With Sony looking towards the future with its new PS5 console, some of the company's older technology has been neglected. This includes the PlayStation 3, a console that despite its discontinuation in 2017, is still being supported to this day by various gamers. Many fans use the PS3 to play some classics that are sold on the PlayStation Store, or some of the games that still have the PS3's online servers still running. With that said, going online right now may cause the console itself to be banned, due to a recent data breach.
This stems from the first big security breach of Sony's database in 2011. Hackers had compromised the entire security system of the PS3, with the console being able to be opened up and homebrewed. This then caused the company to be hit with another system breach in 2014, causing millions of PS3 users' data to be stolen. This new breach seems to be built off of those previous exploits, this time targeting the PS3's console ID.
The first reported instance of this breach was from earlier this year in April. A Spanish YouTuber, TheWizWiki, had reported that with this breach, it could cause millions of people who have used the console to be banned. Their video goes into more detail, explaining that the hacking community was able to find a list that contained the serial numbers for all of Sony's PS3 consoles. He noted that the list was found quite easily, and one hacker has spread it among the community.
And then a PSNProfiles forum user named GUDGER666, had been inflicted with a ban from Sony, saying that their console's been temporarily suspended or banned. They confirmed that it wasn't their PSN ID that has been banned, as they were able to log in on their other PS3 fine. They report their main console was barred from use, when the only thing that was usable was Netflix. Other forum users have reported that they've also been hit with the bans, with their console models varying from the PS3 slim to the super slim model.
The main consequence of these console IDs being leaked is that hackers can use the stolen ones with malicious intent. They can cause the servers to think that an innocent console has been used for jailbreaking purposes while connecting to their online services. While the bans are being handed out, some users are reporting that the length of the ban varies; being either 24-72 hours, a week, or possibly permanent. Hacks like these may have contributed to why Sony tried shutting down PlayStation Store a few months ago, but that's just speculation at this time. As of right now, no official statement has been given by Sony regarding this issue.
It's also possible that these PS3 bans are happening for a completely different reasons, so PlayStation users should keep that in mind.
Source: TheWizWiki - YouTube, PSNProfiles