*ren* PSN Down, Customer Info Compromised

Ugh, utterly terrifying read on Ars:

Sony has officially stated that anyone using hacked firmware or any sort of circumvention technology will have their console banned for life from the PlayStation Network, but how does the company know when such a console logs in? One person claims to have broken into the PlayStation Network, and what he has found is rather shocking. If his findings are accurate, your credit card information is being sent to Sony as an unencrypted text file, and Sony is watching every single thing you do with your system, keeping detailed records all the while.

"Sony is the biggest spy ever... they collect so much data. All connected devices return values sent to Sony's servers," the hacker said. He claims that Sony knows what controllers you're using, what USB devices are plugged in, what sort of television you're using—everything. Here's another section of the chat log:

user2: another funny function i found is regarding psn downloads
user2: its when a pkg game is requested from the store
user2: in the url itself you can define if you get the game free or not. requires some modification in hashes and so on tho
user3: ..
user2: is like
user8: :D
user3: my god
user2: drm:eek:ff

That's not all: your credit card information is apparently being sent as an unencrypted text file. This is how the code is being sent to Sony:

creditCard.paymentMethodId=VISA&creditCard.holderName=Max&creditCard.cardNumber=45581234567812345678&creditCard.expireYear=2012&creditCard.expireMonth=2&creditCard.securityCode=214&creditCard.address.address1=example street%2024%20&creditCard.address.city=city1%20&creditCard.address.province=abc%20&creditCard.address.postalCode=12345%20

This information is allegedly being stored online and is updated every time you turn on your system. We've been receiving reports from various sources that e-mails are being sent to those with hacked firmware even before they log back into the PlayStation Network, which is even more evidence that Sony is grabbing information from your system just from being connected to your wireless network.
All unconfirmed, but still. :???:
 
"Last updated 2 months ago"

It was confirmed fake (data could be obtained only with CFW that breaks the security of connection).
 
Are the people whose accounts have been compromised being sent an email from Sony so that we know? I haven't received any email yet so I'm wondering if I'm in the clear.
 
So I guess i should expect a payment from sony for the other os screw up and now for this ?

Looks like that ps3 might end up paying for itself , lets see what else sony can screw up


This is def making my choice not to buy a NGP looking more and more like a wise choice
 
I did receive it.

Add PlayStation_Network@playstation-email.com to your address book =================================== PlayStation(R)Network =================================== Valued PlayStation Network/Qriocity Customer: We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised. As a result of what we have found to date, we have: 1) Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services; 2) Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and 3) Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by rebuilding our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information. We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable. Although we are still investigating the details of this incident, we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained. If you have authorized a sub-account for your dependent, the same data with respect to your dependent may have been obtained. While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained. For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking. When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password. Additionally, if you use your PlayStation Network or Qriocity user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them, as well. Under Massachusetts law, you have the right to obtain any police report filed in regard to this incident. If you are the victim of identity theft, you also have the right to file a police report and obtain a copy of it. Massachusetts law also allows consumers to place a security freeze on their credit reports. A security freeze prohibits a credit reporting agency from releasing any information from a consumer's credit report without written authorization. However, please be aware that placing a security freeze on your credit report may delay, interfere with, or prevent the timely approval of any requests you make for new loans, credit mortgages, employment, housing or other services. If you have been a victim of identity theft, and you provide the credit reporting agency with a valid police report, it cannot charge you to place, lift or remove a security freeze. In all other cases, a credit reporting agency may charge you up to $5.00 each to place, temporarily lift, or permanently remove a security freeze. To place a security freeze on your credit report, you must send a written request to each of the three major consumer reporting agencies: Equifax (www.equifax.com); Experian (www.experian.com); and TransUnion (www.transunion.com) by regular, certified or overnight mail at the addresses below: Equifax Security Freeze P.O. Box 105788 Atlanta, GA 30348 Experian Security Freeze P.O. Box 9554 Allen, TX 75013 Trans Union Security Freeze Fraud Victim Assistance Department P.O. Box 6790 Fullerton, CA 92834 In order to request a security freeze, you will need to provide the following information: 1. Your full name (including middle initial as well as Jr., Sr., II, III, etc.); 2. Social Security Number; 3. Date of birth; 4. If you have moved in the past five (5) years, provide the addresses where you have lived over the prior five (5) years; 5. Proof of current address such as a current utility bill or telephone bill; 6. A legible photocopy of a government-issued identification card (state driver's license or ID card, military identification, etc.) 7. If you are a victim of identity theft, include a copy of either the police report, investigative report, or complaint to a law enforcement agency concerning identity theft; 8. If you are not a victim of identity theft, include payment by check, money order, or credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover only). Do not send cash through the mail. The credit reporting agencies have three (3) business days after receiving your request to place a security freeze on your credit report. The credit bureaus must also send written confirmation to you within five (5) business days and provide you with a unique personal identification number (PIN) or password, or both, that can be used by you to authorize the removal or lifting of the security freeze. To lift the security freeze in order to allow a specific entity or individual access to your credit report, you must call or send a written request to the credit reporting agencies by mail and include proper identification (name, address, and social security number) and the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed the security freeze as well as the identities of those entities or individuals you would like to receive your credit report or the specific period of time you want the credit report available. The credit reporting agencies have three (3) business days after receiving your request to lift the security freeze for those identified entities or for the specified period of time. To remove the security freeze, you must send a written request to each of the three credit bureaus by mail and include proper identification (name, address, and social security number) and the PIN number or password provided to you when you placed the security freeze. The credit bureaus have three (3) business days after receiving your request to remove the security freeze. We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience. Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. Sony takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information. Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority. Please contact us at 1-800-345-7669 should you have any additional questions. Sincerely, Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment =================================== LEGAL "PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks and "PS3" and "PlayStation Network" are trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (C) 2011 Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC. Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC 919 E. Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City, CA 94404
 
Also received the email from Sony for my US account.
My main account is EU, for that I haven't yet received anything.
I don't think I have credit card data stored on my US account as I've only downloaded free stuff from US PSN, also the address and other data is made up.
Any information is this limited to US only or is it worldwide.
I'd think the servers storing account data would not be all in one place, i.e. Europe would have their own servers, Japan their own...
 
guess it´s time to get a new credit card......

and i guess it´s time that credit card information stored on servers does NOT include the CVC numbers

fuck fuck fuck

Besides that, the most valueable information they gain from this is actually mails and password, with the current trend of people using their mail adress and a password for online services just one leak is usally a leak to get into "everything" related to that mail adress.. thank god i use different passwords for most services...

did i forget to say.. fuck fuck fuck...
 
Ugh, utterly terrifying read on Ars:

That's not all: your credit card information is apparently being sent as an unencrypted text file. This is how the code is being sent to Sony:

creditCard.paymentMethodId=VISA&creditCard.holderN ame=Max&creditCard.cardNumber=45581234567812345678 &creditCard.expireYear=2012&creditCard.expireMonth =2&creditCard.securityCode=214&creditCard.address. address1=example street%2024%20&creditCard.address.city=city1%20&cr editCard.address.province=abc%20&creditCard.addres s.postalCode=12345%20

This information is allegedly being stored online and is updated every time you turn on your system. We've been receiving reports from various sources that e-mails are being sent to those with hacked firmware even before they log back into the PlayStation Network, which is even more evidence that Sony is grabbing information from your system just from being connected to your wireless network.


All unconfirmed, but still. :???:

The cc details is of course sent thru a encrypted ssl session, but is there any other way to encrypt a "POST" in https ?.
 
rabidrabbit said:
Also received the email from Sony for my US account.
My main account is EU, for that I haven't yet received anything.
I got it for my Korean account, so it's clearly not limited to US alone. But there are other accounts I didn't receive it for - which makes it hard to deduce if it affects ALL of PSN everywhere or not.
 
I haven't recieved any email from sony.

So... Who can tell me how many symbols the password for PSN is by minimum?

All passwords and security questions on steam & itunes are changed. My CC is now blocked.
When i called my bank and said i wanted to block the card, they asked lost it, stole it or PS3? Im guessing i wasn't the first to call
Good luck hackers!

And once again, **** YOU SONY! I have never ever been so pissed off at a company before, but then again i have never seen a company threating their customers as badly as this. Not giving this information on day one is just crazy. Not even when a Mercedes service guy left a wrench inside the engine bay of my car was i this pissed off.

Unless the Ps4 is going to be absolutely amazing, like giving me a bj or something while i play, (or just be mindblowingly awesome) chances are slim to none for purchasing anything from you again. (Shame cuz i love Gran Turismo)
 
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There is no doubt that Sony messed up from A to Y here and even Å if you got that letter in your alphabet :)

But what I do find funny is how people latch on to all rumors as it was 100% confirmed fact. In addition to all the posturing the "hackers" now are doing on Twitter, "F U Sony, I told you weeks ago" they might have, but still funny to see how much they crave attention.

Personally I always assume that anything I store online at any provider/vendor/company will get compromised. So I always consider whether I can live with that info compromised or not. And try to minimize the ripple damage, ie by having different email addresses/passwords for important stuff compared to none important stuff.

I'd love to see a post-mortem on this one :)
 
There is no doubt that Sony messed up from A to Y here and even Å if you got that letter in your alphabet :)

But what I do find funny is how people latch on to all rumors as it was 100% confirmed fact. In addition to all the posturing the "hackers" now are doing on Twitter, "F U Sony, I told you weeks ago" they might have, but still funny to see how much they crave attention.

Personally I always assume that anything I store online at any provider/vendor/company will get compromised. So I always consider whether I can live with that info compromised or not. And try to minimize the ripple damage, ie by having different email addresses/passwords for important stuff compared to none important stuff.

I'd love to see a post-mortem on this one :)

So how do you ever purchase anything online?
 
I will get a NGP and i will get a PS4. And i will be more carefull with the passwords on PSN in the future.

If i were to stop using services everytime someone fucked up i would quickly run out of options i just can´t take the huffing and puffing serious that goes on when something like this happens.

Microsoft, Amazon,Google, Nintendo(maybe not :) etc, all did their fair amount of shit and still have me as a happy.. ehmm at least as a customer.
 
I'm not too worried about my details. I use algorithmically generated passwords that are different for each website but which can be easily generated on demand, so there are no other websites that share my PSN password, and I put junk into my Memorable Question fields. However, this highlights the problems with password access for everything. And Sony's lack of response has been shocking and I hope they're held to account. It's been a bad year for them so far.
 
So how do you ever purchase anything online?

I use a credit card thats not tied to my main bank account(s). In addition to that, all my cards are regionally locked, which means that is a card is "used" outside the EU it will automatically block. If for instance I buy something on Amazon that needs to charge from outside EU, then access my banks webpages and allow that region for that specific transfer.

When I travel, privately, I open the regions I will be going to. Work credit cards I do not care so much about :)

One place I did not sign up for, was www.cdon.com/no/se etc, they wanted my social security number even when I wanted to pay with credit card. Ie I did not buy anything from them.
 
I use a credit card thats not tied to my main bank account(s). In addition to that, all my cards are regionally locked, which means that is a card is "used" outside the EU it will automatically block. If for instance I buy something on Amazon that needs to charge from outside EU, then access my banks webpages and allow that region for that specific transfer.

When I travel, privately, I open the regions I will be going to. Work credit cards I do not care so much about :)

One place I did not sign up for, was www.cdon.com/no/se etc, they wanted my social security number even when I wanted to pay with credit card. Ie I did not buy anything from them.

Social security number in norway is public information btw.

I'm not too worried about my details. I use algorithmically generated passwords that are different for each website but which can be easily generated on demand, so there are no other websites that share my PSN password, and I put junk into my Memorable Question fields. However, this highlights the problems with password access for everything. And Sony's lack of response has been shocking and I hope they're held to account. It's been a bad year for them so far.

How do you generate these passwords? Some kind of program? Give me a link
 
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