Looks like earlier claims from collective Anonymous have come to fruition – several major Sony sites are currently down (looks like a DDoS attack) and the PSN has been, well, intermittent recently.
Sony.com and PlayStation.com look like the worse hit, but other sites are apparently targeted.
Sony’s statement regarding the PSN – that it’s “currently undergoing sporadic maintenance” and “access to the PSN may be interrupted throughout the day” seems a little disingenuous, but we’ll wait and see what happens.
Thanks, PlayStation Lifestyle.
quinkill
I think people are missing the point here. It’s about the freedom, to hack, to install other OS, to be creative with technology, so long as it doesn’t harm the company or third part devs. I accept that this is difficult to ‘police’ but the issue here is about how much control Sony should have over a product they sell to a consumer who then out right ‘owns’ that product. Its a confusing topic but for a better perspective on this type of issue please look at how Apple dealt with iPhone hacks (GeoHotz again). Apple dealt with the issue in a much more consumer friendly/freedom way and they still manage to fight the fight against piracy. Sony would do well to take a page out of Apple’s (Mac) Book.
Couldn’t resist the pun.
cc_star
I agree with your final sentence
The way Sony are accruing enemies is akin to a Katamari gathering objects at every turn.
quinkill
Well they are both Japanese…just kidding.
tantalus_blank
Uh, no they really shouldn’t. I like my ps3 to actually be compatible with things
quinkill
hehe, good one!
Sir Ken Kutaragi
Maybe they are p*ssed off because the ‘xBox 360’ is 3rd place worldwide now… ;-D
ArchAngel
Bad move anonymous, this type of behavior has the potential to cost Sony large amounts of money while simultaneously angering tens of thousands of gamers. This isn’t Gene Simmons. You better quite while you are ahead before Sony retaliates a la the Israeli operation Wrath of God. I am among the several thousand people who as of today would not have any problem with anyone involved with your group getting 15-20 in prison.
quinkill
Wow! we’ve caught ourselves a totalitarian. Why not try water-boarding too a la George Bush, then we could track down their base of operations in the west bank!
Did you feel as bad as I do writing this sick metaphor?
ArchAngel
If believing that people who break the law and infringe on others right to promote their own selfish interests should be punished then you got me. I am a complete totalitarian. These hackers are nothing more than adolescent thugs and should be tracked down and punished to the fullest extent of international law.
quinkill
Within the Law is fair. Comparing a response to Israel is not exactly within International Law, but I see where you’re coming from now.
lesscan
I have an idea! Lets hack into your house and lock all the doors so you and your family cant get in. Then we’ll lock your car so you cant use that either. Then we’ll make you spend thousands of dollars employing people to figure out how we did it and how to reverse it.
Would you be in favor of water boarding then?
yogh_wayne
So that’s why I couldn’t sign in on the playstation site all afternoon. Jackass actions like this are surely going to help a lot… What a bunch of stupid morons. Oh, and they’re now on my official “I hate you”-list (right next to their idol egohotz) :)
zb100
If it wasn’t for hackers & early days BBS services, we wouldn’t be HERE.
Boomshanks
Sometimes progress is made from war. Doesn’t justify the war though
quinkill
Agreed. Well said sir.
XisTG
I’m all for Anon to protest. Go, make yourselfs heard! Boycote Sony, stop buying their products, whatever! Just don’t do that by taking something from the everyday gamer. That makes you worse than your enemies.
Darksidesystems
I’d like to throw my ten cents into the ring here if I may. As a gamer and an all round fan of things that plug in and go “beep” I honestly do not care about these peoples rights to make homebrew doom or back-up their games. All I want is to be able to play CoD without cheating bastards and to know that everyone had to pay for their game just like I did. If that means that Sony have to take one of these hackers to the cleaners in court then so be it. Sorry if this offends anyones freedom of speech (which incidently we don’t have the right to in the UK…) but if you arse around with our gaming time then this becomes personal!
Uhyve
You know, the MW2 and blops cheats came out weeks before the Team Overflow hack? Your anger is misplaced, those were save game hacks.
Honestly, I’m quite angry that people care more about games than their rights, some things are just more important.
Darksidesystems
It’s very clear that you’re quite angry! I just meant in very general terms that I don’t want people to mess up others enjoyment of gadgets. If people want to experiment with stuff for whatever reason then lets just keep it on PC ok? We’re all geeks and proud of it. If you cut us do we not bleed? (and then post about it later in the forums…)
Sony Jim
I think this level of action taken by consumers is highly justified in the case of Sony. The legion of Anonymous is not the only consumer group looking at Sony Corporation and I would suggest that the worst is yet to come. There are boycotts being communicated to members of one of the largest consumer activist groups in the US and this is going to spread.
Most are focusing on Sony’s track record for poor ethics, IP theft, fraud, invasion of privacy, marketing of inappropriate content; including violence & pornography targeting youth, as well as their “legendary” anti-consumer nature.
I’m sorry for any innocent people & employees affected – but Sony deserves this and has little financial capacity to withstand a long drawn out battle with consumers.
Kitch
Just to be clear “Annonymous” are NOT hacking. A DDOS attack is just pinging a site until it crashes. They are not hacking the PSN. They hacked some banks to prove how bad the security was but they are not hacking PSN. Oh and they are not losers but some very intelligent people.
djhsecondnature
Granted not hacking no, but a DDOS attack is still illegal and damaging.
tantalus_blank
I’m a bit torn on the subject, but generally leaning towards Sony’s side. Yes, their treatment of Hotz is a little heavy handed, but what the hell did he expect after hacking the unhackable console? I’m not a hacker so I’m not an expert, but how many people really bought a ps3 to replace their computers? I installed yellowdog on my ps3 around 2008-2009, and the feature set and drivers were still incredibly limited. What is it that people want to do with otherOS? Run calculations using the cell power?
I’ll give it to them these hackers have a point – I understand the principal of it is the problem, but what are Sony supposed to do? Maybe they should have just turned a blind eye and watched the ps3 die prematurely as piracy ran rampant on the console
And the ruling will set a precedent, yes. Will it be made completely illegal to modify anything you’ve bought or will it only be so in the interest of preventing piracy? If someone burgles a house and hurts themselves, winning compensation; will all burglers be able to sue if they hurt themselves? I don’t know, I’m not a lawyer
Kitch
But taking away the other os didn’t stop the hack. So can we have it back now?
Darksidesystems
I like where you’re going with this :)
Boomshanks
I agree with everything you say here. Sony sure aren’t acting their best, which causes at lot of anger towards Sony. But what else can they do? If they had done nothing I’m quite sure piracy would’ve counted for millions in losses. We all know how fast Killzone 3, a flagship title was pirated and up for downloading.