Please note: This is an ongoing issue that will undoubtedly be updated while I rest my weary head overnight and at work during sunny hours. I will tidy up/update this post when I can, as it is sure to develop further – so keep an eye out!
After about a week offline from what could possibly be the most significant hack of any gaming system, the PlayStation Network looks like it is set to return. So what happened? What was the point? And most importantly: what’s going to happen next?
First off, let’s start from the beginning: Sony’s PlayStation 3 has previously enjoyed the reputation of being a damn near unhackable console thanks to numerous updates of its stringent software. As well as making Nintendo and Microsoft super jealous this also tickled the fancy of hackers around the world who always appreciate a challenge.
A couple of months ago a part-time hacker, part time rapper (yes I’m serious) by the name of George Hotz managed to figure out the PlayStation 3’s route key and then posted this little magic doo-dad online – effectively giving everyone the backdoor key to Sony’s black box. What is probably a good thing to point out here is that Hotz is no amateur: the guy managed to do the exact same thing with the iPhone – another seemingly hack-proof bit of tech. Anyway Hotz and other hackers claimed that the move was innocent: when the PS3 first came out it had an ‘Other OS’ feature that allowed users to install Windows or Linux, turning the console into a ridiculously powerful computer, and that by publishing this route key the resumes this function. However, the big wigs at Sony got their legal team onto Hotz because it also allows users to play pirated games.
After about a month of legal wrangling, Hotz and Sony reached an agreement, most likely meaning that ol’ Geo could soon be receiving cheques for advising the gaming giant’s security team. Luckily for the online anarchists, a hacker group known as Anonymous announced that they would strike out at Sony for impending users’ freedom to do what they want with their consoles. However after a few huffs and puffs I cannot be bothered to look up right now, they called this off.
Little over a week later the entire PlayStation Network and Qriocity* went down.
It became clear when PlayStation released a statement on their blog that this was not an ordinary attack like a denial of service attack. They informed their fans, and the gaming media, that the hack had resulted in a significant amount of user’s data being stolen. They claimed that despite this theft, the data was in a heavily encrypted state, rendering it unreadable, however reports starting popping up of large quantities of credit card and email details being offered for sale in various forums internet-wide.
Fast-forward to the latest development: Sony has announced a ‘Welcome Back’ package. Not only are they promising to bring back a completely rebuilt PSN complete with enhanced security and full system functionality, but they are also set to reimburse users who subscribe to PlayStation Plus – the premium content network that users pay for. And perhaps most significantly to those who stay loyal to the big black box, Sony is offering “selected PlayStation entertainment content” for free to download. Whether this translates into add-ons for full-retail titles (known as DLC) or the smaller games from the PlayStation Store will be revealed in the coming days for each region.
As for the bigger picture of what will happen to those who managed to force the closure and the subsequent rebuilding of the entire PSN (rumoured to be costing Sony up to billions of dollars), we do not know. However, whoever they are, they are going to want to be very careful, as multiple law enforcement agencies from around the world (including the FBI) are on the hunt for those responsible for the “illegal intrusion”.
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