Blumenthal to Sony: Lack of info on network breach is 'troubling'

Sony's failure to notify customers immediately about the hacker attack that shut down the PlayStation Network last week is "troubling" and the firm should provide more information about it, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) told the tech giant in a letter Tuesday.

Sony announced Monday it would shut down the gaming network indefinitely after an attack brought it down last week, potentially endangering users' personal information and prompting widespread outrage from online gamers.

"I am concerned that PlayStation Network users’ personal and financial information may have been inappropriately accessed by a third party," Blumenthal wrote to Jack Tretton, president and CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment America. "Compounding this concern is the troubling lack of notification from Sony about the nature of the data breach."

Blumenthal claims Sony has yet to notify customers, even a week after the attack, about the breach or provide them with information on how to protect themselves from identity theft.

He argued Sony should provide users with services to protect their financial data, including paying for customers' credit reports for two years and insurance for possible identity theft.

"PlayStation Network users deserve more complete information on the data breach, as well as the assurance that their personal and financial information will be securely maintained," the letter states.

Sony has yet to provide details on the incident to the press aside from acknowledging an "external intrusion" that forced the Japanese firm to shut down the popular gaming network.

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