Now SOE confirms data theft

Games developer Sony Online Entertainment has confirmed it was attacked by hackers as part of last month’s PSN hack and that user data has possibly been compromised.

In total the firm believes that it has lost around 12,700 credit card numbers with some 24.6m accounts being compromised. The attack took place between April 16th and 17th.

However, MCV has been informed that only around 900 of those credit cards affected were active.

"Our ongoing investigation of illegal intrusions into Sony Online Entertainment systems has discovered that hackers may have obtained personal customer information from SOE systems," a statement from the company reads.

"We are today advising you that the personal information you provided us in connection with your SOE account may have been stolen in a cyber-attack. Stolen information includes, to the extent you provided it to us, the following: name, address (city, state, zip, country), email address, gender, birthdate, phone number, login name and hashed password.

"Customers outside the United States should be advised that we further discovered evidence that information from an outdated database from 2007 containing approximately 12,700 non-US customer credit or debit card numbers and expiration dates (but not credit card security codes) – we will be notifying each of those customers promptly."

SOE does think that its main credit card database appears to be safe.

The company has also confirmed that it is offering customers 30 days of free subscription time, as well as an extra day for each day its systems are down. "Make good" plans are also afoot for DC Universe Online and Free Realms users.

As a result of the news, all SOE games have been taken offline, a security firm has been hired to investigate what happened and security is being further enhanced.

It also recommends that users change their passwords to other services if they were the same as their SOE or Station passwords.

"Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible," SOE added. "Sony takes information protection very seriously and will continue to work to ensure that additional measures are taken to protect personally identifiable information. Providing quality and secure entertainment services to our customers is our utmost priority."

UPDATE 1: Numbers relating to the number of accounts hacked added.

UPDATE 2: Updates of SOE free subscription incentive added.

UPDATE 3: Confirmation that only 900 live credit cards were affected added.

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