Oh my:  Even children at play (and adults, too) are not safe – but we knew that.  It’s a cold, cruel world.

Apparently birthdates, e-mail addresses, and purchase histories have been “accessed” (therefore, for purpose of liability assessments, assume:  “Stolen”).  Too, credit card info may have been stolen, but Sony doesn’t know for sure – last time I checked.  (I guess you could say last time they checked!). 

However, PlayStation users are advised to check their accounts.  I’m glad I’m not a “player,” at least in this context.  For those of you who are parents, with kids, with PlayStations, you’re going to want to run this to ground to your own satisfaction.  Check with your card providers – and I’d do it by phone…

Sony says the attack is “malicious” in nature, and has hired an outside security firm to investigate.  Hmmm… methinks they hired the outside firm about a week too late.

Going forward, beware e-mail spoofs and phishing schemes:  That is, official looking e-mails that purport to be from your bank/credit card provider(s), and while we’re at it, from Sony too.  Breaching entities can strip official logos and authentication screens – an entire website’s “oeuvre” – allowing you to think you’re logging in to “XYZ-CreditCardCo.com” – you fill in credentials (ID and password; again filling a hack situation)… when in fact you could leave the fields blank and access the dummy site.  But, you’ve entered the critical info… and then… the site asks for all sorts of “further authentication.”  Oops.

How the heck does Sony get breached, hacked, violated… anyhow?  Aren’t they… big?  Protected with the latest security measures?  Are they not on the RFE (Responsible Forward Edge)?  Don’t they know what they’re doin’?  Um…

When Sony’s system is back up, change your ID(s), password(s), and any other authenticating/security/credentialing information.  Immediately.

Just to be sure.

NP:  Powerage – AC/DC.  Ok, a departure from my usual old-school, straight-ahead, jazz references.  But… someone here at S-bucks mentioned the band, and I just had to weigh in with my 3 concert experiences; two with original singer Bon Scott – and those were… simply… amazing.