Sony Apologise Over Playstation Network Being Hacked

Sony have released a statement on the latest news about its Playstation Network being hacked. The statement reads:

Thank you for your patience while we work to resolve the current outage of PlayStation Network & Qriocity services. We don’t have an exact date to share at this moment as to when we will have the services turned on, but are working day and night to ensure it is as quickly as possible. We are currently working to send the following message via email to all of our registered account holders regarding a compromise of personal information as a result of this malicious attack on our servers, so please look for this information via email as well. Please note that we are as upset as you are regarding this attack and are going to proceed aggressively to track down those that are responsible.


Valued PlayStation Network/Qriocity Customer,

We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this intrusion, we have:

1) Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services;

2) Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and

3) Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by re-building our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.

We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.

Although we are still investigating the details of this incident, we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address (city, state/province, zip or postal code), country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity passwords and login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that your profile data, including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip), and your PlayStation Network/Qriocity password security answers may have been obtained. If you have authorized a sub-account for your dependent, the same data with respect to your dependent may have been obtained. While there is no evidence that credit card data was taken at this time, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, to be on the safe side we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may also have been obtained.

For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone, and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information. Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security, tax identification or similar number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking. When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are fully restored, we strongly recommend that you log on and change your password. Additionally, if you use your PlayStation Network or Qriocity user name or password for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them, as well.

To protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, we encourage you to remain vigilant to review your account statements and to monitor your credit or similar types of reports.

We thank you for your patience as we complete our investigation of this incident, and we regret any inconvenience. Our teams are working around the clock on this, and services will be restored as soon as possible. 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. Please contact us at uk.playstation.com/psnoutage should you have any additional questions.

Sincerely,

Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment Teams

Sony Network Entertainment Europe Limited (formerly known as PlayStation Network Europe Limited) is a subsidiary of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Limited the data controller for PlayStation Network/Qriocity personal data.

India Beat Sri Lanka To Become The 2011 Cricket World Champions

India completed an epic journey beginning in Dhaka 43 days ago and culminating in a six-wicket victory over Sri Lanka on Saturday after they had appeared to be down and out in the World Cup final.

Two thunderbolts from Lasith Malinga accounted for Virender Sehwag (0) and Sachin Tendulkar (18) after India set out in pursuit of a challenging target of 275.

Only two sides had previously won the trophy batting second and a crowd of 33,000 at the Wankhede Stadium sat in stunned silence after Tendulkar edged a catch to a jubilant Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara behind the stumps.

Tendulkar had scored centuries against England and South Africa to take his tally of international centuries to 99 and all Mumbai had been willing him to score the 100th in his native town.

Malinga had other ideas after an assured start by Tendulkar, who at the age of 37 is unlikely to play in another World Cup. But Tendulkar, the ultimate team man, was just happy to be part of a winning outfit at his sixth World Cup and he was carried on the shoulders of his team mates around the ground after the best final since Pakistan beat England in 1992.

"He's carried the burden of the nation for 21 years so it's time we carried him on our shoulders," said Virat Kohli, summing up the feelings of a billion of his compatriots.

In a reminder, if it were needed, that no individual is bigger than the team, Tendulkar's early exit gave an opportunity to Gautam Gambhir and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni to take their side to victory. India became the first nation to win the event on home soil.

Gambhir scored an assured 97 while Dhoni, who had looked leaden-footed throughout the tournament, recaptured his form to score an unbeaten 91, finishing the game with a theatrical six.

Sri Lanka's 274 for six after Sangakkara had won the toss was largely the result of a masterly 103 not out from Mahela Jayawardene.

But after Malinga's opening burst, Sri Lanka's decision to drop spinners Ajantha Mendis and Rangana Herath backfired and Sangakkara always seemed a bowler short.

Muttiah Muralitharan, determined to bring the trophy to Sri Lanka for a second time, did his best to overcome the effects of a hamstring and a knee injury in his final international match.

Although the competitive fires still burned bright, he was understandably tentative in his run-up, the ball did not spit and turn as it once did and he failed to add to his record of 534 one-day wickets.

Dhoni, who joins Kapil Dev as the only two Indian captains to lift the World Cup, said the team had set their sights on the World Cup 18 months to two years ago.

"Whatever we were doing on the field we had a long-term goal," he said. "Just by having a target in mind doesn't mean you will win the World Cup.

"We prepared well for the World Cup, we tried to keep each and every individual fit. We tried to keep the best XI in the best form.

"We peaked at the right time, we wanted to win it for each other."

Yuvraj Singh was named as the man-of-the-tournament, after his consistency with the bat and his invaluable contribution with his left-arm spin.

"This is unbelievable," he said. "Tonight is going to be good night. Thank you India!"

Gary Neville To Become Sky Sports Pundit

Gary Neville insists he will not be scared to criticise Manchester United when he begins his new role as a Sky Sports pundit next season.

Neville stopped playing football at the beginning of the year, after netting himself an impressive eight Premier League titles and a Champions League victory during his career at Old Trafford.

However, from next season, Neville will be on the other side of the camera as Sky fill a position created following the axing of Andy Gray in January.

And that raises the potential for Neville having to criticise the club he has supported all his life and made over 600 appearances for during a stellar playing career.

The prospect of a conflict of views with Sir Alex Ferguson is clear.

But Neville is adamant he will speak his mind the same way he has always done.

"Everybody who knows me will accept that I will speak honestly on what I see," he said.

"I have experience of playing in the Premier League, Champions League and for England.

"I understand what goes on in those matches, so I have the ability to speak about them. That is whether it is Manchester United or not.

"I am sure people are going to be looking and asking how he can remain impartial. The reality is the game is the game.

"If they play well and win, they play well and win. If they don't play well, they don't.

"You never see Alex Ferguson trying to shy away from how the team has performed. That will be the same with me next year."


"I am thrilled to be joining Sky Sports. It has always been leading the way in football coverage. Now I have retired this feels like the perfect way for me to stay involved in football and I am looking forward to bringing my 19 years of match experience into television." said Neville.

Sky Sports managing director Barney Francis said Neville will bring his 'vast experience' to the team, giving viewers 'great insight' when he joins.