This is one of those stories where it’s perhaps best to just present the information and – like Moss in The IT Crowd – just walk away. Its an interesting one for sure, and suggests that the whole PlayStation Network hack story hasn’t quite run its course yet.
So, here’s the story.
Gamasutra is reporting this evening that a new class action lawsuit has appeared, alleging that Sony and its subsidiaries “fired a number of network security employees” just prior to the breach that compromised 100 million accounts.
“Sony sought to cut its costs at the expense of its customers by terminating a significant number of employees immediately prior to the security breach, including personnel responsible for maintaining the security of the network,” says the suit. The department that suffered was the so-called “Network Operations Center.”
Apparently, according to the report, Sony was aware that security was weak “because it had experienced hackings of sensitive data on a smaller scale prior to the massive security breach.”
TheSixthAxis has not seen these court documents.
tonycawley
Thought we already knew that Sony had laid of staff just prior to the hack? There were a load of rumours at the time that they were involved as the insiders, getting revenge for losing their jobs. I don’t really get the point of this news. Companies fire employees all the time, are we saying because they fired network security staff, the network was less secure?
Uhyve
Yes.
If security staff were considered necessary in order to protect user data, then removing those staff members meant that they no longer had the required personnel to keep the network secure.
Although really, it is kind of suspicious timing, and a hacking group has not come forward, so I wouldn’t be surprised if it was one of those employees who hacked the PSN. So in fact yes, firing those staff members may have made the network a LOT less secure.
BIGAL-1992
According to the documents, there was ample evidence that Sony had large-scale security for it’s coporate data, but not for it’s customer data.
Hoopiness
Wonder how disgruntled those let go were?
TSBonyman
from the same article.. “The plaintiffs are seeking actual damages in the amount paid for the equipment and network,”…can anyone explain that one to me? I would have thought Sony own the equipment and network so i don’t understand why the cost of it is included in the damages sought.
bunimomike
I’m just happy IT Crowd got a mention.
Moss: You best put seat belts on your ears, Roy, ’cause I’m going to take them for the ride of their life! :-D
R4U Eldave0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4R4IvZnlPH4 <3 !
Foxhound
Sods law….
DirtyHabit
Sod laws..?
Kitch
Welcome to litigation society. Sadly it is true that they laid off staff just before the breach. Sony are screwed on this one. The fact that the Japanese PSN is still not back on could be seen as a sign of security weakness.
Snakefingers13
Whilst a disgruntled member of network security probably would have had the know-how to hack the network, it strikes me that that would be the most obvious line of enquiry. They’d have had to do a damn good job of hiding the evidence…
We’ll see how this pans out…
Gaztee
Surely now Essex boy has been charged, we can all sue him too?? :0D How much a week did earn on his paper round?? :0D
CrawFail
*ahem* inside job *cough*
TSBonyman
It does sound a bit like when the twin tower security were laid off just before 911.. :o
CrawFail
Easy there, tinfoil fat.