secure.
@STDProne
thats kinda the point though. They though they had the time cuz there was nothing to worry about. In 6 years of PSN being online they just a few month ago started working on a new data center? Seems a little naive of them to think that in those 6 years things wouldnt happen, and they almost didnt.
Kinda makes you think too….. PSN goes down right before the new data center is complete? Hmm maybe inside job with help from the outside lol.
One thing i wish they would have done with this whole rebuilding of the network, is make Cross Game Chat finally work. I mean its that the main reason we didnt have it already? Because the network wasnt setup to work that way. Well now would have been the perfect time to setup the network to work that way. Now that would have been a gift most people would have been happy to receive. Something they (we) have been asking for for many years.
Two things
1-Keep up the good work and getting better with this hard learned lessons
2-hunt and prosecute those responsible.
@mixedkidbx
lol I get what you saying but just life. From now on they will probably be more alert when it comes with security but generally people keep having same level of security for years untill it is breached so this can also serve as a warning to other online services and a life lessen to people to be cautious with their data
It sucks that this happened, but I’m still a happy PlayStation owner. This is a lesson learned for the entire industry. Thank you, Sony.
This is why we love you Sony, you provide high quality service and make amends for your mistakes in more ways than I thought imaginable. I will never abandon the company that has given myself, my friends, and my family such great entertainment for so many years! I highly look forward to logging back online today when I get home from my nephews birthday party tonight. LONG LIVE SONY!
So we get 30 days to use PS+ stuff before we have to start a subscription to actually keep the crap. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKKK
I want Plants vs Zombies