[Update: It's official, Sony has confirmed that PSN Accounts have been compromised, and offered their explanation for the delayed response.]
When I tried getting on to PSN last Wednesday night, I didn’t think much of the standard message that there had been an error and I had been logged out of the PlayStation Network. No, the surprising thing is that five days later, the network remains down, and I still can’t log in.
That means six days of no Netflix (well, not on PSN), no Hulu, no online games. No buying content from the PlayStation Store. When will service be restored? No one can say. In the mean time, “PSN Problem” has become the most popular search on Google the world over.
What do we know for sure about the PlayStation Network situation? Not much. Sony has confirmed that the outage is due to an “external intrusion” into PSN. The hacker group Anonymous, widely suspected to be behind the attack initially, denies responsibility. Whether or not any users’ credit card information was compromised during the intrusion remains unknown, though Sony claims to be investigating the matter thoroughly, with a promise of immediately notifying any affected account holders.
On the 23rd, Sony announced that bringing both PSN and Qriocity back online would be an involved, time-intensive process.
“Our efforts to resolve this matter involve re-building our system to further strengthen our network infrastructure. Though this task is time-consuming, we decided it was worth the time necessary to provide the system with additional security.”
Since then Sony has kept quiet on the matter, just today giving word on the PlayStation Blog that they still “don’t have an update or timeframe to share at this point in time.”
Meanwhile, a number of interesting theories have popped up online. From PS3 Inside comes speculation that Sony is creating a new Master Key for all PSN content. Once PSN comes back up, users will need to re-download all previously downloaded content so that they now have a key-imprinted copy.
Over on Reddit, a poster who claims to be a PSX-Scene.com moderator says PSN was actually taken down in response to a new piece of custom firmware (CFW) called “Codename: Rebug.” Rebug could allegedly be used to get hacked PlayStation 3 systems back onto PSN, and ultimately gave users the ability to pirate loads of PSN content. These two bits of information seem to line up rather nicely, though there is no actual confirmation of either.
For now, PSN users will have to continue dealing with an unpleasant situation. There is some good news for a lucky few, though. On Twitter, inFamous 2 developer Sucker Punch announced that the user generated content beta for the game would be extended.
“We’ve decided to extend the beta. Once PSN is back up we’ll determine by how long, but rest assured: your outcry has been heard.”
Still it’s cold comfort for the millions and millions of PSN users who are going without right now. To be fair, Xbox Live has its vulnerabilities — remember when Major Nelson’s account got hacked? Still, Sony has long touted PSN as a service that is on par with Xbox Live, but without cost to users. It may have more trouble selling that vision (not to mention PlayStation Plus subscriptions) now than it would have had six days ago.
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Follow me on Twitter @HakenGaken
Source: PS3 Life, PS3 Inside, Reddit [via Joystiq], PlayStation Blog, Eurogamer
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i seriously believe that we should be awarded some playstation network credit for the wait. cause this is seriously ridiculous
man.. i’m glad its free so i can’t complain.. it just sucks that after a while of not playing i lose my job and its the only thing to do and now i can’t play online like i wanted. hopefully it doesn’t take too long.
Well I got some news that might interest some of us PSN Users. While everyone was watching and reading forums I took the time and dug around on rebuilding servers and creating servers. Now it’s legit but keep in mind u might not like the news.
Source: http://www.bladewatch.com
Article Date:
In the IT world you’re typically measured by three main things:Server provisioning – how long does it take to install a server for the end user? Outage percentages – how many days downtime have we had?
Service Level Agreement benchmarks – how many calls were answered in the 15 minute response time? Why the server provisioning, because it can actually become quite an emotional exercise. Let’s take an example, if I today want a server and I work for a large company, I’ll typically fill in the paperwork, get it signed off and then the following chain of events happens:
IT purchase a server The server arrives to the loading bay a few days (even weeks later) The data center team allocate space The hardware team rack the server The network team then allocate a network port and ip address The patching team provide a network cable The server team (windows/unix) install the operating system
At this point I have a working server from an infrastructure standpoint, it’s got windows, I can ping it, but I can’t log on to it.The server is prepared for me – application code loaded, access and shares created Monitoring is enabled The lead time differs from business to business, industry to industry, the longer the ‘delay’
Back to the PSN. It will most likely take 2 weeks to fully complete the rebuilding of the PSN. This is going to be a long wait for us psn users wether we accept it or not.
What you just posted makes literally no sense. They don’t need to buy all new servers or install them. They just need to build their system within them from the ground up (as I’ve been reading) WITH THE PRIOR KNOWLEDGE of how it was built before. If they’re working 24/7 like they’re implying it COULD take as long as two weeks, but I doubt it. It’s Sony. Do you know how many people they most likely have working on this? It’s a 70 million subscriber service aka it’s a VERY high priority right now. I understand you thought you were finding legitimate knowledge, but just because something is on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true.
I really dont understand the stupidity that has come along with this. I am an avid devotee to Sony, Playstation, and the PSN. that being said I also own an X-Box 360, a Wii, and several other consoles and hand held devices. And while I follow Sony religiously some people criticizing them just sound like morons. And they goes to xbox and playstation users alike. Neither consoles network abilities advertise or remotely appear to be perfect. So if that’s what your expecting when you buy a console, handheld, PC, Mac, or anything affiliated with gaming then you should just put down the controller and quit all together. All companies, systems, and networks are gonna have their problems and flaws whether ou pay for it or not. So quit with the hate mail and play thru some single player campaigns, go out and find new games to enjoy, talk to other gamers online about games they enjoy and try to find new excitement wIth games you haven’t tried before and most importantly be patient. Because when Sony gets the PSN back on it’s feet it will be stronger and better than ever.
PSN outage = more time flying RC Helicopters!!
PSN outage = blasting targets with a .308!!
PSN outage = stickin the 3D target with some long shots!!
Thank you for the much need update. In fortunately if they take too much Longer I’m pitching ps3 and grabbing my xbox. They’ve never been down. More reliable!!
Xbox Live was down for about 2 weeks Christmas time of 2008.
Ya it’s morons like you that have no clue what they are talking about. Xbox was down for two weeks, so next time before you post complete crap makes sure your facts are in order you maggot.
Xbox 360 was down for two weeks during Christmas of 2008, but i feel what you’re sayin. I just bought my first PS3 last Wednesday morning!! I only bought Black Ops so i could do one thing: play zombies ONLINE! haha, so i may be switchin to the much more reliable 360 as well. Just can’t YET justify the $96/year for online usage. But if this outage with Sony lasts any longer, i’m selling my brand new 320GB PS3 for well under sale price just so i can afford a gamind device!
I think that third party publishers of single player offline games conspired to take down the PSN so that they could sell more games. They were tired of getting pwned by COD
i think this is dumb….have alot of friends and people i know switching to xbox live im doing the same its been six days…and its not like i have no life ..i do have a good 1..but i like netflix to watch movies with my girlfriend sony really sucks….looks to me like hackers are way smarter then SONY…HOLY JESUS
k so…just letting you all know….hackers will always be “smarter” than companies and it takes smarts to hack but its mostly ambition for pete sake someone hacked into obamas phone hackers take stuff like Microsoft and Sony as a challenge to go further and really mess with them and make them get stronger than figure out another way….the truth is this is a circle and it will always be like this….so dont be retarded is all i mean by this neither this doesnt mean xbl is better you morons you can get free games and play them online for your xbox because its so easy to hack anyone could do it ps3 has recently been hacked but it was hacked in a month of release lol…. so just shut up be patient get a cheesy free mmorpg like GunBound XD that game is tiiiiiight
wow to many spelling errors sorry for my fail im to lazy to check them ^
I HOPE YOU ALL BUY XBOX AND PAY FOR ONE YEAR AND THE NETWORK COMES BACK UP THE NEXT DAY
Every article that’s stating you can’t use netflix needs to fact check or own a ps3… I have been watching netflix with no interruption, try to sign in, when it doesn’t connect hit cancel and you’ll be up and running… I do however miss cod
I’m going to be filing a class action lawsuit against Sony with other gamers. Looking for a lawyer.
seriously your gonna file a lawsuit!!!!!!!!!!!!! its been 6 days and yo actin like you are gonna die just because you dont get to play games and watch movies. and seriously, the only thing you should blame sony for is having crappy security, besides that, get a life!!!!
doe said s anyone no when it will b up an running i had a look about today .on one site it said 10pm uk time is this true
I am a loyal PSN user, and am very pleased at the way that Sony is handling the situation. For all of you that feal Sony owes us something … what is wrong with you ???
Psn Subscribers im not a hater of Sony as im a big fan of most of there devices and gadgets but they keep extending the timeline for when they are bringing the Psn back online. It looks to me that there just telling the users what they want to hear. there suppost to be bringing it back up later this week but i think its a no show. But all hopes ahead think positive and not negative and im sure they will come through.
Ps. Be patient and dont buy an xbox you’ll regret it + i hear sony are releasing new features with firmware 3.61