Live blog from Sony press release with pictures

2:00 JST: It's begun -- following a little bit of Mozart, Sony has trotted out three solemn-looking executives.

2:02 JST: Kaz Hirai and follow bow deeply, giving apologies. They plan to discuss corporate strategy in five points.

2:05 JST: On April 20, JST, says Sony, they were first alerted to unauthorized access.

2:06 JST: The first experts brought in determined it was a highly skilled intruder, so Sony brought in a second security firm to determine what had happened.

2:06 JST: Then, they emailed customers and published warning information. So far, so good.

2:08 JST: Yeah, lots of information was potentially stolen. "No evidence that credit card numbers, expiration dates or billing addresses" were stolen, though, according to the livestream translation.

2:09 JST: They haven't confirmed any cases of credit card fraud so far, and will let us know when they have more information. Sounds like they just don't know yet.

2:10 JST: There's a diagram up -- attackers accessed a database using a tool of some sort. The Japanese translation here isn't technical enough to tell us what.

2:12 JST: Kaz says there will be new security measures to prevent this sort of hack in future. New data center, moved from San Diego to a new location with "more advanced security." Enhanced detection capabilities, automated software monitoring, enhanced levels of data encryption, enhanced everything. Additional firewalls. Sony's creating an Chief Information Security Officer to handle these preparations in future. Good to know.

2:14 JST: There will be an additional sign-on security measure of some sort, but Sony's also asking customers to be vigilant and check their credit card statements. Sounds like they're worried about fraud after all. They're asking customers to change all their passwords too, and change all passwords used on other websites that happen to be the same as the PSN ones.

Read more here http://www.thegamingpod.com/forum/showthread.php/284-Live-blog-from-Sony-press-release-with-pictures?p=734#post734

Press Release: Some PlayStation Network and Qriocity to be Available This Week

SOME PLAYSTATION®NETWORK AND QRIOCITY™ SERVICES TO BE AVAILABLE THIS WEEK
Phased Global Rollout of Services to Begin Regionally;
System Security Enhanced to Provide Greater Protection of Personal Information

Tokyo, May 1, 2011 – Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI, the company) announced they will shortly begin a phased restoration by region of PlayStation®Network and Qriocity™ services, beginning with gaming, music and video services to be turned on. The company also announced both a series of immediate steps to enhance security across the network and a new customer appreciation program to thank its customers for their patience and loyalty.


Read full post here http://www.thegamingpod.com/forum/showthread.php/283-Press-Release-Some-PlayStation-Network-and-Qriocity-to-be-Available-This-Week?p=733#post733

Sony holding press conference tomorrow

Sony Corp's No.2 Kazuo Hirai will brief media on Sunday about a huge security breach of its PlayStation Network, the first time an executive of the Japanese electronics giant will publicly address the case, which could prompt global legal actions.

Hirai, in line to succeed CEO Howard Stringer, will hold a news conference in Tokyo at 2:00 p.m. (1 a.m. EDT) on Sony's investigation of the case, its information management system and the schedule to resume services, the firm said in a news release on Saturday.

Sony warned on Tuesday that hackers had stolen names, addresses, and possibly credit card details from 77 million user accounts of its online video game network, which produces an estimated $500 million in annual revenues.

The disclosure of one of the biggest ever online data infiltrations came on Tuesday, a week after Sony shut down the network. Executives made no mention of the crisis hours earlier that day when they launched its first tablet computer.

The delay prompted anger among online users, although company said it was due to a forensic investigation.

Read more here http://www.thegamingpod.com/forum/showthread.php/278-Sony-holding-press-conference-tomorrow?p=719#post719

Hacked PSN accounts list picture

A forum member on N4G has posted an image which shows up to 4,036 PSN account details leaked. The image, below for viewing contains account handles, linked email addresses and passwords. Some sections are blacked out for obvious security reasons but if this proves to be true, this may only be the beginning of a barrage of leakages pertaining to accounts hacked. Supposedly, the user received the image on MSN and it is now available for viewing on the N4G forums.


Users should change their passwords immediately as nobody is sure how many accounts will experience unusual activity over the coming days and months.

Read this and more here TheGamingPod

Email recieved from Sony RE: PS3 hacked

Just checked my inbox and got this email off Sony sent out yesterday, have you guys got this email or something similar?

The address it was sent from was news@emails.eu.playstation.com

Follow this link to read the full email http://www.thegamingpod.com/forum/showthread.php/275-Email-recieved-from-Sony?p=696#post696

Need for Speed The Run confirmed

Today EA confirmed the rumor surrounding this title and tells us what is so special about this game of illicit high stakes racing.

The Run is the next installment of the Need for Speed series brought to you by EA's Black Box Studio. It is being built using Frostbite 2, the same engine that's behind the imense looking Battlefield 3, so we can expect some amazing visuals and effects.

What else can we expect from this installment? Well The Run brings story mode back to the Need for Speed franchise, telling a continent-crossing tale that will have the game's protagonist (you) running from the cops as well as some shadier traffic enforcement organizations that'll do much more that toss a tire spike in front of your ride.

For the more competitive racer amongst you, The Run also sees the return of Need for Speed Hot Pursuit's Autolog, upgraded to provide a more enticing social gaming experience than ever before.

"This is the year that Need for Speed goes to the next level," said Jason DeLong, Executive Producer at EA. "We think that Need for Speed The Run is going to surprise people with its intense, thrilling story and big action feel. But the game would be nothing without hot cars and crazy-fast chases. So that is what we're delivering — explosive racing that will have players flirting with disaster at 200-miles an hour."

Need for Speed The Run will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, PC, Wii, and 3DS on November 1225 in North America, November 17 in Europe.

First FIFA 12 Details Surface, New 'Impact Zones'

The first details of FIFA 12 have been released, after Official PlayStation Magazine in France got to speak to the developers working on the title.

Along with general balancing tweaks, the game will feature a few details. One such addition is 'Impact Zone', which will allow players to make contact with each other in various ways. Now, how players interact will be properly formulated. They also talked about the 'AI Vision Game', which will make passing more realistic. If you try to complete a pass where the player is within visible range, it is more likely to complete. It also means that if you try blind passes, like passes to someone behind you, they will be less accurate.

EA Sports will also be amending the injury system. You will now be able to get injured without any contact from the opposition. If you use players too much in a match, they will get tired and become injury prone.