DCEmu Homebrew Emulation & Theme Park News
PSP News
by Published on April 27th, 2011 17:47
Sony has vowed to "proceed aggressively" in its attempts to track down hackers responsible for the PlayStation Network security breach, although customer anger at the incursion is already beginning to mount.
Although the basic PSN service is free to use some users are already demanding refunds for PlayStation Plus, music and video service Qriocity, and downloadable games - many of which do not work without a connection to PSN.
As a result Sony has updated its FAQ on the incident, but has so far made no promises regarding compensation: "When the full services are restored and the length of the outage is known, we will assess the correct course of action."
As the FAQ points out some games, mainly downloadable PSN titles, require PSN access for Trophy syncs and security checks.
Speaking to website IGN indie developers Mad Block Alpha and Open Emotion have indicated that Sony has already offered to help overcome problems from the outage. Both studios were due to see new content added to PSN last week, with Open Emotion CEO Paddy Murphy commenting:
"Sony will be helping us retain key focus [prominent placement on the PSN Store] for an extra few weeks as they understand how something like this can affect a small dev studio like ours."
"As it's our first week in the US, I'm sure it will affect sales, but we have to understand that Sony wouldn't take down the entire PSN on a whim. As long as they can give us some marketing assistance when the PSN is back up, we are sure we will be able to recoup our potential losses," he added.
Ordinary users though have not been so understanding, with the official PlayStation websites now filed with angry and concerned comments.
"What makes Sony look so bad is the silent treatment you have been giving us from day one. Facts are you knew that your system was compromised, you did [not] say a thing about it till days later and even then didn't tell us you suspected personal information might have been compromised," said user 'Agriel'.
"Sony you dropped the ball big time on this, you should fire your PR department because they don't have a [DELETED] clue what they are doing, and totally screwed you in this," he continued.
"I loved this set up on PSN and now I'm so [DELETED] off with what has happened I shall never trust Sony again ever. Looks like I'm going to be getting a [DELETED]box," added user 'Sutman'.
Some customers have been more understanding though, with 'Carnivius_Prime' commenting: "I can understand the frustrations but if anything it should be the hacker getting all the blame here. Why these guys can't simply just leave things alone. I'm sure Microsoft and Nintendo would have reacted the same way as Sony if it had happened to their services. I hope the hackers are tracked down and jailed."
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...sers-vent-rage
...by Published on April 27th, 2011 17:44
The Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) is to investigate Sony over the ongoing hacking scandal on PlayStation Network, it has been confirmed.
ICO is a non-departmental public body reporting directly to Parliament and deals primarily with the Data Protection Act and other related legislation.
Speaking to sister siteEurogamer, officials have confirmed that it will investigate Sony in order to discover whether proper security safeguards were taken.
"The Information Commissioner's Office takes data protection breaches extremely seriously," said a representative. "Any business or organisation that is processing personal information in the UK must ensure they comply with the law, including the need to keep data secure.
"We have recently been informed of an incident which appears to involve Sony. We are contacting Sony and will be making further enquiries to establish the precise nature of the incident before deciding what action, if any, needs to be taken by this office."
Although the exact nature and sophistication of the hacker attack is not clear the fact that Sony has already confirmed that passwords, and user data such as names and addresses, have been obtained implies that they were not properly encrypted - or not encrypted at all.
The latter in particular could cause Sony considerable legal and publicity problems if true, although currently much of customer's anger is directed at the perceived slowness of the company's approach to the problem and the lack of information on the breach.
http://www.gamesindustry.biz/article...ver-psn-breach
...by Published on April 27th, 2011 17:39
Users told: We believe your details have been taken
PlayStation Network customers are beginning to receive email warnings regarding the service's extraordinary security threat.
In a mass-email the PlayStation firm writes:
“We believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that you provided: name, address, country, email address, birth-date, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and handle/PSN online ID.”
It is likely that the email was sent to every single active PSN user.
Sony announced in January this year that over 69 million people have registered a PlayStation Network account.
Yesterday Sony revealed that the data of "possibly all" PSN users had got into the hands of an unauthorised individual.
So far the stolen information has not led to reports of illicit credit card activity or identity theft, Sony claims.
“Not at this point in time,” the firm said yesterday.
It cannot be ruled out that credit card data was taken as part of the hack, Sony added, and judging by the perceived scale of the security alert, the likelihood of PSN credit card fraud is high.
In the mass-email, the company continued:
“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”.
Since the announcement last night, a flood of PSN users have asked their banks to change their credit card details.
Passwords have been wiped and some credit ratings have been put on 'fraud alert'
http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...-for-PSN-users
...by Published on April 27th, 2011 17:37
Sony's PSN terms and conditions suggest the company isn't liable for the loss of customers' personal information.
As spotted by Edge, the firm's T&Cs read: "We exclude all liability for loss of data or unauthorised access to your data, Sony Online Network account or Sony Online Network wallet and for damage caused to your software or hardware as a result of using or accessing Sony Online Network."
However, the Information Commissioners Office, an independent UK authority set up to uphold information rights in the public interest, told the site: "While we are unable to say where the data is being stored at present, if it was in the UK, this clause would not free them from their obligations under the UK Data Protection Act.
"If we found a breach, one of the actions we could take would be to issue an undertaking, which is an agreement between the ICO and the company that if they are handling personal information they have to bring about set improvements in order for them to be compliant with the act."
The ICO added: "If the company is not compliant with the act within a certain time limit, further action would be taken and we might consider an enforcement notice or issue a monetary penalty. For serious breaches of the act, we can issue a monetary penalty up to £500,000."
The PlayStation Network has been out of action for a week following a security breach that has resulted in the theft of customers' personal data
http://www.computerandvideogames.com...VG-General-RSS ...by Published on April 27th, 2011 17:35
Execs at Cohort, Zoe Mode, Curve and Doublesix express their views
The substantial security threat that has rocked the PlayStation Network could trigger widespread mistrust in digital distribution, a group of studios have said.
Several leading digital games studios have told Develop the infamous PSN hack may not only impact on Sony’s troubled service, but the digital distribution process as a whole.
“There’s a real concern that PSN users will have lost a lot of trust,” said Lol Scragg, CEO of Dundee studio Cohort.
“The PSN market could well decrease after this,” he said.
“There are so many issues for consumers to think about now”.
Cohort is set to close down in a matter of weeks, and its final game – Me Monstar – could miss its release due to the ongoing PSN blackout.
“Our concern is that people just will not be able to purchase our game as it launches next week,” Scragg said.
A ‘LITTLE STEP BACK’
Scragg’s views are to an extent echoed by Ste Curran, the creative director of Kuju Entertainment's Zoe Mode studio in Brighton.
“From my perspective, the bigger issue is not about PSN, but confidence in digital distribution generally,” Curran said.
“For every story like this that breaks in the mainstream press, consumer confidence about their details being safe is eroded. Confidence [in online transactions] has been building up, and I think will continue to, but this is a blip. It could be a little step back,” he added.
Zoe Mode’s music-based puzzle game, Chime Super Deluxe, launched on the PlayStation Network late in March.
One studio – speaking anonymously to Develop – said the network downtime has cost them thousands of pounds. Yet Curran said it would be hard to quantify revenue losses.
He also appeared convinced that the backlash against Sony has more bark than bite.
“There’s a lot of noise on the internet right now about people saying ‘oh I’ll never use PSN again etcetera’, but a lot of that is due to this ongoing rivalry between Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 fanboys, and I think a lot of these comments of abandoning PlayStation are from people that don’t have a console in the first place,” he said.
Curran’s faith in digital distribution has not been significantly affected by the PSN data scare.
‘IT GOES BEYOND PSN’
“Digital distribution is the future, and it’s awesome,” he said.
“I just think people will be a bit more hesitant to [buy content digitally] like this in the future. Not just on PSN, but on Xbox 360 and other non-game related services as well.
“I don’t think this is a case of people thinking PSN is vulnerable. This is about every single digital distribution system”.
Yesterday Sony said it shut down the PlayStation Network for seven consecutive days after a “malicious” attack on the online system.
Credit card details, user information and passwords have been compromised. The issue may affect every single PSN user, Sony said. More information can be found here.
Ed Fear, publishing producer at London-based Curve Studios, remains faithful that Sony will resolve the issue.
“I’m concerned that users will be wary of re-entering their credit card details into the system, which will likely affect PSN sales,” he said.
“Naturally, there’s an issue of the lost sales over this period where the system has been down.
“But ultimately, I think Sony will sort us and everyone else out – they’ve done a lot of work encouraging developers to PSN and they’re not going to let all that go to waste now.”
In February, Curve Studios released on PSN its distinct platform title Explodemon.
‘WE CAN HOLD OUR RELEASE BACK’
The studio head at fellow UK PSN studio, Doublesix, said it was unfortunate that a service like the PlayStation Network has been out under such an unflattering light.
“It's obviously a sad turn of events,” he told Develop.
“Our colleagues at Sony have such a great games service and every day that it's down hurts the wider gaming community.
“Our studio hasn't been affected too greatly, we were just preparing a release, but we can afford to hold it back. Our sympathy goes out to the studios who've only just released a game or were due to release last week.
“My greater concern is how this will affect video game consumers behaviour across all the digital platforms, including PSN, XBLA, Steam, iTunes and the rest,” he said.
“Consumers have been more ready to purchase games and other content online, and this may rock their confidence, become a set back that affects us all.
“Of course, it's only a blip, but one that the world of digital games delivery could do without. Only time will tell.”
http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...t-could-follow
...by Published on April 27th, 2011 00:26
Security alert as millions of PlayStation Network users are told of ‘malicious’ attack
An illegal hack into the PlayStation Network may have exposed the personal data of every single user, Sony has warned.
In an admission of the sheer enormity of the security alert, Sony said “our investigation indicates that all PlayStation Network/ Qriocity accounts may be affected”.
Earlier, the company said a “malicious” hack has compromised key info of PlayStation Network users – including credit card data.
Now the platform holder has revealed the attack could put every single account at risk.
In a notice pubished on the PlayStation Blog, the company was asked if all user information had been compromised.
“In terms of possibility, yes,” the company said.
Sony announced in January this year that over 69 million people have registered a PlayStation Network account.
The company added, however, that it has not received any information that PSN data has been used illicitly.
“Not at this point in time,” the firm said.
It cannot be ruled out that credit card data was taken as part of the hack, Sony added, and judging by the perceived scale of the security alert, the likelihood of PSN credit card fraud is high.
A notice will be sent to every single PlayStation Network account holder to warn of identity fraud, Sony said.
The PlayStation 3 manufacturer said it had shut down the PlayStation Network for the past week due to “malicious actions”.
Data thought to be at risk includes user's names, addresses, emails, date of birth, PSN password and login information.
‘BE ON ALERT’
The hack occurred between April 17th and 19th, Sony said.
The company advised US account holders that they can place a “fraud alert” on their personal credit file.
Sony is conducting “a full and complete investigation into what happened”, and claims to have “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”.
“Be especially aware of email, telephone, and postal mail scams that ask for personal or sensitive information” read a statement.
“Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information.
"If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity".
Sony added that it may offer a refud to PSN users.
"When the full services are restored and the length of the outage is known, we will assess the correct course of action," the firm said.
http://www.develop-online.net/news/3...d-by-data-hack
...by Published on April 27th, 2011 00:20
Sony has admitted that PlayStation Network account holders may have had their credit card details stolen during the recent, widely-publicised security breach that has kept the service offline for the past week....
So, what does that mean for you? Are your life savings at risk?
UK consumer rights group Which? offers some comfort, explaining that it's very unlikely that PlayStation owners will have to pick up any costs in the event that their credit cards are used for fraudulent activity.
"Unless you've been involved in the fraud or have been grossly negligent – for example, writing down your Pin and leaving it with your card – the most you can be liable for fraud on debit and credit cards is £50, and this is normally waived," reads anFAQ on its site.
If you believe your card has been used for fraudulent activity Which? recommends taking the following action:
"Call your card issuer immediately and cancel your cards. Contact credit reference agencies Experian, Callcredit and Equifax to check no fraudulent applications for credit have been made in your name."
Wedbush Morgan analyst and former lawyer Michael Pachter told Eurogamer that the situation will be similar in the US, with Sony likely to be liable for any losses.
"In the US, none of Sony's customers will have to pay for any fraudulent use of credit information, so Sony will work with the financial institutions to cover any losses," he explained.
"Sony will of course be liable to reimburse PlayStation Plus customers for their downtime. I'm sure that they will provide something (free game downloads or something similar) to recompense customers for the inconvenience caused, which is significant."
Pachter went on to speculate that whoever is responsible for the security breach is probably not interested in your credit card details in any case.
"It's really hard to protect against a determined hacker, and Sony's customers should take solace in the thought that an evil hacker would have been wiser to attack a bank instead of a gaming network. That's my attempt to say that this was probably the work of a show-off, rather than of a thief."
Nevertheless, vigilance is advised. Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, recommended to IGNthat PSN users keep a close eye on their accounts.
"You should be monitoring your credit card statements as closely as you monitor the scores of the game, as closely as your monitor your email, as closely as you monitor the weather," he insisted.
"You need to know what's going on at all times regarding your credit card statements, what charges are being made and who is making them."
"If you receive emails that look like they're coming from Sony or PlayStation or whoever - emails that you might be accustomed to already receiving from brands you already trust - be suspect," he added. "Never click on links in the body of the email."
Sony's official advice echoes Siciliano's.
"For your security, we encourage you to be especially aware of email, telephone, postal mail or other scams that ask for personal or sensitive information," reads its security breach FAQ.
"Sony will not contact you in any way, including by email, asking for your credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking.
"Additionally, if you use the same user name or password for your PlayStation Network or Qriocity service account for other unrelated services or accounts, we strongly recommend that you change them.
"When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are back on line, we also strongly recommend that you log on to change your password.
"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 reports."
Sony also pointed out that it's only your credit card number and expiration date that may have been compromised, not the security code, diminishing the risk of fraudulent use.
http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/20...-means-for-youby Published on April 27th, 2011 00:16
Sony Computer Entertainment has finally issued a detailed statement on the PlayStation Network downtime, confirming the possibility that private customer information may have been compromised as a result of "malicious actions."
Although Sony said it expects to have PSN up and running within a week, it admits that between April 17 - April 19, the service suffered an "illegal and unauthorized intrusion" and that the name, address, country, email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login, and PSN online ID of users have been obtained by an unauthorised person.
"While there is no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility," wrote Sony's Patrick Seybold on the PlayStation blog.
Out an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained.
Patrick Seybold, SCEA
The PlayStation Network currently has over 75 million registered users accessing services on PlayStation 3, PSP and PC.
"If you have provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may 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," continued Seybold.
"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."
Sony's online PlayStation service was taken offline last Wednesday with few updates given to users as to why they were unable to access multiplayer gaming, purchase content and use online functions for the console.
The full message from Sony Computer Entertainment follows:
"Thank you for your patience while we work to resolve the current outage of PlayStation Network & Qriocity services. We are currently working to send a similar message to the one below via email to all of our registered account holders regarding a compromise of personal information as a result of an illegal intrusion on our systems. These malicious actions have also had an impact on your ability to enjoy the services provided by PlayStation Network and Qriocity including online gaming and online access to music, movies, sports and TV shows. We have a clear path to have PlayStation Network and Qriocity systems back online, and expect to restore some services within a week.
We're working day and night to ensure it is done as quickly as possible. We appreciate your patience and feedback.
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.
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 number or other personally identifiable information. If you are asked for this information, you can be confident Sony is not the entity asking. When ...by Published on April 26th, 2011 21:12- Categories:
- PSP News
News via http://www.psp-hacks.com/2011/04/25/...ally-released/
Ready for the masses — DaedalusX64 BETA 3 Update! It’s still beta 3, but it’s an update addressing several issues found in the initial release: improved stability, several speed enhancements and the added support for cheat codes. One release at a time… The N64 emulation movement is growing, getting better.
by Published on April 26th, 2011 20:55- Categories:
- PSP News
News via http://wololo.net/wagic/2011/04/26/v...of-of-concept/
Developer HacKmaN, who works closely with Total_Noob on TN Hen, just released a video showcasing TN Hen on a 6.38 OFW.
A few weeks ago, Total_Noob had announced in this interview that he was investigating Kernel exploits on the latest firmware. He then confirmed he was onto something, by showing a video running a kernel exploit POC on a PSP running OFW 6.38.
- Search DCEmu
- Advert 3
News Categories
- Links of Interest
Sony Consoles News
- Nintendo Consoles News
- Sega Consoles News
- Apple & Android News
- Xbox Consoles News
- Open Source Consoles News
DCEmu News Archive
- Advert
- Retro Consoles News
- PC News
- Latest DCEmu News
- DCEmu Network Sites
-
Menu 
Forum Stats
- What is the DCEmu Homebrew & Gaming Network
Catherine: Full Body’s English translation for the Vita