by Andrew Sheppard
VGL Editor/Social Media Supervisor
If you’re like me, and many other Playstation 3 owners nationwide, you’re probably more than just a little perplexed, annoyed, and concerned about Sony’s response time with regards to the hack of their Playstation Network on April 20th. Many will argue that Sony’s response time to the media and it’s consumers was piss poor and unprofessional. We covered last week’s PSN hack, and this week we are the bearer of more bad news. Yesterday, Sony confirmed that the network hackers have access to more than 70 million users’ information including full names, home addresses, phone and credit card numbers, email addresses, and other sensitive pieces of information that was stored on the electronic giant’s network. CNBC reports that Sony underestimated the severity of the hack, and stocks in the company have fallen 1%.
The grumblings of the hack were but a mere whisper, however, this week it has gotten the attention of members on Capitol Hill and primetime news. G4TV.com reports:
Senator Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut has written a public letter to the President and CEO of Sony demanding answers in regards to the theft of personal information and more specifically the company’s failure to notify its users of the security breach. “I am troubled by the failure of Sony to immediately notify affected customers of the breach and to extend adequate financial data security protections,” he wrote.
“Although the breach occurred nearly a week ago, Sony has not notified customers of the intrusion, or provided information that is vital to allowing individuals to protect themselves from identity theft, such as informing users whether their personal or financial information may have been compromised. Nor has Sony specified how it intends to protect these consumers.” The security breach is suspected to affect up to 75 million customers.
“When a data breach occurs, it is essential that customers be immediately notified about whether and to what extent their personal and financial information has been compromised.”
He concluded his letter by saying, “PlayStation Network users deserve more complete information on the data breach, as well as the assurance that their personal and financial information will be securely maintained. I appreciate your prompt response on this important issue.”
While Sony makes every attempt to get online services back up and running (via an overhaul of their PSN Network), consumers around the nation are growing more impatient. This is not looking good for Sony, as class action suits will be a serious problem if consumers’ personal information were in fact compromised and stolen. If you have any questions regarding the hack and your personal information, you may contact Sony at 1-800-345-7669. If you want to be proactive and protect yourself against identity theft, you can put out an alert with Equifax.
Stay tuned with VGLounge.com for around the clock coverage on this developing story.
Source: CNBC, G4TV.com, IGN, Equifax
*UPDATE* As of 5:00 pm
VGLounge has learned that the Rothken Law Firm, based out of California, has filed a class action law against Sony stating that
Sony failed to take reasonable care to protect, encrypt, and secure the private and sensitive data of its users which led to the intrusion that caused over 70 million customers the loss of their personal and private information, including customer names, addresses, e-mail addresses, birthdays, PlayStation Network and Qriocity passwords, and user names, as well as online user handles, and possibly credit card related data. The complaint also alleges “on information and belief, members of the Class have begun to experience losses from fraudulent use of credit card information believed compromised by the security breach alleged herein.”
The lawsuit seeks monetary compensation for the data loss and loss of use of the Sony PlayStation® Network, credit monitoring, and other relief according to proof. The amount requested has not been disclosed as of yet, but our guess is that Sony will have to shell out a lot of money to compensate for their negligence and identity theft of their users and merchants. You can read the entire complaint and join the suit here. Stay tuned to VGLounge.com for up to date information on this developing story!
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3 Comments
anyone jumpin in on the lawsuit???
ps. follow up — i joined the lawsuit
[...] Maybe Sony dodged a bullet and these hackers legitimately didn’t get anything that they can use and us as consumers are safe. I wonder how this helps Sony with that class action lawsuit against them. [...]