Hackers Target Sony Websites To Rip Off Playstation Passwords
CULVER CITY (CBS) — An estimated 93,000 user accounts linked to Sony online gaming and entertainment accounts have been suspended after hackers made a "massive number" of unauthorized login attempts earlier this month, the company said Wednesday.
KNX 1070's Ron Kilgore reports the latest attacks on the world's second-largest maker of video game devices specifically targeted Sony Entertainment Network and Sony Online Entertainment networks.
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The cyberattack detected between Oct. 7 and Oct. 10 was aimed at gaining access to the website using stolen usernames and passwords from other sites.
"They got [the usernames and passwords] from a third party, this wasn't Sony's specific information, but they decided to use that list to try to break into as many network Playstation accounts as they can," said CNET.com senior editor Dan Ackerman.
Sony blocked the targeted accounts and said the real users likely did not suffer any breach of private data.
The company recently suffered a major breach of data back in May, but officials said the attack in October was not as widespread.
Still, this recent attempt should serve as a grim reminder that users should not rely solely on a single, universal password, Ackerman said.
"If you're using the same username and password everywhere., there's a pretty good chance you're not as security conscious as maybe you should be," he said.
