Sony CEO Howard Stringer today told 8,360 shareholders at Sony's annual shareholders meeting in Tokyo that the hacking attacks against PSN were a result of the company defending its IP. "We believe that we first became the subject of attack because we tried to protect our IP, our content, in this case videogames," he said.
During the meeting, shareholders asked him to step down in the wake of falling stock value and consumer trust. Stock has fallen 16 per cent since April 26, the day before the first attack was revealed, but Stringer maintained that trust in Sony's brand is returning, with user numbers returning to 90 per cent of their former level. Given that PSN is still down in Japan, this claim can only refer to the situation in US and Europe.
"I think you see that cyber terrorism is now a global force, affecting many more companies than just Sony," Stringer said. "If hackers can hack Citibank, the FBI and the CIA, and yesterday the video game company Electronics Arts, then it's a negative situation that governments may have to resolve."
Sony is also facing a class-action suit which claims the company didn't do enough to protect its customers' data, with the claim that the company recently laid off a "substantial percentage" of its online security staff.
Visit our topics page for all our news on the ongoing PSN breach saga.
Source: Reuters
Comments
3I returned to claim my free game so I could try out a 3D game on my TV. They are never having my credit card details again.
I returned as it wasn't their fault, and I feel secure storing my details online. Without my Security code for my card they can't use it and Sony didn't store that on their system. I was enticed back by the lure of free games and PS+ which allowed me to save my games and purchase a new PS3, meaning I lost nothing. I see no reason why people wouldn't go back, its safer now than it ever was before and they were using it happily then.
"Without my Security code for my card they can't use it"
Not true. Many online retailers allow you to use credit/debit cards to make purchases without using the 3 digit security code.
"PS+ which allowed me to save my games and purchase a new PS3"
Can you explain how you got a free PS3 out of PS+ cause I'm next in line for that.
I'm still a PSN user since it's free but I will not store a credit card on there ever again. Point cards are the best way to go now.