Following an extended period of PlayStation Network inactivity, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) has released an updated statement on the situation informing us that between April 17th and April 19th, user account information linked to the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services was compromised “in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network.”

As a result, SCE has taken the following steps:

• 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.”

The statement continues on to inform us that it’s possible an “unauthorised person” has gained access to any information you may have provided over these services, including your name, address, country, email address, birthday, service passwords and login name, as well as your online PSN ID.

It gets worse:

“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,” reads the statement. “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,” the statement continues. “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.”

SCE provides a few ideas about how to proceed should this information have been obtained and compromised:

“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.”

“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.”

Once the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are operational again, SCE “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.”

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

If you are in the US, please refer to this post on the official PlayStation Blog about how you may proceed should your personal information have been obtained.

Source: European PlayStation Blog