Sony's PSN down "for a day or two"

[Morfiend]

Its odd, I was on a console kick for quite a while, but starting around Jan of this year, I think I have bought maybe 6 games, and they where all PC. A few might have been better on console, but I am really on a PC kick right now.

I agree that for a lot of people buying a console is the best way to go. But on the flip side. Its also pretty easy to have a computer savvy friend give you enough advice to be able to buy a decent computer with minimal work.

Agreed though, still not as easy.

[Azazel]

I just wish my elite was a hell of a lot quieter.  The next 360 needs to do something about that.  It also needs to come with wireless built-in this time, or I'm done with them.

They already addressed both of these issues with the current "slim" model, so I assume we could take both for granted whenever we get the XBox 720 or whatever.

[Azazel]

The console vs pc thing is funny. Since "most people" (may I see your polling data, please) would need a pc for their facebook nonsense. Console + laptop = decent gaming pc (unless you live on the prison continent). Not to mention: Steam. PC gaming is the best it has ever been. So is console gaming.

My long-standing anti-console bias is that while a console is initially cheaper for the hardware, you're stuck with shitty, underperforming hardware for years without being able to upgrade it; you pay a premium for games; and it's a mostly a unitasker. Also lolz controller for shooters. So there. I can play the slapfight, too!

Lots of "the kids" these days do their facebook from mobiles and such. Not to mention laptops and non-gaming-level machines. To wit: My mum has a PC, and if she was interested, she could do facebook and such. She's not going to be able to run Call of Duty on it. Also most people simply do not want to fuck about with upgrading hardware. I'm not talking about people on f13, I'm talking about most normal people in the street, in schools, at the mall, etc.

[Azazel]

I have yet to pay for the network. However the PS3 is rather integrated to my media consumption. So, while its fun to be all, "haha sony", it sucks for people like me who enjoy the things the PS3 offers more than xbox.

We don't have netflix availability here in Aus. Aside from the music video channel, what does PSN offer that the 360 doesn't? They seem pretty much the same to me. I still use my PS3 as a BRD player, regardless of PSN. It just means I don't get "updated movie trailers" (oh noes) or get to use the shitty online Blu-Ray movie features that I never use.

[Merusk]

The console vs pc thing is funny. Since "most people" (may I see your polling data, please) would need a pc for their facebook nonsense. Console + laptop = decent gaming pc (unless you live on the prison continent). Not to mention: Steam. PC gaming is the best it has ever been. So is console gaming.

My long-standing anti-console bias is that while a console is initially cheaper for the hardware, you're stuck with shitty, underperforming hardware for years without being able to upgrade it; you pay a premium for games; and it's a mostly a unitasker. Also lolz controller for shooters. So there. I can play the slapfight, too!

Lots of "the kids" these days do their facebook from mobiles and such. Not to mention laptops and non-gaming-level machines. To wit: My mum has a PC, and if she was interested, she could do facebook and such. She's not going to be able to run Call of Duty on it. Also most people simply do not want to fuck about with upgrading hardware. I'm not talking about people on f13, I'm talking about most normal people in the street, in schools, at the mall, etc.

To expand:  Laptops over took PCs in #'s sold back in 2008.  The general populace preferred the more mobile device.  Smart phones are expected to surpass laptops by next year.  Again, a more mobile device and, as story I heard in the last week emphasized, a device that does 'everything'* that the laptop did for them and at a lower up front price. (Remember, people are dumb about recurring costs, so that $240/ year for data doesn't register.)

The masses don't care about the PC in general.  Why's it such a heyday for PC games on steam? Because the big dev houses are out there pushing consoles and smart phone/ tablet games.  The upswing in indy games is because that's what they have to do to get their game out there.  Nobody else is going to do it.  Not a bad thing, and certainly the model of new business, but if internet distro had never caught on they'd be SOL.

* I will note that when the reporters say 'everything' that word processing and report writing aren't mentioned.  Nobody's kids are texting their senior thesis papers, but you certainly don't need even a $600 PC to do that function.

[Chimpy]

So it is really looking like Sony won't be alone in being a target.

Square Enix sites hacked

Not to say Sony is handling this well at all, but this whole idea that Sony are somehow alone in being A) incompetent or negligent and B) potential places to get information stolen from is laughable.

[Mrbloodworth]

What the hell. There has clearly been a rash of high profile Hacking lately.

Is the current gen of security just to old now? This is getting out of hand.

[Azazel]

I'm hoping that MS and Blizz have both stepped up their security...

[Hawkbit]

This is a little irritating for the first time, now that I can't stream Netflix on the big TV anymore.  I can get past the PSN logins just fine, but I'm getting a Netflix error message regarding their communication with the PSN servers.  Suck!

[HaemishM]

What the hell. There has clearly been a rash of high profile Hacking lately.

Is the current gen of security just to old now? This is getting out of hand.

There's a recession on. Hackers need money too and the thought of big beautiful unsecured databases full of credit card numbers is enticing.

Or idiots like Sony have really pissed off the hacker community lately and Square just happened to get caught in the middle?

[Yegolev]

Why'd you quit drinking ?

Medical issues.  Certainly not because my life is full of candycanes and blowjobs.  Rest assured, if I can deal with whatever it is that makes me ill when I drink, there's a bottle of Macallan 15 year that will have a bad evening.

[Amaron]

Is the current gen of security just to old now? This is getting out of hand.

That and security everywhere has gotten sloppy.   Security through obscurity is something a depressing amount of professionals believe in.

[fuser]

3.61 updating coming

We have been working on a new PS3 system software update that requires all PSN users to change their password once PlayStation Network is restored. The update (v3.61) is mandatory and is available now.

If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security. If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this email, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password you can sign-in to your account using your new password.

We strongly recommend that all PSN account holders with PS3s update their systems to prepare for when PlayStation Network is back online. The release of this update is a critical step as we work to make PlayStation Network significantly more secure. Thank you for your continued support and patience.

In regards to the Xbox discussion earlier in Canada all retailers dropped the price on Xbox Slim 4Gb's to $129 across the board for a week soon as the outage happened. I'm sure anyone with a fix for online play picked one up that week it's a pretty great move by Microsoft.

[Trippy]

Has anybody been able to sign on to PSN yet? I tried to log in through the Web site and it said it was sending an email but of course I haven't received anything yet

[taolurker]

http://blog.us.playstation.com/2011/05/14/play-on-%E2%80%93-psn-restoration-begins-now/

Please note that these services will take a bit of time to be turned on and rolled out to the whole country. The process has begun and some states are being turned on now, so please be patient as we reach your city and state. We’ll be updating the map below as service comes online in individual states. It will take several hours to restore PSN throughout the entire country, so please keep checking back for the latest updates. In the meantime, now’s a great time to get your PS3’s firmware updated, which is required to get online.

[taolurker]

SOE services back online as well
from main site: http://www.soe.com/

Welcome Back!

We are pleased to be back online and deeply apologize for the inconvenience caused by the recent data breach and subsequent outage.

To thank you all for your patience and understanding, we have prepared a Welcome Back Program that includes complimentary identity theft protection, free game time and special in-game items and events.

Reminder: As an added security measure, we require a password reset for your Station Account - we recommend you do this immediately.

And a rewards program for the outage
Only seems to be giving things to active members, or current subscribers, which isn't in any way a way to apologize to former subscribers for their info getting taken.

I expected free winbacks on any Station Pass game I had, and think SOE is hurting their image with MMO players even more.  

EDIT
Guess I spoke too soon.. After changing my password the subscriptions page did in fact update to include 45 free days on all the Station Pass games.

[ffc]

Played Fat Princess and Portal 2. No lag, things seem normal. Can't redeem codes yet.

[Pagz]

Well looks like Australia is still down (I should really stop being surprised by this), I guess I'll have to wait another weekend before multiplayer portal can be had.

[Trouble]

What the hell. There has clearly been a rash of high profile Hacking lately.

Is the current gen of security just to old now? This is getting out of hand.

There isn't enough precautions being taken to separate out different systems and the methods to access them. Someone can hack your shitty website's CMS software, get some passwords due to inadequate hashing/salting, turn around and use those passwords to access your internal email system, find some key login details in the email there to gain access to even more sensitive system, etc. etc. etc. Your security is now as good as the weakest link in the system. This is the recurring theme now with these hacks. Essentially people at the script kiddie level of ability can gain incredible access because of publicly known vulnerabilities that lead to ever more sensitive internal systems.

It doesn't take a hacker genius to break into systems nowadays because there's so many gaping holes. It's more like we're working on the honor system where Open is the default and we just hope no one will try any funny business.

[Trippy]

Has anybody been able to sign on to PSN yet? I tried to log in through the Web site and it said it was sending an email but of course I haven't received anything yet

Only took them 3 1/2 hours to send the email

[Mrbloodworth]

Sadly, my e-mail is an old one that does not exist anymore. Fiddlesticks.

[Hawkbit]

Somewhat nice to have a free 45 days to EQ2 - Vanguard and EQ are on that list, too, if you have an account for them.  I just can't even try to do EQ1 anymore and VG... never got an account.

[rattran]

Sony/PSN can bite me. The new Terms and Conditions are laughably contradictory on privacy, and pretty much you have to agree that Sony is your lord and master. And the Do Not Accept button does nothing!

I don't need to play online PS3 games badly enough to agree to that.

[Engels]

I logged in to check to see what CC they had on file for me (thankfully expired) to find out that all my game accounts, except for EQ2, had been 'suspended'. Seems someone haxxored me way back.

[Trippy]

Has anybody been able to sign on to PSN yet? I tried to log in through the Web site and it said it was sending an email but of course I haven't received anything yet

Only took them 3 1/2 hours to send the email

PSN Web log in down again

[kildorn]

What the hell. There has clearly been a rash of high profile Hacking lately.

Is the current gen of security just to old now? This is getting out of hand.

There isn't enough precautions being taken to separate out different systems and the methods to access them. Someone can hack your shitty website's CMS software, get some passwords due to inadequate hashing/salting, turn around and use those passwords to access your internal email system, find some key login details in the email there to gain access to even more sensitive system, etc. etc. etc. Your security is now as good as the weakest link in the system. This is the recurring theme now with these hacks. Essentially people at the script kiddie level of ability can gain incredible access because of publicly known vulnerabilities that lead to ever more sensitive internal systems.

It doesn't take a hacker genius to break into systems nowadays because there's so many gaping holes. It's more like we're working on the honor system where Open is the default and we just hope no one will try any funny business.

This is mostly laziness. People buy software solutions without knowing what they do or how they do it, and link them into their internal authentication, or don't fully isolate them. Integration points are always potential failure points, and nobody ever learns that their neat new feature needs to be weighed against that. Though in Sony's case, their homebrew was in dire need of someone with a pair of balls to do a code review, since "we use http for authentication, SSL is for pussies" was actually in practice there this spring.

We had the same issues working medical IT. We had all the medical systems isolated to avoid intrusion and failure (mainly worms, since medical equipment is notoriously behind on patches), and people were constantly trying to bridge that air gap between the desktop network and the medical network so they could use neat new features without switching computers/monitors. I mean, I get that you want to use this cool new medical imaging program to link with all the MRI systems, but the MRI systems are legally unable to be patched beyond NT4 SP3, and it was 2005 at the time. Seriously, not happening.

[Zetor]

Yep, I wonder why companies with custom multi-million $ IT infrastructures don't want to pay $20k for an audit / review. Both this and the RIFT "you can log in without authentication lol" issues should've been discovered within a day...


edit: also, this.

[Raguel]

I have my unlockables but after the patch none of my DA games can find my DA:O/A saved games. Quick Google search leads me to believe I can resolve the problem if I was able to copy saves to usb but apparently saves are "locked" (i.e. can't save to another storage device).

Sony has the solution though: all I have to do is sign up for their new PoS+ to upload my files.

Excuse me while I go break something.

[Tale]

Remember on the day the PSN went "offline for a day or two", the day's major scandal was that the Amazon EC2 cloud was down? People asked if they were linked (see page 1) but the answer then was "no".

Turns out the hackers may have used EC2 and been responsible for both events: Amazon.com Server Said to Have Been Used in Sony Attack

[kildorn]

If an EC2 cell went dark because someone was using a fake account to proxy an attack, bad on Amazon imo. Shutting down an identified malicious IP should be trivial, not a hit the big red button event.

That said, I'm entirely non interested in the fact that the attack came from EC2 as long as it was a targeted hit. A DDoS somehow being setup via a cloud service? News. A proxy hit via a hosting service? Meh. There's pretty much no defense against that, since all you need to do is sign up for an account with a stolen card, and you're pretty much just as vulnerable to tracking as you would be if you just proxy in via some trojan'd home PC.

[Trippy]

No that's not why there was an Amazon outage.

[Ironwood]

Yeah, don't believe ALL the shit on the internet.  Just the good bits about threesomes.

[Paelos]

Yeah, don't believe ALL the shit on the internet.  Just the good bits about threesomes.

Dear Penthouse, it was raining when two lasses showed up at my door to fix my plumbing...

[Azazel]

Sony/PSN can bite me. The new Terms and Conditions are laughably contradictory on privacy, and pretty much you have to agree that Sony is your lord and master. And the Do Not Accept button does nothing!

I don't need to play online PS3 games badly enough to agree to that.

What are the Cliff's Notes version? I still can't log in here in Aust to see anything.

[Sky]

I went to change my info on the SOE page, saw I had 45 days open in EQ2 (all pass games, as mentioned). I got as far as updating the patcher before I remembered why I stopped playing EQ2.