Dubai, UAE, April 28, 2011 - Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment today announced their sincere regret that PlayStation Network and Qriocity services have been suspended due to an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into their network. A total of 1,093,000 is estimated to be the number of Middle East account holders, and 27,000 of them with credit cards. UAE having 250,000 account holders, 14,000 of them with credit cards, Oman 10, 000, Kuwait 90,000 and 500 of which are credit card holders, Bahrain 26,000, Lebanon 21,000, Qatar 46,000 and Saudi Arabia 650,000 account holders and 12,500 with credit cards.  Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment stated that they are working around the clock to bring them both back online. Efforts to resolve this matter involves re-building their system to further strengthen the network infrastructure. Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment have been attacked by malicious externally parties, determined to victimize and exploit both SCE as a business and PlayStation fans.

Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment responded as soon as they spotted the intrusion; they have turned off PSN and Qriocity services, immediately engaged an outside, recognised, security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation and took steps to enhance security and strengthen the network by re-building the system.  As soon as they knew that personal details had been compromised, they contacted all PSN consumers directly, as well as posting the information throughout their communication channels.

Sony Network Entertainment and Sony Computer Entertainment stated that there is no evidence that credit card data was taken. Although they are still investigating the details of this incident, it is believed that an unauthorized person has obtained the following information that PlayStation Network and Qriocity users provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country, email address, birth date, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password, login, and handle/PSN online ID. It is also possible that profile data may have been obtained; including purchase history and billing address (city, state, zip). This unauthorized person will have obtained the same data for authorized sub-accounts. If a consumer had provided credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity, it is possible that this credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may also have been obtained.

They have no information PlayStation Network account information has been improperly used. Nonetheless, to protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss, they encourage consumers to remain vigilant, review their account statements and monitor their credit reports.  Additionally, if a consumer uses the same user name or password for his or her PlayStation Network or Qriocity service account for other unrelated services or accounts, they strongly recommend that the consumer change the information for those accounts.  When the PlayStation Network and Qriocity services are back on line, they also strongly recommend that consumers log on to change their passwords. Sony will not contact consumers in any way, including by email, asking for credit card number, social security number or other personally identifiable information. If consumers are asked for this information, they can be confident Sony is not the entity asking.

Once they have spotted the intrusion, they temporarily turned off PSN and Qriocity services and immediately conducted a full and complete investigation. As soon as they knew that personal details had been compromised, they contacted all PSN consumers directly, as well as posting the information throughout their communication channels.

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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.

For more information, please contact
Lina Abou Chaaban
PlayStation Division, Sony Gulf FZE
Tel: +971 4 886 5662
E-mail: lina.chaaban@ap.sony.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/PlayStationME?ref=ts
Twitter: http://twitter.com/PlayStation_ME

Vivian Hawat
Ketchum Raad
Tel: +971 4 425 8976
E-mail: vivian.hawat@ketchum-raad.com  

© Press Release 2011