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Sony Launches Qriocity App for Android

Jared Moya — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 18:25:35 +0000

Music Unlimited powered Qriocity service gives you access to over 7 million songs anytime, anywhere for as little as $3.99 a month.

With Sony finally having resolved the PlayStation Network hacking fiasco it's moved forward with expanding it's Music Unlimited powered Qriocity service with the release of a new Android app. Already available via the PS3, PSP, and desktop PC the Qriocity Android app now truly allows you to listen to over 7 million songs "anytime, anywhere" as Sony boasts. "The cloud-based, digital music service gives music lovers streaming, commercial-free access at anytime and anywhere to an ever expanding catalogue of currently over seven million licensed tracks from major labels including Universal Music Group, Sony Music Entertainment, Warner Music Group and EMI Music as well as leading independent labels and major publishers worldwide," it says in a press release. Several key features:

・Create your own personalized channels ・Sync your songs on a PC and access from your phone ・Easily access your music using Android Home Widget Player

The Basic service costs $3.99 per month and the Premium service costs $9.99 per month. The Premium plan boasts additional features like on-demand playback. New customers are currently able to get 30 days of the Premium Plan for free, and PSN subsribers caught up in the hacking quagmire are treated to 30 days of free Premium Plan service as well as part of its "Welcome Back" package. Sony also says that eligible PlayStation 3 owners can get a free 180-day Basic subscription. To be eligible you must be a new subscriber. Download Music Unlimited from the Android Market. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com ____________________________

Sony Begins Restoring PlayStation Network!

Jared Moya — Sun, 15 May 2011 03:27:59 +0000

Company finally begins restoring PlayStation Network service after it was shut down following security breach by hackers. Sony says that in "several hours" PSN service should be available "throughout the entire country."

After 24 long days Sony has finally begun restoring the PlayStation Network. It was back on April 20th that Sony shut down its PlayStation Network after it was discovered that hackers had breached the network’s security. Sony said that over 70 million accounts may have been comprised in the breach and a number of class-action lawsuits have filed over its failure to properly secure customer data. Sony said on May 1st that a "phased rollout by region” of the PSN services would begin “shortly," but it never materialized. A little over a week later the company gave a firm May 31st deadline for a full restoration of service. In any event, Sony has now announced that a restoration of PlayStation Network service has already begun. So far it's limited to California, and much of the Northeast region of the US, but says that in "several hours" PSN service should be available "throughout the entire country."

PSN users will first have to install a new PS3 system software update that requires all PSN users to change their password once the PlayStation network is restored. "If using a PS3, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated), as an added layer of security. If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an email will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (email address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign-in to PSN," it said. "This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this email, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password you can sign-in to your account using your new password." Sony has said that it will offer a "Welcome Back" program to try and heal the rift caused by the affair. It includes a combination of free entertainment and service offerings as well as 30 days of free PlayStation Plus premium service for existing PlayStation Network customers. It’s also offered a year’s worth of identity theft protection. You can check the status of your region PSN restoration here. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com

Sony: Some PSN Services Will be “Available This Week”

Jared Moya — Sun, 01 May 2011 23:17:43 +0000

Says now that it has taken steps to enhance network security in the wake of the hacker breach will begin a " phased rollout by region" of the PSN services "shortly."

Sony PlayStation network users now have a timetable as to when they can expect services to resume following its closure after it was discovered hackers had breached the network's security. It says it conducted an "extensive audit of the system" and implemented a " variety of new security measures to provide greater protection of personal information." It's been reported that over 70 million accounts may have been comprised - including credit card information. Sony insists the data is encrypted and inaccessible, but still warned users that "your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained. " With the system audit completed, Sony says that has "implemented a variety of new security measures" that it says will "provide greater protection of personal information." "With these measures in place, Sony Computer Entertainment (SCE) and Sony Network Entertainment International (SNEI) plan to start a phased rollout by region of the services shortly," it adds. Sony says the initial phase of the rollout will include, but is not limited to, the following:

Restoration of Online game-play across the PS3 and PSP systems-This includes titles requiring online verification and downloaded games
Access to Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity for PS3/PSP for existing subscribers
Access to account management and password reset
Access to download un-expired Movie Rentals on PS3, PSP and MediaGo
PlayStation Home
Friends List
Chat Functionality

For those reluctant to return to the PlayStation Network, as I mentioned earlier, Sony says it will introduce a "Welcome Back" customer appreciation program to "thank its customers for their patience and loyalty." It includes a combination of free entertainment and service offerings as well as 30 days of free PlayStation Plus premium service for existing PlayStation Network customers. As for those still concerned about network security, Sony detailed specific steps it's going to take to protect their information. They include:

Added automated software monitoring and configuration management to help defend against new attacks
Enhanced levels of data protection and encryption
Enhanced ability to detect software intrusions within the network, unauthorized access and unusual activity patterns
Implementation of additional firewalls

In the meantime, the FBI, Congress, 22 State Attorneys General, and at least 5 foreign countries are getting involved. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com

PSN Outage: Day 11 – Sony to Offer “Welcome Back” Program

Jared Moya — Sun, 01 May 2011 17:24:27 +0000

Will offer a variety of free entertainment and service offerings as well as 30 days free PlayStation Plus premium service for existing PlayStation Network customers.

Sony continues to do damage control over its painful PlayStation Network intrusion, this time announcing the rollout of a worldwide “Welcome Back” program to try and heal the rift caused by allowing hackers to compromise the credit card information of 70-77 million PSN network customers. Sony says the program "will be tailored to specific markets to provide our consumers with a selection of service options and premium content as an expression of the company’s appreciation for their patience, support and continued loyalty." Some of the highlights :

• Each territory will be offering selected PlayStation entertainment content for free download. Specific details of this content will be announced in each region soon. • All existing PlayStation Network customers will be provided with 30 days free membership in the PlayStation Plus premium service. Current members of PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days free service. • Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity subscribers (in countries where the service is available) will receive 30 days free service.

Sony adds that additional "Welcome Back" entertainment and service offerings will be rolled out over the coming weeks as it returns the PSN and Qriocity services to the "quality standard" its users have come to expect, and will attempt to "exceed those exceptions." “Our global audience of PlayStation Network and Qriocity consumers was disrupted," said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. "We have learned lessons along the way about the valued relationship with our consumers, and to that end, we will be launching a customer appreciation program for registered consumers as a way of expressing our gratitude for their loyalty during this network downtime, as we work even harder to restore and regain their trust in us and our services.” So what do you think? Will the "Welcome Back" program be enough for you forgive Sony? Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com

PS3 Hacker on PSN Outage: Blame Sony Execs, Not Engineers

Jared Moya — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 16:07:58 +0000

George Hotz says Sony engineers not to blame for the network intrusion, but rather Sony execs "who declared a war on hackers, laughed at the idea of people penetrating the fortress that once was Sony, whined incessantly about piracy, and kept hiring more lawyers when they really needed to hire good security experts."

We're now entering day 9 of the PSN outage, and PS3 hacker George Hotz (aka GeoHot) has chimed into say that Sony execs are largely to blame for the fiasco.

Hotz is the one who found and published the PS3 root key on his blog late last year. Sony responded soon thereafter with a temporary restraining order against further publishing of the code. It then targeted Google by demanding that it hand over the “usernames and IP addresses [of people] that have posted or published ‘comments’ in response to the [Jailbroken Ps3 3.55 with Homebrew] video” that Hotz posted on YouTube.

Sony's efforts earned it the ire of many, including the hacktivist group Anonymous, and despite its decision to settle the case with Hotz earlier this month, the ill will remained. Hotz says the lingering ill will is the root cause of the PSN outage, and by extension, the Sony execs who thought it possible to scrub the root key - a series of letters and numbers - from the Internet.

Sony says that up to 70 million credit cards have been stolen in the network breach, and Hotz, as as a onetime victim of identity theft himself, says "I feel for everyone who's data has been stolen," and says that those involved "make the hacking community look bad, even if it is aimed at douches like Sony."

Having said this, Hotz says that Sony execs and not its engineers are to blame because it is ultimately the execs who decide what path the company takes.

"Also, let's not fault the Sony engineers for this, the same way I do not fault the engineers who designed the BMG rootkit," he says. "The fault lies with the executives who declared a war on hackers, laughed at the idea of people penetrating the fortress that once was Sony, whined incessantly about piracy, and kept hiring more lawyers when they really needed to hire good security experts. Alienating the hacker community is not a good idea."

As for the details, Hotz believes it was a client (PS3) trust issue. It likely believed that the PS3 was secure and therefore put a "trust boundary" not between the server and the client (basic security 101) it instead put a "trust boundary" between the consumer and the client.

He adds:

This arrogance undermines a basic security principle, never trust the client. It's the same reason MW2 was covered in cheaters, Activision even admitted to the mistake of trusting Sony's client. Sony needs to accept that they no longer own and control the PS3 when they sell it to you. Notice it's only PSN that gave away all your personal data, not Xbox Live when the 360 was hacked, not iTunes when the iPhone was jailbroken, and not GMail when Android was rooted. Because other companies aren't crazy.

He makes a good point, and it all comes down to poor business sense. Rule number one of running a healthy enterprise is not to make enemies out of your customers. The RIAA has done it for more than a decade and we all know how well that's working out.

If Sony had just let the root key be and saw it for what it is - allowing users to advantage of the PS3's non-gaming functions - then it wouldn't find itself in the huge mess its in now, including being the target of a lawsuit itself.

Stay tuned.

jared@zeropaid.com

PSN Outage: Day 6 – Custom Firmware Rebug to Blame?

Jared Moya — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 22:50:13 +0000

Unidentified PSX-Scene Mod claims that custom firmware called Rebug allowed PS3 users to unlock dev features on a retail console and access Sony's private developer PSN network, giving them unlimited access to scores of free PSN content. It was this "illegal and unauthorized intrusion" into the PSN network that forced the shutdown.

It's now day 6 of the infamous PlayStation Network outage and it seems that custom firmware, not the hacktivist group Anonymous, is to blame. "Ok, I've seen a bunch of speculation of why people think PSN is down, and I thought I should just post what the community knows in comparison to what Sony is telling everyone," writes an unidentified person who claims to be a moderator over at PSX-Scene.com. "The truth is, there was a new CFW (custom firmware) released known as Rebug (http://rebug.me). It essentially turns a retail console into a dev console (not fully, but gives you a lot of the same options that usually dev's only have access to)." Users of the CFW eventually figured out that it also gave them access to Sony's private developer PSN network, giving them unfettered access to scores of free PSN content. "With a little manipulation of the URL's through a proxy server you could get your hacked console back online," he adds. "Not that big of a deal, right? Well, it also turns out that some people over at NGU found out that you could provide fake CC# info and the authenticity of the information was never checked as you were on Sony's private developer PSN network (essentially a network that Sony trusted)." Some initially blamed the PSN downtime on Anonymous which has expressed a number of grievances toward Sony over its handling of the PS3 root key affair. “For once we didn’t do it," it said in response, and it seems it was telling the truth. Sony gave a quick update on the affair in a post to its blog earlier today:

We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network. In response to this intrusion, we have:

Temporarily turned off PlayStation Network and Qriocity services;

Engaged an outside, recognized security firm to conduct a full and complete investigation into what happened; and

Quickly taken steps to enhance security and strengthen our network infrastructure by re-building our system to provide you with greater protection of your personal information.

We greatly appreciate your patience, understanding and goodwill as we do whatever it takes to resolve these issues as quickly and efficiently as practicable.

Now none of the Mod's claims can be fully verified, but it does seem to make sense, especially if you take a look at the timeline he compiles about the events that took place. What do you think happened? Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com

PS3 Hacker, Sony Settle Jailbreak Case

Jared Moya — Tue, 12 Apr 2011 21:43:59 +0000

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) and George Hotz (aka GeoHot) release joint statement announcing an end to the widely followed case.

Sony Computer Entertainment America (SCEA) has apparently decided to seek a quick end to its case against George Hotz, aka GeoHot, the famed PS3 hacker whom it accused of violating the Digital Millennium Copyright Act because he bypassed Sony’s technological protection measures for the PS3 gaming console, and then distributed “illegal Circumvention Devices” – i.e. the root key. “Sony is glad to put this litigation behind us,” said Riley Russell, General Counsel for SCEA. “Our motivation for bringing this litigation was to protect our intellectual property and our consumers. We believe this settlement and the permanent injunction achieve this goal.” Hotz found and published the root key on his blog late last year, and Sony responded soon thereafter with a temporary restraining order against further publishing of the code. Google even became embroiled in the suit after Sony demanded that it hand over the “usernames and IP addresses [of people] that have posted or published ‘comments’ in response to the [Jailbroken Ps3 3.55 with Homebrew] video" that Hotz posted on YouTube. Stewart Keller, one of Hotz's attorneys, countered that Sony's real intent of the suit was not to "protect its intellectual property or otherwise seek bona fide relief from the court." "Rather, it’s an attempt from Sony to send a message that any individual using Sony hardware in a way Sony does not deem appropriate will result in harsh legal consequences from a multi-billion dollar company, irrespective of any legal basis or authority for such action," he said. After all, the jailbreak code has already been widely published on the Internet, and there's no way to undo it. The settlement reached between Sony and Hotz is short on specifics other than Hotz has "consented" to a permanent injunction of the order that he refrain from publishing the Sony root key. “It was never my intention to cause any users trouble or to make piracy easier,” said Hotz, “I’m happy to have the litigation behind me.” In fact, Hotz has maintained all along that obtaining and publishing the root key was about helping to "enhance the noninfringing aspects of the Playstation computer and treat the apparatus as it is, a computer.” Sony has always marketed the device as a “multimedia personal computer” that can play BluRay movies, music, stream content from the Internet, browse personal pics, and perform a wide of variety of other functions that, as Hotz's attorneys put it, “can be enhanced by an end user’s ability to install and run third party software on the Playstation computer.” Yet, Sony, in the settlement announcement, says protecting this sort of closed security system is about maintaining a "safe and fun environment" for consumers. “We want our consumers to be able to enjoy our devices and products in a safe and fun environment and we want to protect the hard work of the talented engineers, artists, musicians and game designers who make PlayStation games and support the PlayStation Network,” added Russell. “We appreciate Mr. Hotz’s willingness to address the legal issues involved in this case and work with us to quickly bring this matter to an early resolution.” Interestingly enough, the resolution may have more to do with trying to end what has been a PR disaster for Sony more than anything else. A number of people, including Hotz himself, have openly called for a boycott of Sony products. Also adding to Sony's PR headaches has been the relentless attacks by the hacktivist group Anonymous which Sony alluded to the press release announcing the settlement. The group managed to make its PlayStation site inaccessible for much of the day yesterday. So the battle between Hotz and Sony might be over, but unless Sony announces a end to the battle between it and those publishing the root key the war is likely to continue for some time. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com

Sony Gets IP Addresses of Visitors to PS3 Hack Site

Jared Moya — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 10:11:01 +0000

US District Judge Joseph C. Spero gives Sony permission to force Bluehost to reveal the IP addresses of anybody who's "downloaded the circumvention devices from Mr. Hotz’s website."

Back in January I reported how a user by the name of GeoHot, the same user who helped to crack the iPhone, had posted the root key of the PlayStation 3. The root key tells it that the software about to run is legitimate, allowing users to run custom software or pirated games. GeoHot, aka George Hotz, already published the keys and even made a video of his exploits, but Sony has been working overtime to try and scrub the root key from the Internet. US District Judge Joseph C. Spero has given Sony permission to force Bluehost, the content server for GeoHot's website, to reveal the IP addresses of anybody who's accessed the site. "This subpoena to Bluehost, the content server for Mr. Hotz’s website at , seeks the identity of those who have downloaded the circumvention devices from Mr. Hotz’s website," reads the ruling. Sony says it needs the IP addresses to determine if California courts have jurisdiction and verify their claim that he violated the DMCA by illegally distributing an encryption circumvention device. "SCEA needs to determine how rampant the access to and use of these circumvention devices has been in California in order to rebut Mr. Hotz’s suggestion that his illicit conduct was not aimed at the forum state," reads the ruling. "Not only is this information relevant to SCEA’s opposition to the Motion to Dismiss, but it also relates to a 'core claim' insofar as the trafficking provisions of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (“DMCA”) – which SCEA alleges Mr. Hotz has violated – pertain directly to evidence of a defendant’s distribution of a circumvention device to other persons." Most shocking, however, is that Sony, could target those that downloaded the data from GeoHot's site. "Finally, the identity of those who have downloaded the circumvention devices from cannot be discovered from any entity except the site’s web content host, Bluehost," it continues. Sony was previously granted permission to subpoena data from Google identifying the “usernames and IP addresses [of people] that have posted or published ‘comments’ in response to the video" GeoHot posted on YouTube video of his exploits. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com _______________________ Jude Grants allow Sony to subpoena Hotz’s web provider

Sony Sends Cops to PS3 Hacker’s Home

Jared Moya — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 04:50:50 +0000

PS3 hacking community member graf_chokolo says that Sony and the police raided his home and warns others to "be careful from now on."

A member of the PS3 hacking community known as graf_chokolo is learning the hard way that Sony means business when it comes to preventing people from circumventing the gaming consoles DRM protection scheme. His "PS3 Linux And Hypervisor Reverse Engineering Blog" was used by he and others to share "current and future findings in the PS3 security," and the efforts apparently got far enough to make Sony sit and up and take notice. "Guys, SONY was today at my home with police and got all my stuff and accounts," he wrote yesterday. "So be careful from now on." This was made just a day after posting the successful implementation of a simple firmware updater. He says the police raid "was a matter of time" really, and warns others to lay low. Yet, he made sure to release all the data he's come up with so far. Guys, i don’t joke, it’s serious. "And to prove it, i kept my word and uploaded all my HV reversing stuff," he adds. "Upload it everywhere so SONY couldn’t remove it easily. Grab it guys, it contains lots of knowledge about HV and HV procs." There's links to the data are up on his blog, at least for now, and it makes it even more confusing as to what Sony hopes to accomplish. Moreover, it ought to be legal for consumers to modify purchased products to suit their needs, especially something like the PS3 which even Sony markets as a home entertainment system. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com

Sony’s Kevin Butler Retweets PS3 Hack

Jared Moya — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 20:21:25 +0000

Sony's Kevin Butler, a fictional marketing character portrayed by actor Jerry Lambert as part "It Only Does Everything" advertising campaign for the PlayStation 3, may find himself the target of a "real life" lawsuit after being duped into retweeting the gaming console's root key. Early last month we reported how a user by the name of GeoHot, aka George Hotz, the same user who helped to crack the iPhone, had posted the root key of the PlayStation 3 (PS3), thereby allowing users to play downloaded games directly on the gaming console. Sony believes that Hotz and his cohorts violated the Digital Millennium Copyright because they bypassed Sony’s technological protection measures for the PS3, and then distributed “illegal Circumvention Devices” – i.e. the root key - and has been working overtime to try and remove it from the Internet. Sony's latrest endeavor has been to demand that Google hand over the over usernames and IP addresses of anyone that has posted or published comments in response to the Hotz's “Jailbroken PS3 3.55 with Homebrew” video. However, in a clever bit of irony, Sony's Butler was duped into retweeting the PS3 root key. From "exiva": Butler's reply: Butler's tweet was quickly removed, but I can't help but think how foolish this has all become. Stay tuned. jared@zeropaid.com [Hat Tip]