India Internet News
Another Network Of Sony Attacked By Hackers
04 June 2011
Hackers have recently attacked Sony Corp's computers to gain access of more than 1 mn customers data and view the weakness of the electronic giant's systems, the newest of various security breaches determining confidence in the company.
LulzSec team, who had already confirmed about the attack on US PBS TV and Fox.com, has taken the responsibility of attacking the servers running Sony Pictures Entertainment websites. It announced the names, birth dates, addresses, emails, phone numbers and passwords of lots of people who had taken part in the contests promoted by Sony. They said, "From a single injection, we accessed EVERYTHING. Why do you put such faith in a company that allows itself to become open to these simple attacks?"
The security breach is the newest cyber attack among high-profile companies, such as defense contractor Lockheed Martin and Google Inc. LulzSec's claims came as Sony executives were trying to reassure US lawmakers at a hearing on data security in Washington about their efforts to safeguard the company's computer networks, which suffered the biggest security breach in history in April.
Sony has fallen under great problem since hackers have stolen personal details on 77 mn PlayStation Network and Qriocity accounts, among them 90 percent fall in North America or Europe. Sony said for the time being credit card details might have been stolen, sparking lawsuits and casting a shadow over its plans to unit content and hardware products through online services. Until now, no one has taken the responsibility of the April attack.
Afterwards, it was confirmed that hackers had stolen details of 25 mn users of a distinct system, its Sony Online Entertainment PC games network, in an infringement disclosed on May 2. Sony said they were investigating about the infringement claimed by LulzSec and refused to explain. Tokyo shares of Sony went down by 0.6 percent on Friday, in line with the wider market. The recent attack, different from the PlayStation Network, was not on a website making money and so has no influence on earnings, according to analysts.
Reuters validated about the truth of the details on various competitors that LulzSec claims it had published.
Cyber security is instantly growing the agenda for worldwide policymakers. Friday, the Australian government assured that it will create a cyber defense strategy; while in May the US commented that illegal acts in cyberspace would be treated in the same manner as any other threat to the country.
The chief technology officer of US Cyber Consequences Unit, John Bumgarner, is not at all astonished with Sony's system getting hacked once again. He confirmed about the weakness in the Sony Pictures Entertainment network was the same as last time. Last time, Sony had to shut down its services for about a month.
LulzSec has taken the responsibility of various hacks that took place past month. It had also hacked Fox.com website and announced the information about participants for the upcoming Fox TV talent show, "X Factor." They also said on Thursday that they had hacked Sony BMG Music Entertainment Netherlands and Belgium.