PlayStation Network users' data compromised after major security breach

SEVENTY-SEVEN MILLION users of online PlayStation services have been warned that hackers may have gotten hold of their personal details – including their credit card number and expiry date.

Sony has posted a message online saying that “between 17 April and 19 April, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorised intrusion into our network”.

The company temporarily suspended the online services and has hired a “recognised security firm” to investigate.

Users have been warned that their credit card details, such as a billing address and the details of any sub-accounts on your card, as well as names, addresses, email addresses and Sony passwords could have been taken by the hackers.

Of the 77m user accounts on the PlayStation network, about 36m are in the US and the Americas, 32m are in Europe and 9m in Asia, mostly Japan. Sony spokesman Satoshi Fukuoka said the company has not received any reports of credit card fraud or theft resulting from the security breach.

The company has posted an FAQ about the breach on its Playstation Network site. Sony has advised its users to be vigilant for potential online scams and says it will not contact people seeking credit card or social security numbers. Users are also advised to change any passwords they may have which are similar or the same as those used on the PlayStation Network and Qriocity.

- Additional reporting by the AP