By: Aseem Gaurav on May 14, 2011
Sony’s PlayStation Network (PSN) has resumed partial operations in certain areas around the world — including the US and Europe after more than three weeks. The company has restored online gaming, chat service and music downloads. Sony starts to restart services in other areas soon.
Last month Sony discovered a huge security breach that compromised personal information of more than 100 million user’s accounts and since then the services went offline longer than what everyone was expecting.
The company says it has now put in place "new and additional security measures" that would provide users with better protection.
To access the PlayStation Network, PlayStation users need to first download a new firmware update, version 3.61, and then change their account password.
“If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security. If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this email, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password you can sign-in to your account using your new password,” said Sony VP Eric Lempel on official PlayStation blog.
For improved security measures and provide consumers with better protection against security theft, the company said it has worked closely with external security firms.
"We are taking aggressive action at all levels to address the concerns that were raised by this incident, and are making consumer data protection a full-time, company wide commitment," said Kazuo Hirai, the executive deputy president of Sony Corp.
Sony has announced plans for compensation to all gamers affected by the downtime. Gamers will get 30 days free plus one additional day for each day the system is down added to their next billing cycle. Moreover, they will also receive a free day of service for each day the system remains down. Apart from this, Sony Online Entertainment subscribers will get the same access to identity theft protection services as users of the PlayStation Network.
The restoration of services are expected to be everywhere by the end of May.
Sony’s PlayStation Network (PSN) has resumed partial operations in certain areas around the world — including the US and Europe after more than three weeks. The company has restored online gaming, chat service and music downloads. Sony starts to restart services in other areas soon.
Last month Sony discovered a huge security breach that compromised personal information of more than 100 million user’s accounts and since then the services went offline longer than what everyone was expecting.
The company says it has now put in place "new and additional security measures" that would provide users with better protection.
To access the PlayStation Network, PlayStation users need to first download a new firmware update, version 3.61, and then change their account password.
“If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security. If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this email, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password you can sign-in to your account using your new password,” said Sony VP Eric Lempel on official PlayStation blog.
For improved security measures and provide consumers with better protection against security theft, the company said it has worked closely with external security firms.
"We are taking aggressive action at all levels to address the concerns that were raised by this incident, and are making consumer data protection a full-time, company wide commitment," said Kazuo Hirai, the executive deputy president of Sony Corp.
Sony has announced plans for compensation to all gamers affected by the downtime. Gamers will get 30 days free plus one additional day for each day the system is down added to their next billing cycle. Moreover, they will also receive a free day of service for each day the system remains down. Apart from this, Sony Online Entertainment subscribers will get the same access to identity theft protection services as users of the PlayStation Network.
The restoration of services are expected to be everywhere by the end of May.
