SOE is down! (Not just EQ2)

[Titia]

Not compensating anything would have most PSN player flee to either M$ or Nintendo. Consoles are one of the last area where Sony still can hold its rank (they just don't in TV or smartphones), they can't affort loosing these player or yes, it will affect them hard (their stock keeps falling, 7% down over last month, 20% last three).

As for SOE, giving a free month to all plus  free days (and I agree SC is monkey money but it's still a form of income for them) and topping this with investement to get the infrastructure secured... it's free play time when they don't get returns on investment and hit their reserve. Not that I believe this will run them to fill a chapter 11  but I do hope this won't affect future develpments (like GUs or EQ3).

[Wayena]

SONY ONLINE ENTERTAINMENT RESTORES GAME SERVICES

Services Return Following Implementation of Increased Security Measures; Consumer Data Protection a Full-Time, Company-Wide Commitment

SAN DIEGO, May 14, 2011 - Sony Online Entertainment LLC (SOE) announced today that restoration of its game services will begin today. The phased restoration will include the return of nearly all of SOE's portfolio of online games, the reinstatement of SOE's game forums and websites, and added functionality to require players to reset their passwords.

Increased Security Measures

As the result of a criminal cyber-attack on the company's network, SOE shut down its game services in order for the company to undertake an investigation and incorporate rigorous enhancements to the overall security of the network infrastructure. SOE worked with several outside respected security firms during the course of implementing significant security measures that strengthen safeguards against unauthorized activity and provide customers with greater protection of their personal information.

SOE made enhancements to overall data security as well, including updating and adding advanced security technologies, additional software monitoring, performing new penetration and vulnerability testing, and increased levels of encryption.

"Our main priority is the safety and security of our customers' personal information," said Kazuo Hirai, Executive Deputy President, Sony Corporation. "We are making consumer data protection a full-time, company-wide commitment, and have applied enhanced security technologies so that our customers can feel protected and confident about playing our games."

Hirai added, "We are committed to delivering secure and entertaining games for players of all ages and thank each of our players for their patience and support during this difficult time."

SOE will also be offering its customers a "Welcome Back" program that includes special game content and services to all registered Station Account holders. As part of this program, players will receive 30 days of additional game time plus one day for each day SOE's services were down. The details of this program are available at www.soe.com/securityupdate/welcomeback.
For more information about the SOE network intrusion and restoration, please visit http://www.soe.com/securityupdate

[Wayena]

The Welcome Back rewards for EQ2:
•Double XP
•Double Guild XP
•Loot Bonanza
•The City Festivals and Moonlight Enchantments will be live
•The original Aether races return

Eligibility:
All players, each character
May 14, 2011 through May 22, 2011

Method of Collection:
Just login and play!

As of 7:30 pm EST, login servers and Sony websites seem to still be down. Perhaps it'll be up later tonight? I hope so.

[Wayena]

AND......!!!!

As of 7:57 pm EST, I was able to get the launcher to connect. I was directed to a SOE page to change my password and review my account information.

YAY!!! 

[Jasyn]

Well, this is encouraging news indeed.  I'll be needing to attend to my account matters as well.

[PinkRose]

Question: What am I supposed to do?
I don't have an active account. But I was definitely active for 10 years off and on, through 4 of their games with multiple cards and accounts. I have received no e-mail about my security.
I might have been one of those that was part of the 2001 sweepstakes even.
Should I be concerned? Should I be getting an e-mail? Shouldn't I hear something?

[Jasyn]

Question: What am I supposed to do?
I don't have an active account. But I was definitely active for 10 years off and on, through 4 of their games with multiple cards and accounts. I have received no e-mail about my security.
I might have been one of those that was part of the 2001 sweepstakes even.
Should I be concerned? Should I be getting an e-mail? Shouldn't I hear something?

At a minimum, it wouldn't hurt to reset your password and review your stored account information, particularly if someone is clever enough to successfully reverse the hash on any leaked passwords and gain unauthorzied access to accounts.

Even though you don't have any active subscriptions, there shouldn't be anything stopping you from logging into your old Station account if you need to, assuming you remember your user name & password.

SOE Password Reset

[Titia]

They actually extended all subscriptions, not only those active at time of the breach. My account expires in 45 days and my VG account is flagged on for that duration... makes me wonder

[Jasyn]

With that in mind, I guess this is potentially some good info to share with those who are interested:

PC WELCOME BACK DETAILS
We want to ensure that your experience is as positive as possible as you re-enter our games. To show our gratitude for your patience and support, Sony Online Entertainment is offering a Welcome Back Program, the details of which are outlined below.

Firstly, as a Station Account holder in good standing, you will receive 45 days of game time (30 days plus 1 day for each day of the outage) added to your Station Account. This game time applies to any game you have currently or previously activated on your Station Account.

For those customers on an active paying plan, this time has been added to the end of your current billing cycle. For all other customers, your time begins upon your first login to each of the relevant games. Customers must login by 11:59 pm PST August 31, 2011 to claim the game time.

If you require the latest SOE game software, visit www.soe.com/getthegame.

In addition to game time, current Station Access subscribers (with accounts in good standing) will receive 500 Station Cash.
Lifetime subscribers/members (who are therefore not on a billing cycle) will receive in-game currency instead of game time:

•Clone Wars Adventures™ - 7,500 Galactic Credits
•Free Realms® - 20,000 Coin
•DC Universe™ Online - 10 Marks of Distinction
Additionally, many of our PC games are offering a variety of items and special events to welcome players back, depending on which game(s) you play or have ever played. The table below covers, by game, which items are available and who is eligible to receive them.

And maybe this too:

Sony Online Entertainment Offering Free 'AllClear ID PLUS' Identity Theft Protection in the United States through Debix, Inc.More InfoMassachusetts Residents
Puerto Rico Residents
Restoration Announcement
Welcome Back Program
Recent Updates (as of May 14)
Identity Protection
Customer Service Notification
Press Release (May 3)
On Monday, May 2, Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) announced that it will provide complimentary enrollment in an identity theft protection program.

What follows are the details of this program for Station Account holders in the United States only. SOE and its sister Sony companies are actively investigating similar programs or other measures to support SOE customers in other countries or territories; more information on those programs or measures will be provided as they are implemented.

SOE has made arrangements with Debix, one of the industry's most reputable identity protection firms, to offer complimentary sign up to AllClear ID Plus. This service is available to Station Account holders in the United States for 12 months and commences upon sign up. Customers will have until June 28, 2011 to sign up.

AllClear ID Plus, powered by Debix includes:

•Cyber monitoring and surveillance of the Internet to detect exposure of an AllClear ID Plus customer's personal information, including monitoring of criminal web sites and data recovered by law enforcement. If his/her personal information is found, the customer will be alerted by phone and/or email and will be provided advice and support regarding protective steps to take. The customer will also receive monthly identity status reports. Debix works with an alliance of cyber-crime experts from the government, academia and industry to provide these services.
•Priority access to licensed private investigators and identity restoration specialists. If an AllClear ID Plus customer receives an alert, or otherwise suspects that he/she may be the victim of identity theft, the customer can speak directly, on a priority basis, with an on-staff licensed private investigator, who will conduct a comprehensive inquiry. In the case of an identity theft, the customer can work with an identity restoration specialist to restore his/her identity. The restoration specialist would contact creditors and others, and take necessary steps to restore the customer's identity.
•A $1 million identity theft insurance policy per user to provide additional protection in the event that an AllClear ID Plus customer becomes a victim of identity theft. This insurance would provide financial relief of up to $1 million for covered identity restoration costs, legal defense expenses, and lost wages that occur within 12 months after the stolen identity event.
To sign up, you will need to retrieve your AllClear ID Plus code (if you have not yet reset your Station Account password, you will be prompted to do so before you can obtain the code), then visit Debix to redeem your code and sign up. Please note that codes are not expected to be available until sometime during the week of May 16th.

[Alirrin]

I just logged in to Station and discovered that my DCUO, EQ, EQ2, and SWG subscriptions are all on "45 day non-recurring", so it looks like we can log into all of our games for the duration. Of course, it happens while I am on reduced game time ... ;-) Jasyn posted that last just as I was typing this.  I can wait until I have free time again to use my time. Sweet!