Sony Rebuilding PlayStation Network Security After Attack 220
alphadogg writes "The outage of Sony's PlayStation Network and Qriocity service, now in its fourth day, looks set to continue after the company said on Sunday that it is 'rebuilding' its system to better guard against attacks. Sony said on Saturday that the outage was caused by an 'external intrusion' into the network, but has yet to detail the problem. The PlayStation Network is used for PlayStation 3 online gaming and sales of software to consoles and the PlayStation Portable. The Qriocity service runs on the same network infrastructure and provides audio and video to Sony consumer electronics products."
PSN being down a result of... (Score:2, Insightful)
This is almost surely a result of either:
I really doubt it's a money issue.
Re:How bad? (Score:5, Insightful)
Nonexistent.
Sony probably relied entirely on client side security, assuming that the PS3 was unbreakable.
That, and thanks to their attempts to keep people on the latest "secure" firmware, PSN services that shouldn't be PSN services like Netflix and Hulu are now hosed (except for some people who apparently use the same password for all their accounts and can hit cancel at the login screen). If Netflix hadn't allowed the PSN-free disc to be disabled, we could be using it right now.
Re:Free Service vs. Pay Service (Score:2, Insightful)
The only thing Xbox LIVE gives you over PSN is cross game voice chat and users dumb enough to pay 50 a year for the service.
That and official game development by small, home-based teams. Xbox 360 has it; PS3 and Wii don't.
Re:Free Service vs. Pay Service (Score:4, Insightful)
Isn't that like saying that Windows should have fewer security holes then Linux because they charge for the product and are therefore able to put more money into it? It's nonsense.
In a weird way, your question mimics the claim made by MicroSoft: Windows is better because you have to pay for it, and so MS has a stake in providing a good and reliable user experience. In fact, this argument works in some business/government circles, because they feel that without a business organization backing up the product, there is no accountability.
So for some users, it is NOT nonsense. Even when real world experience shows MS does a worse job then open source alternatives.
Re:Fuck Geohot (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:Fuck Geohot (Score:3, Insightful)
Whose right to what is being protected by this attack?
Re:Free Service vs. Pay Service (Score:4, Insightful)
The only thing Xbox LIVE gives you over PSN is cross game voice chat and users dumb enough to pay 50 a year for the service.
Looks like Live is also currently offering service to its customers.
Re:Fuck Geohot (Score:4, Insightful)
You've got to be kidding me. GeoHot and fail0verflow uncovered security flaws, and some pathetic gamer responds that they should be shot in the head. Sony was the one to act like a bunch of Gestapo in response to the security flaws. GeoHot and fail0verflow are not responsible for any attacks on Sony's network.
The parent poster also said nothing about supporting attacks on Sony's network, and Anonymous has disavowed that this is their doing. For all anybody knows, Sony is having trouble of their own making and blaming it on outside parties.
Re:Fuck Geohot (Score:4, Insightful)
"Their "overreaction" is the same for any company."
Intentionally or not, you have posted a falsehood. You need look no further than Bill Gates to prove that. Allow me to quote or misquote him:
"We would rather have them pirating our operating system, than using the competition's operating system!" Microsoft can and will go after business concerns for piracy, but they do not prosecute Random Joe Hacker.
Re:Fuck Geohot (Score:4, Insightful)
what does Apple do to jailbreakers? nothing.
what does MS do to non commercial pirates? nothing. (except for the genuine advantage check)
what does Bilzzard/Activation do to WoW cheaters? ban/suspend account and associated credit cards.
what does MS do the XBLA cheaters? ban account/console
Sony is doing what the RIAA/MPAA does (maybe because they members of both?)
software piracy has been around long before music/movie piracy - i can't rememer a single incident where software companies filed john does against everyone they THOUGHT stole something.
they settled because:
1) the PR shitstorm
2) economic impact (they can't undo the damage - their resources are best spend mitigating it - ban the consoles and credit cards
3) weak case - it's not clear (to me) that GeoHot did anything against their TOS. which clause was violated? win or lose the lawsuit the key is still out there. why did the EFF coume out AGAINST Sony? http://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2011/01/sony-v-hotz-sony-sends-dangerous-message [eff.org]
i say again - by doing what they did, they brought this on themselves.