Hacker scare locks Sony accounts
TOKYO - Sony locked almost 100,000 user accounts on its PlayStation Network and other online services after detecting a spike in unauthorized log-in attempts. It was the latest in a series of cyberattacks that have threatened to undermine user confidence in Sony’s Web offerings.
Also yesterday, Sony said it had discovered defective parts were used in 1.6 million Bravia flat-panel televisions, which could cause the sets to melt. Sony is offering free repairs worldwide.
The Bravia defect is a blow to Sony’s struggling television business, which has long prided itself on quality while trying to keep up with lower-cost rivals.
Hackers appear to have tried to log in to Sony’s networks between Friday and Monday. Because many Web users use the same names and passwords for many sites and services, about 93,000 combinations matched. The company detected an unusual number of log-in attempts from particular addresses and decided to freeze the accounts involved. Sony notified account owners of a possible breach and asked them to reset passwords. No credit card or other sensitive data were stolen, Sony said.
