By Margaret Rock | Wed Apr 27, 2011 3:05 pm |
Sony today confirmed that the PlayStation accounts of 77 million users were hacked in one of the largest data breeches ever, prompting the company to scramble to respond to customer rage and fears.
The Japanese electronics giant said hackers obtained information including names, addresses and possibly credit card details were jeopardized.
Sony pulled the plug on the PlayStation network and Qriocity online service as soon as it learned of theft on April 19, but didn't tell the public about it until a week later, only hours after the unveiling its S1 and S2 tablets.
The company said the delay was necessary because it needed several days of forensic investigation to gather facts and determine the data had been compromised.
An "illegal and unauthorized person" secured names, addresses, e-mail information, birth dates, user names, passwords, logins, security questions and possibly more, Sony to its U.S. PlayStation blog. Since the scope has not been completely uncovered, the company is advising those affected to exercise "an overabundance of caution."
Sony is working to restore the network's services within a week, and has posted a "Frequently Asked Questions" on its websites to help customers with questions.
PlayStation owners, 90 percent whom are based in Europe or the U.S., expressed outrage over the breach and the company's handling of the situation, on message boards and in blog posts.
In response, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, (D-Conn.) sent a letter to Sony President Jack Tretton asking for an explanation on the six-day delay in notifying PlayStation customers. The letter asked Sony to foot the cost of providing PlayStation customers with security measures.
Sony, which generates an estimated $500 million in annual revenue from the service, may suffer a major blow from the fallout, as customers decide switch to rival systems, such as the Nintendo Wii and Microsoft Xbox.
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