PlayStation Network Online 'As Soon As Possible,' Sony CEO Howard Stringer Says

TOKYO -- Sony Corp. Chief Executive Howard Stringer apologized for "inconvenience and concern" caused by the security breach that compromised personal data from more than 100 million online gaming accounts.

In a blog post late Thursday, the head of the Japanese technology giant sought to reassure customers, saying the company is focused on investigating and fixing the hacker attack.

"We are absolutely dedicated to restoring full and safe service as soon as possible and rewarding you for your patience," Stringer wrote in his first public comments since Sony shut down its PlayStation Network on April 20.

Stringer said there is "no confirmed evidence" that stolen information has been misused.

He acknowledged criticism that Sony was slow to inform customers of the embarrassing breach, calling the issue a "fair question." As soon as the company discovered the potential scope of the problem, it suspended the network and hired technical experts to help, he said.

The network serves both the PlayStation video game machines and Sony's Qriocity movie and music services. The system links gamers worldwide in live play, and also allows users to upgrade and download games and other content.

Although Sony began investigating unusual activity on the PlayStation network on April 19, it did not notify consumers of the breach until April 26.

"I wish we could have gotten the answers we needed sooner, but forensic analysis is a complex, time-consuming process," Stringer said. "Hackers, after all, do their best to cover their tracks, and it took some time for our experts to find those tracks and begin to identify what personal information had – or had not – been taken."

Sony has said the attack may have compromised credit card data, email addresses and other personal information from 77 million user accounts. On Monday, it said data from an additional 24.6 million online gaming accounts also may have been stolen.

Along with assurances that it is strengthening security measures, Sony is enticing potentially wary customers with a "welcome back" program that includes complimentary entertainment downloads and a 30-day membership to its PlayStation Plus premium service.

It also launched an identity theft protection program for U.S. account holders. The service includes a $1 million identify theft insurance policy and will be free for 12 months after enrollment.

Sony signaled in a separate blog post Thursday that service could be restored soon. The company said it is in the "final stages of internal testing of the new system," though did not offer a specific timeline.

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Comments

[StansDad]

04:47 PM on 05/07/2011

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4PGBSptYCI

[jaredbrain]

10:52 AM on 05/07/2011

I have been consistently underwhelmed by Sony's responses. I want a date when my services will be restored, a list of security improvements, a promise that my data is secure, and more compensation than a month's worth of a service I won't use after that month is up. Also, a few resignations or a hara kiri or two would be welcome.

[frank day]

07:47 AM on 05/07/2011

Sony just doesn't get it.

Fire the old white guy and hire a tech guy.

[Winski]

01:30 PM on 05/06/2011

Sony board to Howard : YOU ARE FIRED..... NO PAYOUT...NO CONDITIONS..... NO GOLDEN PARACHUTE....NOTHING... JUST BEAT IT AND DON'T EVER COME BACK.

[Kmuzu]

11:37 AM on 05/06/2011

Facebook and Itunes absolutely freak out if they're down more than an hour. They believe that if service is down for even ten minutes, customers lose trust. And trust is King in the online business.

How does Sony regain trust being down for weeks? FPS gamers already think that most other players are using hacks and cheats - this isn't going to calm them down. Are people going to feel comfortable inputting their credit card for Netflix or to purchase music or game? Are customers going to trust the new Sony Smartphone? How about Sony's plans to take over the music download business from Apple or to establish cloud-networking for pictures and video?

I personally think the PS3 is superior to the Xbox and Wii and I had high hopes for Sony Xperia Play, but this tragic catastrophe is a ship sinker.

As the old AEsop fable goes: Better beans and bacon in peace than cakes and ale in fear.

[apathyman]

11:23 AM on 05/06/2011

Sony has been withholding information to make itself look better. We're up to what? 100000 accounts that have been hacked now? they knew all this from day one. they just didn't say anything because no ones would sign on with them again

[Basselope]

10:46 AM on 05/06/2011

Apologize to GeoHot and all for the lawsuit that started this ball rolling and then MAYBE people will think you get it.

[jaredbrain]

12:19 PM on 05/07/2011

why don't they just hire him

[Ukie3]

10:23 AM on 05/06/2011

Still waiting on that class-action lawsuit...