I received and email from Sony Computer Entertainment and Sony Network Entertainment informing me of the following:

Valued PlayStation(R)Network/Qriocity Customer:

We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011,
certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account
information was compromised in connection with an illegal and
unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this
intrusion, we have:


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 rebuilding our system to provide you
with greater protection of your personal information.

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

Although we are still investigating the details of this incident,
we believe that an unauthorized person has obtained the following
information that you provided: name, address (city, state, zip), country,
email address, birthdate, PlayStation Network/Qriocity password and login,
and handle/PSN online ID. 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. 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 at this time that credit
card data was taken, we cannot rule out the possibility. If you have
provided your credit card data through PlayStation Network or Qriocity,
out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit
card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have
been obtained.

Just lovely .

I'm considering closing my account and opening a new one. Or, at the very least, changing logon and passwords...if that's even possible? I know I can change my passwords but I'm not sure about the logon.

Updated Article: PlayStation Network Credit Card Data Encrypted, Sony Says

This alleviates some of my worry...it all depends on the strength of the encryption used to protect the credit card data though .

I have a monthly subscription to Netflix which is tied to my PS3 for streaming movies and is paid with my Visa Debit card. Would this be affected ? Other than that, everything I've ever paid for through the PlayStation Network was done with Gift Cards.

This happens every now and then. When my CC details were stolen it was a CC verification company that lost all its card details. back then e.g. DVD Pacific used it. At least Visa is insured so you cant lose the money. But if you have a credit card, you should always pay close attention to your bills. No matter where you've used your card. ATM's might have cloning devices, stores might be compromised or you could just be robbed in the street.

Quoting 8ballMax:

Quote:
Sony

I found it very funny. If a 77 billion multinational media conglomerate corporation and leading manufacturer of electronics can't secure online security. Who can?

Even though my Netflix account is linked to my PS3 for streaming movies, I just checked and the actual Visa Debit card info is not stored on the PlayStation Network but at Netflix. That takes a load off. I've only used Visa Gift cards or PSN Gift cards on PSN so I've nothing to worry about in that regard since all of those cards have $0.00 balances or at the most only a few cents left on them.

Well if you ever need any more evidence that Sony sold the there Playstation brand down the river to get Blu-ray off the grown, then here it is. The truth is though i hardly think they care.  Nintendo are in 2 months time, going to unveil there next gen console. That will lunch them back into contention with the so called hardcore gaming crowd.

Given the almighty war chest Nintendo have amassed from the Wii. The gaming equivalent of the US military budget, and the best by far first party titles.

I don't see it getting any better for Sony. And possibly dare i say it the end of the Playstation brand at the end of the PS3's console life.