We’ve been following the Sony PlayStation Network hack quite closely since back in April when we reported Sony Rebuilding PlayStation Network (PSN) – Down 4 Days So Far.
Shortly after that it got a bit ugly with Sony PlayStation Network Hack Resulted In Stolen User Data & Lawsuit and then another hack, which lost an additional 25 Million customer records – Sony Loses 25 Million More Customer Account Details Through SOE (Sony Online Entertainment).
But finally, we are glad to report Sony has been bringing the network back online, users are reporting it’s slow – but that’s to be expected really with 50 million or so trying to logon at the same time.
After hackers knocked its PlayStation Network offline for nearly a month, Sony is now trying to make amends by giving customers free video games.
Sony made the announcement Monday, saying it was a way of thanking the millions of gamers on its network for their “patience, support and continued loyalty during the service outage.”
In the U.S. and Canada, PlayStation Network and Qriocity subscribers will soon be able to register for two new games each — either in PS3 or PSP format — at the PlayStation Store. The PlayStation Store isn’t online yet, but when it comes back, gamers will have 30 days to get their goods.
PS3 users can choose from the following titles: Dead Nation, inFAMOUS, LittleBigPlanet, Super Stardust HD and Wipeout HD + Fury. The PSP options are: LittleBigPlanet, ModNation Racers, Pursuit Force and Killzone: Liberation.
Depending on the package they’ve signed up for, subscribers will also get free movies, enhanced services packages and free virtual items.
The reports state the Asia section of the network is still down (which I can’t confirm or deny as I don’t actually own a PlayStation). Sony are offering up a plethora of freebies to try and placate the angry gamers.
Who can be mad after getting a couple of new games? Let’s hope other than giving away free stuff they have also secured their network and got their software up to date.
But it’s not like they’ve really disclosed any details of what happened, so it’s extremely unlikely we’ll ever really know.
Sony is offering similar plans to European and Latin American users, but the company has not said what it will do in Asia, where the network is still offline.
Last month, Sony disclosed that it had been hacked and warned its 77 million PlayStation Network users that personal information — e-mail addresses, for example — may have been compromised. Then in early May the company said that another network, the Sony Online Entertainment network, had also been broken into.This second incident affected close to 25 million users.
Sony spent the past weekend slowly bringing its gaming networks online.
Sony will give the Online Entertainment users 45 days’ free access to the service and a year’s worth of identity protection from Debix. The company has said that it will also offer PlayStation Network customers ID theft protection, but it hasn’t yet spelled out the details of that package.
They are giving the SOE users 45 days free access too – so that’s not a bad deal I guess. Plus some kind of identity protection – yah thanks Sony – I do need that after you leaked all my details to the World.
I’m not sure if we’ll see any more lawsuits after this, but media outlets are reporting they will face legal and regulatory backlash over the massive loss of data.
So good luck Sony, perhaps it’s all Karma for what you did to poor George.
Source: Network World