Today, the Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade of the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce held a hearing in Washington, DC on “The Threat of Data Theft to American Consumers.”
Kazuo Hirai, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Sony Computer Entertainment America, submitted written answers to questions posed by the subcommittee about the large-scale, criminal cyber-attack we have experienced. We wanted to share those answers with you (click here).
In summary, we told the subcommittee that in dealing with this cyber attack we followed four key principles:
- Act with care and caution.
- Provide relevant information to the public when it has been verified.
- Take responsibility for our obligations to our customers.
- Work with law enforcement authorities.
We also informed the subcommittee of the following:
- Sony has been the victim of a very carefully planned, very professional, highly sophisticated criminal cyber attack.
- We discovered that the intruders had planted a file on one of our Sony Online Entertainment servers named “Anonymous” with the words “We are Legion.”
- By April 25, forensic teams were able to confirm the scope of the personal data they believed had been taken, and could not rule out whether credit card information had been accessed. On April 26, we notified customers of those facts.
- As of today, the major credit card companies have not reported any fraudulent transactions that they believe are the direct result of this cyber attack.
- Protecting individuals’ personal data is the highestpriority and ensuring that the Internet can be made secure for commerce is also essential. Worldwide, countries and businesses will have to come together to ensure the safety of commerce over the Internet and find ways to combat cybercrime and cyber terrorism.
- We are taking a number of steps to prevent future breaches, including enhanced levels of data protection and encryption; enhanced ability to detect software intrusions, unauthorized access and unusual activity patterns; additional firewalls; establishment of a new data center in an undisclosed location with increased security; and the naming of a new Chief Information Security Officer.
We told the subcommittee about our intent to offer complimentary identity theft protection to U.S. account holders and detailed the “Welcome Back” program that includes free downloads, 30 days of free membership in the
PlayStation Plus premium subscription service; 30 days of free service for Music Unlimited subscribers; and extending PlayStation Plus and Music Unlimited subscriptions for the number of days services were unavailable.
We are working around the clock to have some PlayStation Network services restored and we’ll be providing specific details shortly. We hope this update is helpful to you, and we will continue to keep you posted as we work to restore our network and provide you with both the entertainment and the security you deserve.
lol sony
@zee for what then? your info is all over the internet & phonebooks (Name, Address, & number) if they had SS# then id be worried lol
@Lopez9577
yea you use the latest timeframe so the 1 they said it on sunday so it is the valid 1
it’s been 2 weeks
@STD so if they say on friday in another update they say within a week are you gonna say its now valid till next friday? come on you gotta even say sony’s losing it lol
@Lopez
all this is unprecedented so there is no way of really knowing when it will be back
if they say that on friday then then yea that 1 would be valid,disappointing but valid
Guys quit babbling about ”thank you sony for this” or ”thank you for the update” i love sony but like it or not they are fooling us why? because its been 5 YEARS that sony have not changed xmb or improved it n now psn is off n they dont even think about improving it at least cross voice chat. now you guys keep saying thank you sony for what? enough being blind, n kill the prejudice inside
SONY WHEN DO YOU WANT TO SHOW US SOME NEW FEATURES FOR PSN? WHEN IS THAT BIG UPDATE GONNA COME OUT? AFTER YOU DECIDE TO CHARGE US FOR ONLINE GAMING LIKE MICROSOFT?
@dopeboy
I like the XMB it’s easy to use and looks good, why do u want to change it?
I think they should add features too but all these hackers are grabbing all the attention of the devs they are trying to avoid the PS3 becoming a pirate like the PSP
yippie no psn 2day(what a coincidence!) Man.. nice post though.. but still workin around the clock I think its overused and i think they are just running around a damn clock..(physically!!) Man.. I am waiting 4 black ops gameplay i already got a 71% and i am kinda bored. i bout a headset.. and damn im waiting to use it! Hopefully ´´shortly´´ means either 2morrow or the day after 2morrow!! i am tired of waiting.. hehe good i s have a really good portable console!
Goes to show this world will die by human hands and nothing else because the way we act. but being different is good because we can tell ppl apart though i think in my opinion for people that are computer illiterate and what i mean is they know nothing about computer networking etc. and no not just I know how to connect the computer to the internet or go online that’s not enough that just the basic. should not have any say in what there doing but just wait like everyone else. and again you never say when the service will be up because then the ppl will complain again if they can’t make it in time. this takes time people 7mill information “hello” do the math of that with the amount of servers running everything and you might get a good estimate of when. but you wont know that since you don’t know computer like some people on PSN.
Sooooooooooo it’s not back yet? That’s all I wanna know.
AGAIN THE SAME FREAKKINGG PROBLEMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!! *TURNING SUPER SAIYAN 16!!!!!!!!!!!* *THAT EVEN EXISTS!!!* l0l!
nope its not on! *disappointed 77 million users(once again!!!)
the only time it will be back on is when your able to go on your PS3 and log in or when Sony informs when it will be back on “simple” or just everyone can’t last 2 weeks without internet despite there’s TONS of other online stuff to hold us off. I just hope there no more complaining about anything after this (which its still going to happen because its the human cycle) were never happy about anything.
So nike, how long does it take to get a service that provides functionality for 100 million users back up? While having multiple governments breathing down your back? While having every news outlet pestering you? While having top sercurity firms essentially trying to hack it to prove that it’s not going to be cracked easily?
i mean you are an expert on all these matters so what is the time frame for this unprecedented event to be?
And yes if tomorrow Sony says it’s going to be another week that does in fact invalidate the last statement. That means that those security firms were able to crack it and they need to do more work. It will not be ready until it stands up to some tremendous testing. Sony’s dates are likely given on those test being passed.
Are you going to keep sitting here and crying that Sony is trying to do the right thing and not release it until it’s actually ready? I mean apparently it’s more important to have the service up then to have the service up, improved, and more secure.
130 Servers, 50 Software Programs and 77 million registered accounts. If people that knows about networking then you should have a good Idea how long this will take for others that knows nothing about networking well have fun guessing but from the 20th of April to now and with those numbers see how long it will take. have fun with this problem who ever reads this comment.
i couldn’t care less about MP, but I really miss the ps store. I’ve been playing disgaea 3 lately and now i really want to download some of the dlc for it. Hurry up Sony! I’m ready to give you some money.
@STDProne
even the best things should change n improve to be the good base for the better experience, i’ve got 360 too, the last dashboard of xbox360 before this recent update was awesome but Microsoft (kindda hate this company) changed it why? can you answer to this question? ill tell you the answer, because users need changes, no offence man but all i’m sayin is that ps3 fans are blind. i posted here before ’bout cross voice chat n an [DELETED] ps3 fan told me that if you want to talk with your friends pick up your phone n call em…….. . see how stupid he was? oh yes i’m a [DELETED] ’cause i can’t play online multiplayer n call 3 of my friends at the same time jus because sony doesn’t want to add the feature to psn that xbboxlive had it after creating NXE, 5YEARS AGO……………..
I just hope it gets back soon but I know it will take awhile
I don’t see how you can hate from outside the Playstation Network you can’t even get in……… hehehe lego
So, I herd u liek Mudk…80710016
dude i’llsend you a friend request n then you give me your phone number ’cause i want to talk to you but you’re playin uncharted n i’m playin black ops LOL…………
I_like_toast. The voice of reason.
why i can not see the friends of my frinds? why i can not answer to my messages while i’m shoping on ps store? why i can not see my friend’s message as soon as i push ps botton when i recieved the message? why i can’t play music while i’m spending my money on ps store? WHY?WHY? WHY SONY?
i bet that as soon as PSN is back up none of you will post anything saying sony sucks anymore because you will be back in front of your televisions haha :P
keep on failing Sony! lol
A question regarding the new PSN…
Will it simply be the same PSN with better security? Or will it be built from the ground up, with better security?
The reason I ask is because trophies couldn’t sync unless asked, will this “new” PSN allow automatic sync to be possible?
Hey guys I heard the new Black Ops map pack is out on Xbox 360.
Cool! The Jimmy Cosmos-Bot is back! I really missed it.
No if I can just find the right combination of words to get it to fire off another pre-scripted anti-Sony pithy statement….
If this was the act of anon then we can at least be somewhat assured that our personal info and credit card info aren’t being used maliciously. In fact we all better hope it was them, cause it’s a lot better than if it was in the hands of a malicious cracker looking to exploit our personal info.
@PBarnum
all i know dude is that i don’t need 30days of free PS plus(’cause i’ve got money n i can buy it if i want to) i want psn to come back more powerfull than before with features that are necessary for better online gaming experience
@leukoplast
u never know they might use the credit card money to support their causes or to further humiliate sony
@PBarnum
They said you will be able to sync your trophies with whatever they do
@s1mpl3______j4ck
dude I’M IN FRONT OF MY TV, and i’m playin battlefield bad company 2 vietnam with my xbox360. these are facts not a bunch of complains
Selective reporting at it’s finest. The second PSN is back up, all my info and CC number are f****** gone for good. You won’t see another dime from me. You screwed the pooch this time, Sony, and your back peddling BS will not carry you to safety. Enjoy your loss of millions of customers.
@toxic
but this is the perfect time to use your CC sony is probably implementing security that will make NASA jealous
WHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!
Sorry just wanted to do that. What were we complaining about again? Damn Commies! I’ll get my pitch-fork!
It’s over!!! The PSN is NEVER coming back online!
Overreacting much?
16 days of failing and counting.
These guys that switched to Xbox sure are not having a lot of fun if they are still commenting on a forum. lol
So…we must not be having fun with our ps3’s since we post on here? i mean clearly we all could be playing our respective consoles instead! the internet is not accessible in more places then my ps3 afterall.
For all you guys threatening to run to Micro$oft, go ahead. I was there before I went to Sony and if you think Sony is screwing you, wait until you get a load of how M$ takes care of it’s customers. Go ahead, try it.
Not only that, but I guarantee you within the first week of playing your 360 you start to realize how inferior it is to the machine you just abandoned.
My intentions are never to be rude. I just find it disturbing that individuals keep ranting. If you choose to get another system or if you have money that is great. Why is it so important to impose your views and will on others. Doesn’t Microsoft have a forum for Xbox somewhere out there? A lot of people have decided to stay with the system of their choice, so respect that. I respect the fact that you are angry with the mishap but stuff happens. I am sure the disaster in Japan caused quite of bit of confusion to a lot of things in Japan as well. No I am not making excuses for Sony as they don’t put money in my pocket. I think that corners were cut and bad things resulted. It is over. I choose to wait because I refuse to blow money on another system. I understand why a lot of countries don’t advertise trips and services in America now. It is me, me, me all the time. Who cares how much money you have? Go play your Xbox and let us wait if we choose.
Patience is dead. Apparently.
@DrunkRaba – lol This blog has been the proverbial “mob with pitchfork” type of thing lately.
@Spidey817
Yeah, but then someone like i_like_toast has to come in with the common sensicalisms and disturb the vibe!
All kidding aside, yes this sucks, these things happen, hope the network is fixed well when it comes back on. Complaining constantly and berating Sony really solves nothing.
But it sure is fun!! ;-P
why you think were pissed…….Its sony’s fault this happened. I just want to come home from work eat and log on psn. How can you not be mad or angry its been 2 weeks. Just keep taking it in the butt you pussies……………
I really have no issue with Microsoft. I just prefer my PS3. I am just tired of hearing “I am getting or have gotten an Xbox”. Sounds like a kid telling his Dad that he is running to tell his Mom. lol I just come here to hopefully get some useful info. It was reported that Sony successfully tested Psn in Japan today. I thought maybe someone could verify that but it is just more whining and bantering.
@xzile – I read that today too, but then I heard it was old news so I’m not sure what’s going on with that.
@xzile, 189 i’ll give it a go! tried it monday to no avail.
and just tried it with the same maintenance message. Unless it was Sony testing it out at a different time or something, it’s down too.
As is UK
As is Hong Kong
All just checked for ya cause you asked so nicely!
Wow no date on telling us. Man im starting to get pissed now