Should PlayStation Plus subscribers expect better?

MMGN writes: If there’s anything to learn from the PlayStation Network’s outage overnight, it’s that the internet really can be a cesspool of unfledged, self-proclaimed superiority. Bringing down a network for the sake of proving it can be taken down is antithetical in its purpose: there’s still a damaging component that attempts to initiate change through an application of fear. In a political context, we consider that to be “terrorism”: while terrorism has no legally binding definition, we broadly define “cyber-terrorism” as acts of deliberate, large-scale disruption of computer networks.

[nicksetzer1]

As long as personal info is secure, I am happy. Can't really protect fully against DDoS without compromising stability. Happy with PS+. I gotta say if MS was really hit by that same DDoS attack, I am impressed, it didn't go down for me or any of my friends and was only listed as limited for like 30 minutes. My PS4 still isn't back up, again not really a fault of Sony's though, fault goes to the no life hackers.

[iamnsuperman]

A DDOS attack wouldn't put your personal information at risk but I think Sony is being cautious (something the author has forgotten) as DDOS attack can be used to mask other, more malicious, hacks. At the end of the day protecting fully against a DDOS attack is almost impossible it just depends on how intense or extreme the group has decided to do. I wouldn't call these guys hackers. Just opportunist

[Mr Pumblechook]

Also this BS 'teach Sony' message doesn't come from a place of wanting to help gamers have a good service. Sounds more like haters who are upset at the PlayStation's recent success. I wonder what console they like playing...

[MasterCornholio]

Sony did say that they wer just being careful by shutting down the servers. I dont blame them especially after that nasty hack that PSN had several years ago.

@pumble

Thats to be expected especially after the other two failed to achieve anywhere near the PS4s sales levels. And we can't forget about the negative press and nightmare PR incidents as well. I'm not surprised if a butt hurt fanboy staged an attack against PSN due to how bitter they are. But then again there were other targets besides PSN which makes me question this theory.

[MeliMel]

@pumble, master c,

Lol, that you guys think hackers attacked psn because the other two consoles are not selling as well. Im guessing they attacked XBL, because XB1 has to many apps.

[andibandit]

@MasterCornholio

" I'm not surprised if a butt hurt fanboy staged an attack against PSN"

LMAO

[DLConspiracy]

@cornhol @pumble

Even though hackers use PCs to do these types of things. Seems a bit ridiculous. Let's not go there.

[Gazondaily]

You lot need to stop making excuses on behalf of Sony. DDOS or hacking, whatever it is, Sony (and everyone else) should have better safeguards to prevent services like this getting disrupted by relatively simple attacks.

Yes, all subscribers to services such as Xbox Live and PS Plus should expect better. Yes the people responsible for these attacks are prats but that doesn't absolve these companies for having a more robust system in place.

[MasterCornholio]

I guess people missed this part of my comment.

"But then again there were other targets besides PSN which makes me question this theory."

ROFL I never said I believed it I just find the theory questionable.

LOL

So funny that people don't read the whole comment before replying to it.

@anditbandit

Well I've seen crazier things than that. So I wouldn't be surprised if someone takes their anger out on Sony this way. Crazy people are capable of anything.

@DL

I know they hack from PCs but just because you own a PC doesn't mean that you game on it. Like I said they attacked other services which is why I question the theory.

[nicksetzer1]

Ummm, I am aware, a DDoS attack wouldn't release my personal info, hence saying "as long as my personal info is safe" .....

[fr0sty]

" Lizard Squad @LizardSquad · 6h

Sup XBL Login, just performing tests."

Hmm... I dunno... Should they? XBL was having issues earlier with just "tests", so are they any better off? What about all those PC games and services brought down? Now they're even claiming to have brought down Vatican City.

[Lawboy2]

What issues...why do ppl keep saying this....at what point did xbox live go down....can anybody show me where xbox live was DOWN.....and b4 someone says limited..that is not down

[Clown_Syndr0me]

Without compromising stability? I'm sorry bit PSN in my experience, has been far from stable.

[MRMagoo123]

What problems have you faced ? I havent had a problem even once before this ddos attack. What about pc, I have had loads of troubles with battle.net and they get way more money from subs, they still got ddos attacked, money doesnt make it go away.

[Clown_Syndr0me]

Cant comment on PC, dont game there. PSN has always been dreadfully slow for me, on PS3 and PS4. Ive lived in 3 different houses with same problems. It has improved though since PS3 launch, drastically, so I have to give them that.

Edit: I live in the middle of the city and are in the top 5 fastest internet speeds in the UK. Friends complain of similar problems, but others say its okay. I think its a bit temperamental, its not bad enough to annoy me except when I first boot up the PS4 and it takes 3-4 mins to load my friends list.

[Aceman18]

PSN has always been quick for me, but I Guess living in a major metro area like NYC we should have good service.

This was done just to annoy ppl, and it happens to every company in the world.

[URNightmare]

I've been playing on PSN since February 2007 and my experience online has never been unstable. I don't understand where ppl get this idea from. This gen, Xbox Live has been unstable as hell and nobody says anything. Just go and check how many times they've had that "issues signing in and limited services" message up in their website.

[TruthInsider]

Should Xbox Fans too because their network was down too?

[wsoutlaw87]

According to their twiter the xbox attack was just a test not the full attack yet but hopefully they are stopped before they do anything else. There really is no point to anything they are doing, no one is impressed with them or cares who they are.

[SpadeX]

I only should expect better network security. Our money spent on those subscriptions should be taken advantage of for at least security updates. Everything else is perfect for me.

[Smitty2020]

Full of tossers in our world today

[sin7279]

full of trolls and stupid articles JESUS!

[Paprika]

Sony being careful shutting down servers makes little sense. So they shut down for a few days ... I guess they are safe then right? Hackers won't give up?

Sad world we live in... they should be focusing on corrupt governments and secret projects hidden from us.... not gaming stuff...

[Aceman18]

One would think they'd use those supposed skills to better use. These ppl are absolute losers imo.

[HanzoHattori]

Any network that is connected to millions of users that the administrator(s) does not control is vulnerable to a DDoS attack. Anyone who thinks otherwise is either poorly informed or completely delusional.

This article is nonsense.

[ConfettiYeti]

The people that keep saying we should expect more from Sony really don't understand how a DDOS attack works, even after it has been explained. Just like with any kind of ballon or vessel there is only so much quantity or pressure it can with stand till it pops. Same with PSN, I'm glad that Sony took the right precaution and shut things down to keep its customers safe. Because a DDOS can be a cover up for something more malicious. That allowed the guys in charge of the infrastructure to keep focused on anything else that may have been tried.

Good job Sony, this is the kind of action I like to see following that disaster a few years back.

[JasonBloodbourne]

these losers have had their five mins of fame now can we stop fuelling their egos with these articles and just forget about these plums?

[Spotie]

What should we expect Sony to do here?

[maniacmayhem]

Better security and better response time in fixing these types of situations so their paying customers can have a service that is up and running more than most of the time.

I mean shouldn't you be concerned especially with Sony making this big digital push with PSNow. Imagine if another DDoS attack happens while PSNow is fully up and running?

Funny how you have no answers for Sony but I can bet if this was MS you would have provided more than enough expert(troll)advice on what to do.

[AntsPai]

I was thinking yesterday that I'd be pretty annoyed if I had a game on PSNow when the outahge happened, PlayStation Plus I don't mind so much, at least I could still play offline.

I pity anyone who had a 24hr rental off PSNow before this happened.

[its_JEFF]

Ugh... it becomes terrorism when a plane gets re-routed. I really hope these guys can hide themselves very well, because the moment they touched the plane is when the moved to terrorism territory and the FBI/Homeland security. I don't give a rip about the DDoS attack if that was all that it was, but the plane thing... too far, I hope they get what they deserve.

[vongruetz]

I expect more from people. Why someone, or some group, would go out of their way to block other from enjoying a service is beyond me. Sony isn't killing people. Sony isn't harming the world. Sony is not an evil company. They are selling video games and providing a service to allow people to play together.

If you want to make a statement and attack a corporation, pick a company more deserving of it than going after the PlayStation Network. Pathetic.

[OrangePowerz]

Not really anything you can do against those attacks and it wasn't only PSN that was down.

[Sm00thNinja]

I believe they should be better prepared but they did a much better job of informing the gamers of what exactly was going on. Remember when they were hit with the compromising attack they took several days to even tell the consumer their credit card info had possibly been compromised!! I felt they handled the situation better given the circumstances.

[Dynasty2021]

I'd say yes.

So far this year, I've gotten maybe one game for free I actually wanted.

Not only have I yet to get my value out of it, as online should be free as it is on PC, now this happens again.

That money should be put into protection against the kind of crap. Infrastructural investment etc.

[OrangePowerz]

A DDos attack can't be prevented no matter how much money you invest. Any server infrastructure will go down if you hammer them with requests.

[its_JEFF]

DDoS attack happens on the ISP side... it is their pipelines getting clogged with junk. I don't think a lot of people really know what a DDoS attack is, it's easy enough to google. I'm had no idea what a DDoS attack was a few years ago... so I googled it because I would like to know for myself rather than taking the word of someone on a gaming forum.

[D-riders]

Yeah author needs more info. I work for an insurance company and you better believe their is tight security here. Any outside email can cripple the system with a ddos attack. So we are blocked from using external

[Roccetarius]

If their reasoning was showing people, that they have little control over digital games, then maybe it would be something.

What they did it for was a waste of time.

[arbitor365]

PS plus offers one of the best values in gaming. whether or not sony uses the profits from it specifically to improve security, it has NOTHING to do with the merit of the service.

[1nsomniac]

Yes, not just for security reasons but for network speed. PSN is the slowest network currently on all consoles (including Nintendo from what I've been told). The given reason for the introduction of the PS+ Charge was to increase security & performance of the network & in typical Sony fashion it's taking them far, far too long. Any other company & heads would roll for the length of time it takes them to implement anything!

[snarls200]

it has been less than a year

[Maxor]

I wish they would launch an attack that would remove all the crap indie games on the PS4 with retail ones. That's what I really want for my money.

[smashs]

Of course but you brainwashed fanboys accept anything.

[sanosukegtr123]

Good will always prevail.

[system22]

i sincerely don't mean this to take sides here but I've had way more problems on the playstation network over xbl. not to say xbl hasn't had its own problems, but i've had too many emails from sony saying to change my passwords, my credit card info may have been exposed, etc etc, and now a DDoS attack which isn't as scary but still frustrating. i'm not judging psn so much as just wanting it to get more robust in terms of protection and performance. its important to note that these are also just my own personal experiences and may not reflect the experiences of the user base at large.

that said... this DDoS thing pisses me off. Not even because of the service being down, but for the fact that some other group of people took it upon themselves to punish sony because they felt they weren't doing things the way this group wanted them done. so... if i don't like the way you run your finances i can just take it upon myself to keep you from going to work until you do things my way? we live in a time of self-declared importance and entitlement. its sickening and frustrating.

[RosweeSon]

It's called a summer drought what else is there that they can give away for free other than GTA5, think they've been more than generous so far and once all this years new versions of games arrive all of last years will be heading to ps+ happy days.