800°

Hackers run up debt for PlayStation user

This week’s PlayStation Network drama continues to get worse, as an Australian gamer points the finger at Sony in what might be the first documented case of fraud related to the unauthorised intrusion.

5164d ago Replies(7)
Nitrowolf25164d ago (Edited 5164d ago )

"Including domestic flights within Australia, bookings at Best Westerns [hotels] and what not.”

Can't they get this guy then? I mean there are cameras and such at airports aren't there so at least they should have an idea of what he looks like right?

Also $2000 sounds like a lot for a hacker to use after such a short time.

dotarray5164d ago

Exactly. There's also the question of whether or not the PSN hackers are based in Australia - and if they're not, why they are booking local flights and hotels in that country.

iamnsuperman5164d ago

The method of fraud suggest that they only have a few numbers because of the large amount. Otherwise smaller amounts from multiple accounts would have been used. It could also be just to ruin Sony. I know conspiracy but hear me out. 2000 on domestic flights when the bank believe it to come from America sounds really odd. Seams like there just burning this guys money.

It could also be a coincidence

ELite_Ghost5164d ago

We need L from Death note :D!!

jjohan355164d ago

The guy probably got caught with ridiculous charges on his credit card bill by his wife and now he's blaming Sony.

HSx95163d ago

Since obviously common sense doesnt kick in to 12 year old N4G users you would have never assumed that the PSN hacker sold the card's details to an organized group... Also the credit card details were not encrypted even the hackers said it in their chatlog and showed how the PS3 read it and sent it fully unencrypted...

Bodster5163d ago

If the hacker was smart enough to hack the PSN and get CC info then surely they would be smart enough to know not to spend a big amount of money using someone elses card in such a short space of time...

BlackTar1875163d ago (Edited 5163d ago )

HSX9 please link us. I really want a confirmed artcle for CC theft . I want it to be spelled out for me so we can make sure not to have Jargon.

please link us . I also want to know how you know this as fact and not the rest of the world. With the wya things are being done with Journalist on this topic i am very skeptical that something so proven like you say hasn;t been put on BBC/NBC/CNN yet

didn't sony themselves say the CC info was encrypted? Are they lying or are you just reading and believing the first thing you hear?

Please respond i want a nice conversation full of facts not name calling and propaganda.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 5163d ago
frostypants5163d ago (Edited 5163d ago )

The fact that the charges are all in Australia makes it even LESS likely it has anything to do with the PSN issue.

Unless the hacker just happened to be Australian, AND on top of that, of the millions upon millions of credit card numbers he'd have if CC data WAS stolen, he'd just happen to pick a fellow Aussie's card?

Unlikely. More likely it was either stolen from a local Aussie website, or when he used it in a restaurant or something. Stealing credit card info offline is MUCH easier than getting it via hacking.

People like to whine and moan about online CC security, but in reality, we risk our CC security EVERY SINGLE TIME we hand our credit card to someone in a retail store or restaurant. Even if they only hold it for a few seconds, someone who is even marginally good at memorizing numbers can easily get all the info. That's where the vast majority of fraud originates. Finding someone's address is a mundane task.

gaden_malak5163d ago

So far I've heard issues in:

America
Germany
Australia

This guy sure can travel

metsgaming5164d ago (Edited 5164d ago )

70 + million accounts thats alot. Even if this didnt happen im sure many of them get hit with cc fraud. This maybe the cause but lets not jump to conclusions if a few people claim cc fraud, it happens alot already.

If you take even 10 million random people i wonder what the % who have cc fraud going on recently.

Dac2u5164d ago

You're right, I guarantee Sony gets at least a few calls every day about someone having fraudulent charges. Visa and Mastercard, have far more calls every day. What are the chances that just a few of those callers own a PS3? Of course, they're going to automatically link their fraudulent charges to this PS3 issue.

It's not a bad idea to protect yourself and get a new card and whatnot, but so far there's no evidence that any of these new cases are a result of the PSN break-in.

badboy8085164d ago

something is wierd about all of this

iamnsuperman5164d ago

what hacker gets the information and then uses it to buy 2000 stuff on it. My bank will be like this is odd. It is either the guy sold it on to stupid people or this hacker is stupid

SuicideShaun5163d ago

If one hacker can breach a multibillion dollar corporations security and force them to shut their network down, I would rule out him being "stupid".

BlackTar1875163d ago

I with shaun. I don;t think they would go out and buy stuff of that value so quick i don;t know. Im no expert i just want proof from all the posters caliming they have all this information that the rest of the world doesn't have yet.

Confirmed proof please 100% not speculation

THC CELL5164d ago

Bs he has a ps3 and he just happens to blame ps3 before anything. Stupid media again.. I will tell u one more time I was hacked from a high street store and on other sites

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170°

Sony Aims To Sell 15 Million PS5 Units This Year, but Is Shifting Focus to Monthly Active Users

Sony CEO Hiroki Totoki and CFO Lin Tao talked about the state of the PlayStation business and the strategy and targets going forward, including how they're responding to the tariffs.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com
1Victor33d ago

I wonder how the USA tariffs war will affect that projection. 🤔

S2Killinit33d ago (Edited 33d ago )

I think they take that into consideration when they announce their projections. Currently, after the xbox price increase, the PRO is cheaper than the series x! That is ridiculous, and it can’t last.

darthv7233d ago

you keep saying that but the price of a PS5 Pro is S699.99 (US) and the price of a Series X is $599.99 (US)

S2Killinit33d ago (Edited 33d ago )

The series x with 2 TB storage space is more expensive than PS5 PRO which also has 2 TB storage space.

darthv7233d ago (Edited 33d ago )

Oh so you are pitting a regular Pro with a special edition X... got it. If you are going so far as trying to compare apples to apples... please add in the optical drive and stand to the Pro. Seeing as the X has both of those by default.

I will help you if you are unable to do so.
PS5 Pro 2tb: $699.99, Optical Drive: $79.99, Stand: $29.99 = $809.97
Xbox Series X Galaxy Black Special Edition 2TB: $729.99

33d ago
S2Killinit32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

The PS5 PRO has 2TB storage. The series X with 2TB storage and much weaker, is… more expensive! So yeah, Im pointing out that fact.

Also, the PRO does not require a stand.

Ps: regular series 2TB is $749 (where did u get 729?)

darthv7232d ago

Its right here on the official XB site: https://www.xbox.com/en-US/...

Okay, so no stand for the Pro, but you might still want the optical drive. So $779.98 vs $729.99. A properly outfitted Pro is still more $$ than a 2tb X.

S2Killinit32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

Do I need to mention that the series x is not nearly as powerful as the PS5 PRO?

And no, the PS5 PRO runs just fine without a drive, and people don’t have to buy the drive right away, assuming they want it.

+ Show (4) more repliesLast reply 32d ago
drivxr33d ago

I wonder why they are shifting focus to MAU.

RaiderNation33d ago

Because that's where the real money is made, in microtransactions.

Profchaos33d ago (Edited 33d ago )

People are spending less time playing is a typical trigger for this.

The less time spent playing the less likely you are to spend more money on games and services including subs or even the next console.

Increased engagement equals more money.

33d ago
DarXyde33d ago

Same reason Microsoft does it: it looks better to investors and it's a solution when unit sales slow down.

Personally, I'm not a fan of this metric; and by using it, you're kind of signaling that you're moving into the "This is a PlayStation" era.

Z50133d ago

Because the PS4 also has users and not necessarily sales

Obscure_Observer31d ago

"I wonder why they are shifting focus to MAU."

Because they´d finally realized that MS wasn´t wrong after all.

+ Show (3) more repliesLast reply 31d ago
33d ago
33d ago
310°

Sony Announces Large Profits Growth for PlayStation; Expects Further Wins in Current Fiscal Year

Sony announced its financial results for the fiscal year 2024, and things are certainly looking up, despite a decline in PS5 sales.

Read Full Story >>
simulationdaily.com
CrimsonWing6934d ago

Expect sh*t to slow down if prices aren’t kept in check.

Redgrave34d ago

Who downvotes the truth?

Even PSN itself is too damn high.jpg

S2Killinit33d ago

Gamepass is already at 20$ per month if im not mistaken.

toxic-inferno33d ago

@neutralgamer1992

Not all of us. I'm a big PlayStation fan, and have been since the PSOne. But I can't begin to defend what's happening currently.

At least Nintendo release a large number of games from their major franchises. Sony is just not banking on their established franchises, and yet are raising prices. Not great.

S2Killinit33d ago

Im pretty sure we are going to see a price increase for PRO. I mean think about it, its currently cheaper than xbox series x! That cannot last.

Eonjay33d ago

I'm absolutely sure we will not see a price increase. I don't think we should 'expect' to see price increase because it just adds validity to what Nintendo and Microsoft have done.

darthv7233d ago (Edited 33d ago )

Sorry to pop that bubble but the Pro is not cheaper than a series x... generally speaking (like you are). It is cheaper than one specific version, and doing so by not including the optical drive and stand like the X has by default.

So keep on trying to convince people you are right when everyone knows it's quite the opposite. A stock Pro is $699.99 and a stock X is $599.99. A special edition galactic black 2tb X is $729.99. And if you really want to compare apples to apples... adding the aforementioned optical drive and stand brings that Pro to $809.97 and then they would be on equal footing.

Twisting truths to fit a narrative... I expect better from you S2.

S2Killinit32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

The PS5 PRO has 2TB storage. And the series X with 2TB is more expensive. Which in my opinion is insane conseidering how much more powerful the PRO is. The PS5PRO does not need a stand, it can be used without a stand.

TheKingKratos34d ago

So the Pro is not offering any push in sales at all ?

CrashMania33d ago

It's still an expensive, niche product ultimately. And they exceeded their sales projections for units sold by half a million.

lawox33d ago

"18.5 million units have been shipped during the full fiscal year. This is actually ahead of the 18 million units target set by the company."

They beat their yearly estimate. It's not broken down by device, but it's clearly performing well enough. Since it's been released it's consistently been the second best selling SKU on Amazon only after the the Slim with disc.

33d ago
Bathyj33d ago

18 million a year is in the toilet?
I remember when 10 was considered good
Hell Microsoft would take that right now.
Probably pay $100b for it.

33d ago
BeHunted33d ago

If their profits fall next quarter, we'll probably see more price hikes. I can't imagine having to pay £20 a month for PlayStation Plus.

S2Killinit33d ago

I think gamepass is already paying that much.

33d ago
drivxr33d ago (Edited 33d ago )

Decline in hardware sales.
Behind on lifetime sales and decline in first party sales.
Third party content and PSN came through to save the day.
Things will improve starting with the next Ghost game.

Hopefully a steady flow of first party content by end of '25

rlow133d ago (Edited 33d ago )

I guess you get downvoted for stating facts from Sony’s own lips. What I’m curious about is what their top games of the year were and how much Xbox games contributed to the increase?

CrashMania33d ago

Well, generally 3rd party publisher games contribute the most anyway, so no different to capcom, EA and so on contributing to this figure.

lawox33d ago

That's because the report is actually really good.

They beat the console sales estimate that they set last year March, they have increased users both due to the record numbers of PS4 users and strong PS5 sales which is leading to great profits in sales and user spend.

This report is about the financial health of the PlayStation brand and as a platform PlayStation is stronger than ever. Heck they even have Microsoft putting their biggest franchises on the platform.

33d ago
S2Killinit32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

Well, the facts in the article are positive. Nothing wrong with his comment, but in my opinion it doesn't correctly indicate all the facts and nuances that give context to the reality of things. I downvoted for that only.

Make sense?

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 32d ago
Lightning7733d ago

This is exactly what happened to Xbox year's ago. They had no first party and started seeing decline in 1st party sales, which effected their third party games which eventually effected their console sales. A slow decline across the board.

Calm down PS fans I'm not saying PS is becoming like old Xbox. I'm showing examples of the importance of first party output. Look how Xbox finally has compelling first party and things are on a up swing(despite years going on a downswing). I know thanks to PS releases which helps a ton, (which is why Xbox hardware only dropped 6% instead of 30+% like it usually does) The point still stands despite what Genz Trends may go, first party and compelling games sell hardware and software still. Sony's financial quarter is an example of this, of what lower First party output looks like.

No matter they'll be right back on track in due time any time especially with DS2 (not my type of game but I know many like it) and Yotei. They're not Xbox and let things get bad for so many years on end.

crazyCoconuts33d ago

"I'm showing examples of the importance of first party output. "
First party is mostly relevant for the sole purpose of creating EXCLUSIVES that are needed to stay competitive. With Xbox consoles collapsing and no more Xbox exclusives, first party is way less important. PlayStation as a platform now has free reign to profit without the high expense of needing exclusive first party titles.

red2tango33d ago

Sony has been very lazy with 1st party games compared to the PS4 era. And even the PS4 era was nothing compared to the PS3 era in terms of games.

S2Killinit32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

We have Ghost and Intergalactic coming. And then Marathon which is not exclusive to PlayStation. I think Covid and that chip shortage put a speedbump in game development because game manufacturers dont want even more risk that their game will arrive to too little hardware, but the games are starting to show up.

Lightning7733d ago

"With Xbox consoles collapsing and no more Xbox exclusives, first party is way less important."

Absolutely not. If that was the case then Nintendo would put Mario on Sega Genesis and Sonic on Super Nintendo. I know things are way different 30+ years later but not much has really changed in terms of exclusives and their impact on hardware. Especially early in the console life cycle.

Sony made all the money this quarter handover fist. Profits isn't a issue for them right now. I was just saying lower hardware sales and lower first party sales will hurt them or any console manufacturer of they don't have the compelling games in the long run. Just like it hurt Xbox. IF Sony keeps up not having lower first part output. Which we know they're not.

crazyCoconuts33d ago

Well no big exclusives in the last two years yet PS is doing great. What are people gonna do? Buy an Xbox?

S2Killinit32d ago

I agree with you. But they have had plenty of exclusives so far. Has it been ideal? Nope. I have a feeling we are seeing a resurgence with the effects of covid and that chip shortage now behind us.

Lightning7733d ago

No it's just like 360 where they had no games yet ppl still bought it because they sold ppl on the games early on that gen the fans were locked in and invested. They were riding the good will and was dubbed the shooter, racer box. The games dried up and they never recovered from it which hurt them in the long run. Same here with PS they still make the big bucks because they had games early on and the fans locked in and will continue to lock in for a little while longer despite lacking in first party.

S2Killinit32d ago (Edited 32d ago )

I agree. But the problem with xbox was that for some crazy reason MS thought game development wasnt all that important to a platform holder. They literally did not fund games with their own studios. When they lost marketshare they couldnt justify paying for exclusives with large install bases making it too expensive. That is not the scenario with PlayStation.

+ Show (1) more replyLast reply 32d ago
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150°

PS5 shipments top 77.8 million

PlayStation 5 has shipped 77.8 million units worldwide, Sony announced in its financial results for the three months ended March 31, 2025.

italiangamer34d ago

Perfectly in line to reach 100 million by March 2026.

Profchaos33d ago

Theys have to clear 22.2 million to do this.
When you average out the current number over 5 years it's unlikely.

If the console was going down in price it would be possible but they have not been able to reduce the cost in fact it's gone up so this is working against them.

gta Vi has also been pushed out of the financial year and there's likely millions of GTA v players still on ps5 that have not made the jump those players would for GTA vi

The overall poor market conditions and uncertainty doesn't fill me with confidence trade war, weak yen and the ongoing cost of living crisis. We're not talking core gamers picking up a new system were talking gamers who wait for the back 9 to enter a new generation.

I think 2027 they will but 100 not this year.

italiangamer33d ago

They will reach 100 million during 2026.

S2Killinit33d ago

It might actually get a boost considering that even the PS5 PRO is currently cheaper than the series x. This will of course be over soon as Im expecting a price hike for the PRO.

Travesty33d ago (Edited 33d ago )

I know Sony said they are considering raising prices.. Well as of yesterday China and the US lifted their tariffs standoff. At least for 90 days until they can agree on a trade deal that would benefit both parties. So with manufacturing in China and shipping them to the US I’m hoping it will not affect the prices.

Although I kind of doubt Sony will top 100 million since GTA 6 will be releasing next year by March. Could be wrong and I’ll be glad to be.

Xbox shooting itself in the foot or more like nailing their own coffin with rising prices. Hopefully Sony will stay put.. Ghost of Yotei is releasing for $70 still so that’s a god sign hopefully.

senorfartcushion33d ago

Is this a good thing for someone with no shares in Sony stock?

italiangamer33d ago

More PS5 on the market = higher chance of getting even more games.
It's not rocket science.

gold_drake33d ago (Edited 33d ago )

very nice.
in almost 5 years too.
some big hitters are yet to come

badz14933d ago (Edited 33d ago )

come on...don't say that! that slogan "Greatness Awaits" is haunting me everytime someone says this and yeah...1st party output has not been a highlight this gen which is a huge bummer! personally, I would rate their 1st party output this gen 4/10!

gold_drake33d ago

to be honest, when i typed it out, it did sound like a slogan for that ha