Sony targeted in fresh hack attack

Updated May 21, 2011 04:55:00

Personal details of some 100 million Sony user accounts were stolen last month when the PlayStation Network was hacked. (AAP: Supplied, file photo)

Sony has announced it has been hacked again, after personal information of some 100 million Sony users was stolen last month.

So-Net, the internet service provider unit of Japan's Sony, alerted customers that an intruder broke into its system and stole virtual points from account holders worth $1,225.

The latest setback comes after personal information of some 100 million Sony user accounts was stolen last month when its online gaming systems, the PlayStation Network and Sony Online Entertainment, were hacked.

"What we've done is stopped the So-Net points exchanges and told customers to change their passwords," So-Net said in a statement to customers on its website in Japanese.

About 100,000 yen ($1,225) was stolen from accounts that were attacked. The company said there was no evidence that other accounts in the online system had been hacked.

"At this point in our investigations, we have not confirmed any data leakage. We have not found any sign of a possibility that a third party has obtained members' names, address, birth dates and phone numbers."

Security experts have said Sony's networks around the world remain vulnerable to attack, and said they were not surprised the electronics company had yet to clean up weaknesses in its massive global network.

Earlier this week, Sony shut down one of its websites set up to help millions of users change their passwords after finding a security flaw.

"Sony is going through a pretty rigorous process and finding the holes to fill," said Josh Shaul, chief technology officer for computer security firm Application Security.

"The hackers are going through the same process and they're putting their fingers in the holes faster than Sony can fill them."

Mr Shaul said Sony's string of security problems could also be attracting more hackers to attack its networks.

"I think it's now 'I'm a hacker and I'm bored,' let's go after Sony," he said.

Sony in the US could not immediately be reached on Friday (local time).

The Wall Street Journal first reported the story.

- Reuters

Tags: arts-and-entertainment, games, law-crime-and-justice, science-and-technology, computers-and-technology, hacking, playstation-3, japan

First posted May 21, 2011 01:46:00

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Source: http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/05/21/3223045.htm

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