Why is Sony Being Hacked So Much?

Orando Broom

I am curious. I gots mad curiousity, yo!!

jim_bob

Lol

mowhawk

Because Sony are c***s!

Redshift

Probably for what they did to Geohot

W.Shakes-Beer

To be honest OP, I haven't got a clue.

red menace

Because it's got millions of users who have lots of lovely details on their accounts password credit cards etc..
Because it's high profile

2 to start

themadchef

Its all about the money, / its all about the dum dum duh dee dum dum. / I don't think its funny.

danniemcq

sh*ts and giggles?

Orando Broom

red menace wrote: »

Because it's got millions of users who have lots of lovely details on their accounts password credit cards etc..
Because it's high profile

2 to start

Ah, I thought there might be an interesting backstory.

Turtyturd

It's easier for Microsoft to disrupt their competition by hacking Sony than sorting out the RROD.

Capt'n Midnight

Not a big Sony fan, they have had so many incompatible hardware standards to sell overpriced memory , minidisks and other propietry consumables

But relevant to this thread is that Sony put a rootkit on half a million of their customers computers. It was supposed to stop unlicensed copying but the software itself used unlicensed code.


https://secure.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/wiki/Sony_BMG_copy_protection_rootkit_scandal

This software was automatically installed on Windows desktop computers when customers tried to play the CDs. The software interferes with the normal way in which the Microsoft Windows operating system plays CDs by installing a rootkit which creates vulnerabilities for other malware to exploit. This was discovered and publicly revealed by Mark Russinovich on the Sysinternals blog. Other operating systems were not affected.

As a result, a number of parties have filed lawsuits against Sony BMG; the company ended up recalling all the affected CDs; and greater public attention was drawn to the issue of commercially-backed spyware and rootkits. Additionally, further investigation revealed that Sony had created its copyright protection software, in part, using LAME code, violating the GNU Lesser General Public License,[3] and VLC code written by Jon Lech Johansen and Sam Hocevar, violating the GNU General Public License.


...
Russinovich presented evidence that the software employs unsafe procedures to start/stop the rootkit, which could lead to system crashes (Blue Screen of Death) and that inexpert attempts to uninstall the software can lead to the Windows operating system failing to recognize existing drive(s). The Sony rootkit is designed to hide any files, registry keys and processes whose name starts with the string $sys$, making it very easy for writers of worms and other malware to also hide their files by simply using the same name. Within weeks there were several trojans and worms taking advantage of this functionality in machines already compromised by the Sony rootkit.

...
Dan Kaminsky has found evidence that the software is in use on more than 500,000 networks.

Do unto others etc.

Dman001

It started off as retaliation on Sony for suing Geohot. But at this stage I think there are just trying to prove how insecure Sony's security on data is, and doing it solely for the fact they can.

For Forks Sake

Orando Broom wrote: »

I am curious. I gots mad curiousity, yo!!

Probably Apple trying to distract people from all the attacks on the supposedly "virus proof" Macs

melekalikimaka

For Forks Sake wrote: »

Probably Apple trying to distract people from all the attacks on the supposedly "virus proof" Macs

malware is different to a virus, the numpties have to install the program for it to work

Goodshape

PlayStation 3 used to be a good machine to hack on. I don't mean installing pirated games or even doing anything malicious, just that you could buy a "console" for whatever it is (€300?), put Linux on there legitimately and have yourself a cheap but powerful machine to mess around and do 'homebrew' with. Hackers loved it.

Then geohot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hotz) hacked PS3's security features for the lolz and just to see if he could (he's only 21 now). Sony didn't like that and they sued him. Hacker community didn't like that.

Then Sony removed the ability to install a custom OS like Linux on PS3. Hackers didn't like that either.

Hackers been showing Sony who's boss ever since, pretty much.

For Forks Sake

melekalikimaka wrote: »

malware is different to a virus, the numpties have to install the program for it to work

no shortage of numpties out there.

Dman001

This can be somewhat of a good thing. The fact that a huge corporation like Sony can get attacked means it's a possibility for any company to get hacked, and may actually ensure our data is more secure. I believe Google too got hacked through Gmail. At this stage, it isn't so much a matter of will hackers continue to attack companies, but what company they'll attack next.

Richard Dower

Finally!, an interesting and readable topic on AH......99.997% of topics are mindless shiite! [well done OP]

melekalikimaka

For Forks Sake wrote: »

no shortage of numpties out there.

probably installed on the advice of them pc docs that ring occasionally

Paparazzo

Because hackers are a bunch of bell ends

maglite

Goodshape wrote: »

for the lolz

This, interestingly there is another attack planned that claim to bring an end to Sony. I'll try to dig up a source

http://www.ibtimes.com/articles/156416/20110602/lulzsec-hack-sony-data-publish.htm

LighterGuy

Orando Broom wrote: »

I am curious. I gots mad curiousity, yo!!

Basically to sum it up for those who aint too tech savy.


Sony took away a feature from the PS3 last year called "Linux" - and also Sony sued 'Geohotz' (a hacker who "hacked" the ps3)

So a group of hackers called Anonymous took offense to that and hacked Sony's ps3 network. Thats their story as to why they did it.

maglite

LighterGuy wrote: »

So a group of hackers called Anonymous took offense to that and hacked Sony's ps3 network. Thats their story as to why they did it.

But their attack did't involve the Credit Card details. It was a different attack.

SirLemonhead

Richard Dower wrote: »

Finally!, an interesting and readable topic on AH......99.997% of topics are mindless shiite! [well done OP]

A lot of it posted by you once your ran out of tv shows to watch it seems :pac:

Lone Stone

Goodshape wrote: »

PlayStation 3 used to be a good machine to hack on. I don't mean installing pirated games or even doing anything malicious, just that you could buy a "console" for whatever it is (€300?), put Linux on there legitimately and have yourself a cheap but powerful machine to mess around and do 'homebrew' with. Hackers loved it.

Then geohot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hotz) hacked PS3's security features for the lolz and just to see if he could (he's only 21 now). Sony didn't like that and they sued him. Hacker community didn't like that.

Then Sony removed the ability to install a custom OS like Linux on PS3. Hackers didn't like that either.

Hackers been showing Sony who's boss ever since, pretty much.

I really reallly dislike hackers i would consider them worse then little scum bag's that rob car's because they clearly arent as stupid as joyriders yet they act like f**ing retards.

SteelyDanJalapeno

LighterGuy wrote: »

Basically to sum it up for those who aint too tech savy.


Sony took away a feature from the PS3 last year called "Linux" - and also Sony sued 'Geohotz' (a hacker who "hacked" the ps3)

So a group of hackers called Anonymous took offense to that and hacked Sony's ps3 network. Thats their story as to why they did it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2ZkJd4u0Us

maglite

You do know there are massive benefits to hacking? its not all about theft and illegal activities.

Spunge

maglite wrote: »

You do know there are massive benefits to hacking? its not all about theft and illegal activities.

I heard it gets you laid.

ScumLord

Lone Stone wrote: »

I really reallly dislike hackers i would consider them worse then little scum bag's that rob car's because they clearly arent as stupid as joyriders yet they act like f**ing retards.

Hackers are a lot like viruses in the real world. While viruses seem bad from our perspective they encourage mutation and help keep evolution moving along. You could say the same thing about hackers. They force software to be constantly evolving to survive in a dangerous environment.

Every attack only improves the technology, in a sense their providing a free service to the world.

Goodshape

Lone Stone wrote: »

I really reallly dislike hackers i would consider them worse then little scum bag's that rob car's because they clearly arent as stupid as joyriders yet they act like f**ing retards.

Sometimes agree with you but I think a lot of big hacks like this aren't done to simply be malicious.

It's either a) "because I can" or b) as retribution for wrongs committed.

Sony is a billion dollar company which sold you CD's that break your computer on purpose (look up Sony RootKit), or sell you cool hardware then sue teenagers for poking about inside it, or let a homebrew scene flourish for just so long and then yank the carpet out from under everyone (the 'OtherOS' debacle). And yet they keep all your data, passwords, etc, in apparently free text in a badly secured database.

....and there's nothing anyone can really do about it because they have all the money, all the lawyers, all the politicians.

Except for hacking. It's a bit of people power. Slightly romantic view on it maybe but I think there's more to it than "little scum bags that rob cars".


Also, a lot of very rich, powerful and cool people in the tech industry started off as "hackers". They don't teach you half the good stuff in school. Here's Steve Jobs on his beginnings. You might have heard of him? He's kind of a big deal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFURM8O-oYI

Lone Stone

ScumLord wrote: »

Hackers are a lot like viruses in the real world. While viruses seem bad from our perspective they encourage mutation and help keep evolution moving along. You could say the same thing about hackers. They force software to be constantly evolving to survive in a dangerous environment.

Every attack only improves the technology, in a sense their providing a free service to the world.

Yea well clearly things have a positive and negative when it comes to finding loop holes in software etc but when i think of hackers i generally think about the pricks who seem to get a rise out of hacking some random person of the internet and screwing up their pc etc and either way it just because its some one doing some thing online they seem to think its not really a criminal offence but computers arent cheap and getting them fixed isnt cheap either grrr grumble grumble.

Lone Stone

Goodshape wrote: »

Sometimes agree with you but I think a lot of big hacks like this aren't done to simply be malicious.

It's either a) "because I can" or b) as retribution for wrongs committed.

Sony is a billion dollar company which sold you CD's that break your computer on purpose (look up Sony RootKit), or sell you cool hardware then sue teenagers for poking about inside it, or let a homebrew scene flourish for just so long and then yank the carpet out from under everyone (the 'OtherOS' debacle). And yet they keep all your data, passwords, etc, in apparently free text in a badly secured database.

....and there's nothing anyone can really do about it because they have all the money, all the lawyers, all the politicians.

Except for hacking. It's a bit of people power. Slightly romantic view on it maybe but I think there's more to it than "little scum bags that rob cars".


Also, a lot of very rich, powerful and cool people in the tech industry started off as "hackers". They don't teach you half the good stuff in school. Here's Steve Jobs on his beginnings. You might have heard of him? He's kind of a big deal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HFURM8O-oYI

Actually i agree with every thing you said here, i have had rootkits etc but still i know people who go on about hacking and i just think your no different than those joyriders. But anyway i see your point

yesno1234

Lone Stone wrote: »

Actually i agree with every thing you said here, i have had rootkits etc but still i know people who go on about hacking and i just think your no different than those joyriders. But anyway i see your point

How can you compare joy riding to hacking? Can you at least appreciate the amount of skill that (some) hacking takes? Some hackers are incredibly talented people.

hatrickpatrick

It started as a retaliation by the "Anonymous" collective, but then another group tried to harvest a bunch of credit card details from it, and then SOE was hacked a few days later by a third group.

Once the SOE incident happened the lid was just ripped off. The Anonymous attack had a political motivation, the PSN hack probably had a financial or identity theft motivation, and I reckon every attack after that has just been because Sony is getting hammered and it's just becoming funny to find more and more holes in their system. In true 'internet hate machine' fashion, I strongly imagine that the hacks currently taking place are simple "for the lulz". Just to prove that sony are incompetent, to f*ck with them, and simply because it's just hilarious to watch them getting screwed.

Watching someone trip up is meh. Watching them steady themselves and then trip again is kinda funny. They stand up and trip once more, it's hilarious. They then continue to trip and stumble the entire way across the room and it becomes an absolutely hysterical farce.

CiaranC

Lone Stone wrote: »

I really reallly dislike hackers i would consider them worse then little scum bag's that rob car's because they clearly arent as stupid as joyriders yet they act like f**ing retards.

Its brilliant, insightful, intelligent posts like this that makes geeks the world over glad that we created, developed and maintain the internet, just so you can share them with us.

Capt'n Midnight

[insert note about the difference between Hackers / Crackers / Script Kiddies and shoddy journalism]

OutlawPete

I love Sony, ever since my first Sony Walkman back in '84. I always buy Sony products, my phone is even Sony, Car CD Player, my late TV, my Alarm Clock. Heck, if I could get Sony boxer shorts I would.

wild_cat

Lone Stone wrote: »

Yea well clearly things have a positive and negative when it comes to finding loop holes in software etc but when i think of hackers i generally think about the pricks who seem to get a rise out of hacking some random person of the internet and screwing up their pc etc and either way it just because its some one doing some thing online they seem to think its not really a criminal offence but computers arent cheap and getting them fixed isnt cheap either grrr grumble grumble.

Yeah the ones that smash your screen up from thousands of miles away in internet land are the worst.

grizzly

Things arn't looking up for Sony;

http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/02/sony-pictures-hacked-by-lulz-security-1-000-000-passwords-claim/

http://lulzsecurity.com/releases/

deco nate

OutlawPete wrote: »

I love Sony, ever since my first Sony Walkman back in '84. I always buy Sony products, my phone is even Sony, Car CD Player, my late TV, my Alarm Clock. Heck, if I could get Sony boxer shorts I would.

really?bloody sony hoe:pac:.
overpay for the name....:pac::)

garv123

[QUOTE=Goodshape;72558172
Then geohot (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Hotz) hacked PS3's security features for the lolz and just to see if he could (he's only 21 now). Sony didn't like that and they sued him. Hacker community didn't like that.

.[/QUOTE]

they should have done what microsoft did with the irish kid and hire him instead of suing him

Capt'n Midnight

Lone Stone wrote: »

Yea well clearly things have a positive and negative when it comes to finding loop holes in software etc

That is one of key points of open source. Anyone can find the holes, and anoyone can fix them. And fix times for vulnerabilities are typically measured in hours rather than days or in some cases years for closed source software.

Thing is it's very hard to add security to systems. It's much easier to design it in from day one.

http://secunia.com/advisories/

grizzly

garv123 wrote: »

they should have done what microsoft did with the irish kid and hire him instead of suing him

I thought the very same thing – set him up in security.

hardCopy

OutlawPete wrote: »

I love Sony, ever since my first Sony Walkman back in '84. I always buy Sony products, my phone is even Sony, Car CD Player, my late TV, my Alarm Clock. Heck, if I could get Sony boxer shorts I would.

No minidisc?

Notorious97

Hackers are talented i agree, but then again the ones who thought it was great fun to ruin the end of April for me, and most of May are complete tossers who i hope get struck down with some nasty disease. Harsh but who cares. :pac:

If people hacking results in new products, ideas being developed well and good, but as for the attack on PSN, pure di*kheads that’s all they are.

Rant over

dlofnep

Lone Stone wrote: »

I really reallly dislike hackers i would consider them worse then little scum bag's that rob car's because they clearly arent as stupid as joyriders yet they act like f**ing retards.

Without hackers, you wouldn't have a personal computer. There would be no internet, and subsequently - no after hours for you to post this.

You're welcome.

General Zod

MY PLAYSTATIONS! QQ

HisGreatness

I wonder if Microsoft are the ones who launched the latest attack? Trying to show of their security prowess.

RedXIV

I wonder if Microsoft are the ones who launched the latest attack? Trying to show of their security prowess.

In fairness when you read about some of Sony's security slip-ups, they are not hard to beat. I'm not saying they had no security but some of the security measures they took were just stupid

srsly78

Lone Stone wrote: »

I really reallly dislike hackers i would consider them worse then little scum bag's that rob car's because they clearly arent as stupid as joyriders yet they act like f**ing retards.

Sony is that you?

spider guardian

Hackers aren't all about multi-million dollar theft you know. They also bring theoretical machines to life.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMGJB410Ccs