The news of the PlayStation Network's security breach has reached Capitol Hill. 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.
NEWS: PlayStation Network Hack FAQ: What We Know
The data breach took place on April 20, and the first confirmation to users any type of data may have been compromised went out today, six days later. "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." I can't help but agree, I have personal information stored on the PSN, and I want to know how Sony is protecting it.
Blumenthal also called for Sony to make some quick changes. For one, Sony should provide PSN users with financial data security severs with free access to credit reporting services. This free service would need to be available for at least two years. Sony would foot the bill for these services. He also argues that Sony should offer affected consumers with insurance to protect them from possible financial problems caused by identity theft.
To read the letter in its entirety, go here.
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Otakulad
In case you didn't see it in some of my replies, the reason Sony didn't release this information earlier is because they are required by law to contact the local law enforcement agencies before contacting customers. You want to blame someone for taking so long, blame New Jersey. And since someone in another state can post it online that a person from New Jersey can see, they aren't allowed to tell ANYONE before New Jersey says so first.
Here is a paragraph from the law:
Disclosures to Law Enforcement and Credit Bureaus The NJ Breach Act permits a delay in providing notice consistent with the legitimate needs of law enforcement and as necessary to determine the scope of the breach and restore the integrity of the data system. Before notifying customers, an entity must report a breach to the Division of State Police in the Department of Law and Public Safety. A law enforcement agency may then determine that notification may impede an investigation and request that notification to customers be delayed.
If a public entity or business discovers that notice is triggered to more than 1,000 persons at a time, it must also notify without unreasonable delay all nationwide consumer reporting agencies of the timing, distribution and content of the notices.
endertwk
Why does everyone assume that this senator is seeking extra votes? Shouldn't we be happy that issues that are important to us have caught the attention of those that have power to force these large companies to do better by us and improve their corrupt or indecent practices. These legislators are just the people who we should want interested in such a case and shame on any of you who can't see that in cases like this our very rights as digital consumers are at stake.
lowkevmic
We need to form a task force of angry gamers led by Adam Sessler to go out and hunt down the hacker or hackers who caused all of this. Once we find them we make an example of them to show hackers all across the world that our consoles is something that shouldn't be messed with.
Then we all go back home and watch a marathon of Cheaters and Campus PD while we chug coke and eat pizza until the wee hours of the morning.
BobbyDole
Im failing to see why some of you are trying to defend this as though its no big deal.
"Check your monthly statements!"
"Get a new credit card!"
"There's always some risk when entering your credit card online."
Sure those are some great thoughts but the fact is sony failed to protect personal information. Giving out MILLIONS of credit card numbers is a HUGE deal. Its not something you can just glance over as a minor slip up and forgive them as soon as everything passes.
A majority of these credit cards are owned by parents of the gamers and have no idea whats going on in the gaming universe. Hundreds of dollars could be gone from their accounts before they even get their monthly statements.
Overall just don't downplay this as some small mishap, this is a big deal that a company like sony could get breached (easily?) by hackers.
Ghost_Slayer666
This whole thing is kinda screwed, some yank of a hacker decided to F with sony and managed to cause some issues, and we have our some of our own PSN community bashing on Sony's door, and people raging about their credit cards, and personal information, for one using a credit card with any online store has it's risks...heck even using one at a grocery store, all that must be done is get a damn new one. As for the the data release they probably released the information when they became aware of the situation, a large company is bound to have a high amount of information stored so catching a problem may be delayed.
I'm sure Sony will pull through.
German_sniper9
I blame the Jail break and Geohotz for all this...
abraindeadgamer
And srsly, it could happen to any console, just ps3 was first. Xbox fans should realize that :P
abraindeadgamer
Wow, I cant believe someone suggested paying a monthly fee for accessing internet to their console. If you want to do that go xbox. Sony not charging their customers is one of their strong points.
FuzzyLumkins
Whew. I'm glad i don't have a PS3. What a crappy free service.
Kushtrim
And this my friends is why you buy american. Namely Xbox.
ReaperKirby
I feel so bad for sony but i do agree with the senator.
ReaperKirby
I love sony but i would have to agree with him on that. I had no idea PSN was hacked at all until someone on another site told me and I was in deep shock and wouldn't believe them until they sent me a link to the report about it
Malapropism
how can 75 million customers be affected if the ps3 has only sold 50 million units?
it has only sold 50 million units worldwide, right?
looseifher
here's an idea for the senator, help fix the budget and make the people who can afford higher taxes pay their fair share and lay off the entitlement programs that everyone under the poverty line is completely dependent on.
and thank you for letting this malicious hackers know that you're information is in the mix of accounts that they already have access to, Mr. Senator!
looseifher
here's an idea for the senator, help fix the budget and make the people who can afford higher taxes pay their fair share and lay off the entitlement programs that everyone under the poverty line is completely dependent on.
and thank you for letting this malicious hackers know that you're information is in the mix of accounts that they already have access to, Mr. Senator!
TheCrippledPizza
I would normally be all for this type of thing, because this entire "outrage" BS cracks me up, but I'm sorta worried because if they make Sony do crap or pay huge fines, it might lead to PSN becoming pay-to-use. I guess we'll always have Xbox, though.
TerminalViper21
I bet Senator Richard Blumenthal has a PSN account and is acting on that as well :-) What do you think?
Mr_Tax
I agree that customers need to demand answers from Sony. But, do we need a Senator to demand these answers?
OldBoyGamer
so some fat guy can be buying games in amazon right now useing my visa ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhhhhhhhhh sony why whit this long to let us know ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...i got to go seee if my money is there. later alllllllllllllllllllllll...ahh hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh hhhhh
Sinlovesmusic
It's the end of the world!!!!!!
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