Ben-DutkaOver the Christmas break, hackers attacked the PlayStation Network and brought it to its knees for several days.
But really, attacks aren't uncommon. In fact, they're a daily occurrence.
So says Sony boss Shuhei Yoshida, who told Game Informer this past week that it's a never-ending battle. While they continue to work to improve the system's stability and security, the hackers just never stop:
"We are always always working against these attacks," he said. "Actually, an attack happens every day. Literally every day. Some days are bigger and some days smaller. Some days they devise new means, new ways–it's like cat and mouse. We have a partner company we work with, and we always update the new ways the attacker might deploy; so it is a constant battle."
If you're into the world of cyber-security, you probably already knew this. Huge services like the PSN are constant targets; I often wonder how many attacks are leveled against the likes of eBay and Amazon on a daily basis. The more you learn about it, the less secure you feel.
Indeed they are. It's become terrible. I'm lectured near everyday about the massive problem cyber crime has become and it lands squarely in computer programmers domain.
When a future looks like this:
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2488077/emerging-technology/the-next-wave-of-cars-may-use-ethernet.html
To a world that behaves likes this:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/03/01/black-box-thieves-cars/5908355/
this:
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/can-the-f-35-be-hacked/
this:
http://www.dawn.com/news/1085702/hackers-may-hvae-used-pa-company-to-hit-target
Things can get a whole lot worse.
This is not a surprise at all. In fact, you *all* are daily attacked by automated attacks.
Have a look at the logs on your router/firewall (many modern routers mark the suspicious or dangerous requests) or put up a PC outside your firewall and scan the incoming traffic, and it's instant alarm bells.
Most of them are from PCs infected with trojans where the owner have no idea what goes on from their pc, or done by "script kiddies" that just runs pre-made software searching for known vulnerabilities without really knowing what goes on.
But more "intelligent attacks", especially from the east and in particular Russia, is just plain common.
Either way, it's really quite depressing and even shocking to see the amount of network traffic today that is just pure malicious *junk*.
Last edited by Beamboom on 3/7/2015 1:55:54 PM
The real reason Sony decided to tie online multiplayer access to the PSN for PS4 users: they needed an ongoing revenue tool fund network defence.
Real hackers should be tracked down, lashed up to an chain link fence, slowly skinned, then electrocuted.
If they put as much time and effort into something constructive instead of purely destructive they'd be able to make a lot of money, probably w/ less effort too.
Every network is under constant attack at any given moment. That's why network security is a full time job!
thats true no wonder its a big industry
well i'm glad that they are countering the attacks and that they are getting others(another patner company) to help them not to mention its good PR but its sad that hackers are trying to take down psn everyday thats pritty low, but i'm happy they are doing something about it
happy gaming
Yeah this isn't a unique thing, and PSN and XBL aren't attacked nearly as frequently as places like Google, FB, Yahoo etc.
Perhaps part of the reason Sony decided to tie online multiplayer access to the PSN for PS4 users: they wanted/needed an ongoing revenue tool fund network defence, among other things.