The past few weeks have been a difficult phase for Sony in the gaming domain. Recently, the company acknowledged the seriousness of the issues plaguing the PSN and Qriocity services as Sony Corporation’s executive deputy President Kazuo Hirai listed out the measures adopted and future plans to strengthen security. Amidst these revelations, the company stated that there is no available evidence which carves out a case of credit card data theft. However, to the dismay of both the company and several PSN members, further investigations have unmasked a different picture.
According to Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment, SOE customer data may have been stolen following the illegal intrusion into their systems on April 16 -17, 2011. Engineers and security consultants currently engaged in the process of reviewing the system discovered that personal information such as name, address, email id, login name and password from about 24.6 million SOE accounts and an outdated 2007 database could have been hacked into.
The startling revelations have unearthed that the outdated database includes around 12,700 non-US credit and debit card numbers as well as expiration dates. These also incorporate 10,700 direct debit records of gamers located across Spain, Austria, Netherlands and Germany. Further, this information comprises name and account name of customers, their addresses and bank account numbers.
As we’d reported yesterday, the company will extend a 30 days free additional subscription to gamers. It has also been divulged that the gaming giant is now outlining a ‘make good’ plan to appease MMO players on the PS3. Additionally, it has been working its way up to help gamers secure information while rendering a complimentary offering for enrolling identity theft protection services.
Having regretted the inconvenience several times over, Sony has yet again apologized to gamers and enthusiasts around the globe. It is also said that the company is working with the FBI while trying to restore the system and its services. Besides, the corporation is expected to notify ‘all consumers whose data may have been stolen’ via email.
For now, the PlayStation Network, Qriocity and SOE services have been temporarily shut. Nevertheless, some PSN and Qriocity services are anticipated to resume this week while the rest of the system could be reinstated by the end of this month.