From its birth to its current legal battles, this timeline charts the life of the PSN "external intrusion" and the subsequent reactions from the blogosphere as well as consumers
Created by kirkauvil on Apr 27, 2011
Last updated: 06/04/11 at 06:46 PM
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PSN users' long nightmare seems to be over as the PSN services have returned to normalcy. The Welcome Back package is available now as well. How the package will work to appease Sony customers is unknown at this point.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/06/03/welcome-back/
Former hacker Greg Evans, whose hacker cred is established in the linked article, feels that Sony should be hiring those who hacked the network, not suing them.
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/playstation-network-still-not-secure-says-ex-hacker-exclusive/
The picture is attached, but head over to Mashable to see the whole thing.
http://mashable.com/2011/05/22/psn-costs-infographic/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Mashable+%28Mashable%29
In the wake of the PSN Customer Appreciation program, some developers voice their concerns over the impact that a free game giveaway could have on their games. Outland devs think that the influx of free games could dilute demand for their PSN titles.
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/110247-Developers-Are-Unhappy-with-PSNs-Return
A Sony service provider named So-Net is hacked, leading to the theft of some customers' virtual currency.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34766/Hacker_Attacks_Against_Sony_Continue.php
Sony issues an internal memo to its partners stating that the PSN Store will be back online May 24.
http://www.gamasutra.com/view/news/34739/Sony_Tells_Dev_Partners_PlayStation_Store_To_Return_May_24.php
A "URL exploit" allows those savvy to exploiting URLs to reset PSN users' passwords without their knowledge. Sony soon rectifies the error. The exploit only affected those who reset their passwords via Internet rather than directly from the PS3. Sony temporarily shuts down its password reset service. Millions of people facepalm.
http://kotaku.com/5803050/sony-playstation-network-password-reset-page-exploited-customer-accounts-potentially-compromised
A game designer named Kenney Vleugel releases a web game mocking Sony's seeming inability to properly protect its networks.
http://www.roundgames.com/game/PSN+Protector
Everyone's favorite Sony whipping boy Patrick Seybold ventures forth to issue a statement, claiming that this is a simple URL exploit, not a hack! The people at risk don't seem to make a distinction.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/18/update-on-psn-password-reset-process/
Sony puts for a list of five Playstation 3 games, allowing gamers to download two of the five. Four PSP games are provided as well, from which users can download 2. In addition, all users are given a free month of Playstation Plus. More goodies are available as well, details at the link.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/16/sony-reveals-choice-of-free-game-downloads-in-psn-welcome-back-p/
Sony's storefront missed many releases during the network's downtime, and continues to do so while it is down. Sony states that it will rush updates to the store with no regard to the regular update schedule.
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/psn-to-receive-multiple-updates-each-week
Industry Gamers publishes a letter from Sony to its gaming partners, soothing them in this time of discord.
http://www.industrygamers.com/news/playstation-network-sony-says-we-owe-a-great-deal-to-partners-in-2nd-letter-exclusive/
PSN users regain the ability to play their games online, as well as use services such as Netflix and Hulu Plus. Passwords are changed left and right.
Anonymous hackers start with the infighting.
http://venturebeat.com/2011/05/10/anonymous-hackers-attack-each-other-over-sony-attack/
Ars Technica asks the question, "Is Sony liable to third parties for PSN outage?"
http://arstechnica.com/gaming/news/2011/05/is-sony-liable-to-third-parties-for-psn-outage-ars-explores-the-damage.ars?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss
"I know you all want to know exactly when the services will be restored. At this time, I can’t give you an exact date, as it will likely be at least a few more days. We’re terribly sorry for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience as we work through this process." - Patrick Seybold, Sony's Sr. Director, Corporate Communications & Social Media
http://www.next-gen.biz/news/no-psn-for-at-least-a-few-more-days
A PSN exec named Christian Svennson writes this on the Capcom blog: "On a related note, as an executive responsible for running a business, the resulting outage obviously costing us hundreds of thousands, if not millions of dollars in revenue that were planned for within our budget. These are funds we rely on to bring new games to market for our fans."
http://www.capcom-unity.com/ask_capcom/go/thread/view/7371/27574769/CAPCOM-_How_do_you_feel_about_the_SONY_Hackers?pg=2
In a non-PSN related incident, the personal information of 2,500 people was "stolen by hackers and posted on a website." The website? Sony's own!
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/07/sony-removes-2500-names-and-partial-addresses-from-exposed-son/
Despite its statement the previous week, Sony did not reactivate PSN at this time, citing the need for more time to fix their network stuff. Guys... come on.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/06/psn-reactivation-delayed-for-further-testing-not-coming-back/
From Sen. Blumenthal's press release on the matter:
"I welcome Sony’s strong first step toward protecting millions of consumers whose personal and financial information has been compromised,” said Blumenthal. “While I continue to believe that Sony should have warned users earlier, I am pleased they are providing protective measures including an insurance policy to cover identity theft harms to consumers within a twelve-month window – but I would hope Sony would extend coverage over a longer time on a case-by-case basis if necessary."
http://blumenthal.senate.gov/press/release/index.cfm?id=E347AED3-DF21-493D-BAA6-BAFA9FF12F84
According to a Financial Times article, two "veterans" of Anonymous have stated that in all likelihood, members of the hacker organization were indeed involved in the PSN intrusion.
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/d0a21040-7800-11e0-b90e-00144feabdc0.html#axzz1LblR9y3J
Nick Caplin – Head of Communications, SCEE posts this to the PSN blog: "We will be offering PSN users the opportunity to select two PS3 games from a list of five, as well as offering PSP users the opportunity to choose two games from a list of four. We will let you know exactly what games are available very soon."
The blogosphere isn't pleased. Many recall Microsoft's pittance giveaway of the downloadable Undertow.
http://blog.eu.playstation.com/2011/05/06/scee-identity-theft-protection-offering/
Sony responded to the aforementioned U.S. House of Representatives' Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade by letter, sending no person to represent the company. Here's the video of the hearing
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/sony-responds-to-congress-with-open-letter-suggests-anonymous/
A Canadian law firm aims to take $1 billion from Sony with a class action case. The case cites the fear, anxiety and stress put upon Canadians by the PSN ordeal and identity theft as the basis for its complaint.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/04/canadian-firm-proposes-class-action-against-sony-to-the-tune-of/
Sony's Patrick Seybold attempts to dispel rumors of attempted blackmail by the hackers. Some were muttering that those who had taken the personal and credit card info were ransoming the lot of it back to Sony, which Seybold denied, saying, "to my knowledge there is no truth to this report of a list, or that Sony was offered an opportunity to purchase the list."
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/02/playstation-network-security-update/
Sony Online Entertainment, previously stated to be unaffected by the PSN troubles, goes down as Sony discovers that ~13,000 credit card numbers were stolen, as was the personal info of ~25 million customers. Sony says that it was part of the first attack, not a new intrusion
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/02/sony-hit-with-second-attack-loses-12-700-credit-card-nu/
Kaz Hirai and co. get on stage and discuss what Sony will do for those affected. The list of ideas considered is long indeed, but there is no concrete info on what Sony will do to make it up to PSN users, outside of 30 free days of PlayStation Plus and 30 free days of Qriocity.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/05/01/psn-outage-plus-qriocity-free/
Sony Entertainment America's designated whipping boy Patrick Seybold steps out from behind cover to toss the angry public a bone. This blog post is the first to address the growing clamor for consumer reparations of some sort, and scoops the Sony press conference the following day.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/30/press-release-some-playstation-network-and-qriocity-services-to-be-available-this-week/
The United States House of Representatives Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade sends Sony an "inquiry" about this PSN brouhaha. Congress wants to know what Sony knew and when Sony knew it. Chairman Mary Bono Mack (R-CA) says Sony has some 'splainin to do.
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/29/house-of-representatives-letter-questions-sony-over-attack/
FBI and Homeland Security announce that they are working with Sony to ameliorate the ongoing damage. Homeland Security is working to improve Sony's infrastructure while the FBI is at work finding those responsible for the intrusion.
http://www.nextgov.com/nextgov/ng_20110429_3808.php?oref=topstory
Just look ahead four days.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/sony-online-entertainment-says-its-customer-data-is-safe/
George Hotz, infamous Playstation hacker, makes several remarks on Sony's priorities and how they may have led to this imbroglio.
http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/28/geohot-war-on-hackers-lack-of-security-experts-caused-psn-deba/
A law firm in California filed a class-action lawsuit against Sony for the PSN intrusion and subsequent silence on the matter. According to Gamepolitics.com, "The law firm is encouraging PSN and Qriocity users to contact them at 415-924-4250 or visit ww.techfirm.com for information on joining the lawsuit." The lawyer in charge of the suit, Ira Rothken, went on record saying "We brought this lawsuit on behalf of consumers to learn the full extent of Sony PlayStation Network data security practices and the data loss and to seek a remedy for consumers..." You can follow Rothken on Twitter @rothken
http://gamepolitics.com/2011/04/27/law-firm-prepares-first-psn-class-action-lawsuit
By this point, the PSN fiasco has ponderously made its way through the blogosphere's digestive tract and entered the mainstream media. People with little idea of what's actually going on get involved, particularly consumer protection groups. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) is up in arms over the whole thing and aims to skewer Sony.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/04/27/technology/27playstation.html?_r=3&src=twrhp
After an interminable silence and great volumes of speculation, Sony breaks its silence by giving everyone the worst possible news about the intrusion. The personal info of 75 million people has been taken by hackers. Credit cards may or may not have been compromised during the intrusion. All of Sony's base are belong to hackers. The blogosphere explodes.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/26/update-on-playstation-network-and-qriocity/
Sony's silence about the intrusion and PSN outage only serve to fan the flames of speculation. Some blogs cotton on to the idea that this intrusion may very well deal with credit card information theft and identity theft. Sony does not comment.
http://kotaku.com/#!5795349/sony-doesnt-know-yet-if-your-credit-card-number-was-stolen
Sony remains mum about the nature of the PSN intrusion. The company remains vague about the consequences while focusing on reassuring consumers that it is working very hard to get PSN up and running. People are pretty damn tired of not having PSN at this point.
http://kotaku.com/#!5794440/sony-playstation-outage-could-last-days
After 3 days without PSN, those bereft of the service begin to lose patience with the ordeal. Kotaku and Destructoid report on the growing community opinion that PSN users shoud be compensated for this nonsense. At this point, people are still more concerned about gaming than their identities being stolen.
http://www.destructoid.com/does-sony-owe-you-anything-for-the-psn-outage--199679.phtml
In this video, Anonymous claims to be totally uninvolved in the "external intrusion" incident, and casts aspersions at those who immediately suspected its involvement. Meanwhile, Sony wrings its hands and remains mum about the whole thing.
http://www.tgdaily.com/security-features/55518-anonymous-says-sony-is-incompetent-denies-psn-takedown
World's worst PR rep Patrick Seybold confirms that an "external intrusion" led to the PSN crash. Sony says no more on the matter for several days, leading to rampant speculation by Internet folk. All this talk of intrusion... it is a bit familiar. Comic courtesy of http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2011/4/25/
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/22/update-on-playstation-network-qriocity-services/
PSN enters its second day of downtime. The natives aren't quite restless at this point.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/21/latest-update-on-psn-outage/
Playstation Network goes down. Enter Patrick Seybold, the world's worst PR rep. See video for a great reaction to what most thought was a simple network outage, with some suspicious of the hacker organization Anonymous' involvement in the matter.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/20/update-on-psn-service-outages-2/
Sony learns that PSN has been hacked and says nothing about it. PSN is soon taken offline.
http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/04/26/clarifying-a-few-psn-points/
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