Sony PlayStation hack hits over 700,000 Australians

SONY'S PlayStation hacking incident has affected around 715,000 local consumers, in one of the largest security and privacy breaches ever to hit Australian shores.

With credit card details amongst the information that could have been stolen by hackers, the NSW Police fraud squad advises users to check with their issuing bank before deciding whether to cancel their cards.

The Australian Federal Police has warned that if customers' personal data was hosted offshore, it would not be protected by Commonwealth law.

However, banks have been quick to allay fears, saying customers will be compensated for any "genuine fraud cases".

As reported earlier, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia said personal details such as names, billing and email addresses, and birthdays is among the information that hackers may have acquired during the security breach, which occurred between April 17 and April 19.