Hackers "using very large sets of sign-in IDs and passwords" gained access to 60,000 PSN accounts and 33,000 Sony Online Entertainment accounts.
The attacks occurred throughout the weekend, notes Sony, and affected "less than one-tenth of 1 percent" of all PSN and SOE accounts.
While the hackers did manage to verify sign-in IDs and passwords, credit card info and other personal data were never at risk.
Says Sony Chief Information Security Officer Philip Reitinger (via Cnet):
In this case, given that the data tested against our network consisted of sign-in ID-password pairs, and that the overwhelming majority of the pairs resulted in failed matching attempts, it is likely the data came from another source and not from our Networks.
Making matter worse, the compromised accounts also "showed additional activity prior to being locked," likely meaning unauthorized purchases were made.
Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 12 Oct 2011 2:04
