Apparently Sony Online Entertainment, the producers of EverQuest, EverQuest II, Star Wars Galaxies, Pirates of the Burning Seas, DC Universe Online, and a few other games, got hacked early last week. All their games are temporarily offline while they conduct investigations. Account information may have been compromised for U.S. and European accounts, although that information may be dated. Their main credit card databanks weren’t breached reportedly.
See SOE’s website for more details.
It looks like Sony brought their games back online today, finally. They’re requiring a password change for everyone before they’ll let you back in game though. Also of note, Sony is offering a(n apologetic) “Welcome Back Program” to anyone who plays or who has ever played their games. Check out their Welcome Back Program web page for more details.
I’m not a playstation user, but I’m interested in this case. Please keep us updated.
It should be noted that Sony and the hacking, as illusitrated by the games I listed earlier, wasn’t limited to the Playstation platform. Those were all PC games I listed. (Okay, so I’m biased toward the PC platform.) So if you were ever an old EQ or SWG player, some of your old address/password/out-of-date-billing-info may have been compromised. And yeah, that 45 day “Welcome back” credit applies even if you haven’t played in years.
Time for me to change some passwords. I just got some bounced back email from my old Hotmail account that looks like I spammed an old outdated contact list. I think it’s linked to old information in SOE’s account database, but I can’t be sure really. In any event I’m way overdue for a few password changes.
PlayStation Network password-reset system compromised
[UPDATE] Multiple sources report Web-based method for creating new login info can be hacked with a user’s e-mail and date of birth; Sony confirms “URL exploit.”
http://www.gamespot.com/news/6314351/playstation-network-password-reset-system-compromised?tag=hot-stories%3Btitle%3B3
They can’t catch a break.
Sony Online Entertainment dropping the price for Station Access
http://massively.joystiq.com/2011/06/08/sony-online-entertainment-dropping-the-price-for-station-access/
“Whether or not you’re a fan of Sony Online Entertainment, it’s hard to deny that the company’s Station Pass is a pretty good value for the money. For the price of two monthly subscriptions, you get access to everything from the original EverQuest to the recently launched DC Universe Online. But if the deal isn’t quite good enough for you yet, SOE has just announced that the access price is dropping once again to $19.99 a month.”
Think a lot of people will bite? I don’t doubt some will.
D’oh! Bitten again! Now I’m seeing suspicious activity on an old Paypal account I just about forgot I had. Yes, the shared email address password combo strikes again. Luckily Paypal has been vigilant enough to semi-freeze the account before too much transpired.