An Internet security expert uncovers "a potential bonanza for hackers."

Reuters: Expert Finds "Security Flaws in Sony's Networks" - PS3 News at IGN


If a report from news organization Reuters is any indication, Sony's overall Internet security is lacking far beyond the confines of the PlayStation Network, Qriocity music service and Sony Online Entertainment servers.

Reuters has concluded that "Sony Corp's computer networks remain vulnerable to attack three weeks after the company learned that it had been victim of one of the biggest data breaches in history, according to an Internet security expert." That security expert is John Bumgarner, chief technology officer of the partially government-funded U.S. Cyber Consequences Unit. And the flaws Bumgarner found in Sony's Internet security -- and how he found them -- are startling.

As stated by Reuters, Bumgarner "had viewed only parts of Sony's network that were visible over the Internet, and did not attempt to break in to password-protected sites or exploit any vulnerabilities." Rather, all Bumgarner did is use Google to find a series of servers, files and other sensitive areas where data might be stored, things that shouldn't be available to the average Internet user. He calls it "Google hacking," and he was able to find a series of weaknesses, many of which Sony has since fixed (due to Reuters informing Sony of the possible security issues). Reuters referred to his findings as "a potential bonanza for hackers… using little more than a web browser."

Bumgarner concluded to Reuters that "no one should be able to point a web browser at Sony and see a security management console or find their identity management system that has been indexed by Google." Yet, that's exactly what Bumgarner was able to do. Another Internet security expert, Mikko Hypponen of the computer security company F-Secure, went even further when speaking with Reuters about Sony's lack of Internet security and what the company is attempting to do to fix it. "[Sony has] been running around in circles for the past three weeks," he told the news agency.

Thoughts everyone? Could things possibly get any worse for Sony after this bit of news?

I wonder if sony is going under

this is sad and dangerous!

HMM. COS YOUR PERSONAL DETAlLS ARE SAFE ON PSN.

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Sony is not going under. This is just a bump in the road.

More of a crater in the highway of smoothness.

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Yeah, this is not just a bump. Third parties have lost/will lose a lot of money alone, you honestly think Sony is going to be ok after this? You sound like one of their PR people. This is a big problem.

I hope they can come out without having to fire many of people and make to many cuts....

Well guys let me just say this.

-Sony lost 4.5 billion in the 4 years after ps3 launched

-PSP had a nice start, then withered. The latest iteration of PSP - the GO - failed hard. It was bad. Their latest cell phone game thingy has very bad software sales. Their portable branch is in ruins

-6 months ago Sony said they expect PSN to finally turn profitable - and now this. A very bad hack, and now a total rebuild with no end in site.

-Sony hit harder than some by the earthquake in Japan - may have to close down some facilities during the summer with power outages.

-Huge frustration with game publishers who rely on PSN transactions to fund their PSN support

- Sony gonna have to compensate them, Capcom is going off abut it in public.Imagine what it is like behind closed doors.

And that means huge public fallout - that means online shooter fans deserting PSN, that means getting booed at e3, this Network thing will cast a death pall over their entire conference. Sony has lost incredible cash and serious face this generation.

I wonder if the NGP itself is not in a state of flux right now....will it even launch this year?

I half agree with you.
They most likely wont go under, but this is defenently worse than a bump.

Added after 2 minutes:

Also note Sony doesnt only make video games, they make plenty of other stuff as well, which would help. They wont go under, but at the same time it will take a long time to recover.

Sony's road.



JK. I love Sony and Kevin Buttler is my godfather.

what if they close their game division

that what I am talking about!