In a new statement, Sony has acknowledged that it recently experienced two sizable data breaches that may have exposed the personal information of a large number of individuals. As a result of the hacks, questions have been raised, and the tech giant’s cybersecurity measures have attracted attention. 

Who Was Affected and What Was Compromised?

The initial breach, which happened in May, saw the personal information of 6,791 individuals in the US potentially exposed. While the specific nature of the compromised data is not known, this breach was linked to a zero-day vulnerability in the MOVEit Transfer platform, which allowed hackers to access Sony’s code remotely. The breach was discovered on June 2, prompting Sony to launch an investigation with the help of external cybersecurity experts and law enforcement.

Late last month, there was a second breach, resulting in the theft of up to 3.14 GB of data from Sony’s online systems. This breach involved two separate hackers who claimed responsibility and shared a leaked dataset containing various details. However, unlike the first breach, there was no indication of personal data compromise in this case.

Sony is currently conducting investigations, with the affected individuals from the first breach being offered credit monitoring and identity restoration services. These breaches highlight the ongoing challenges companies face in safeguarding sensitive data from cyberattacks and underscore the importance of robust cybersecurity measures.

Sony’s Response and Assurances

Sony is committed to addressing the situation promptly and transparently. Individual notifications are being sent out to those affected by the initial breach and Sony is offering credit services through Equifax. This service will be available to affected individuals until February 29, 2024. While Sony’s cybersecurity team works to investigate both breaches, the company is emphasizing that the security of its customers and partners is of paramount importance. They claim to be taking proactive steps to enhance their security measures to prevent future breaches.

Source: Game Rant/BleepingComputer

What to Do if You’re Affected by a Data Breach?

In the unfortunate event that you find yourself affected by a data breach, it’s crucial to take immediate steps to protect yourself and minimize potential harm:

• Monitor Financial Accounts: Regularly review your bank, credit card, and financial statements for any suspicious or unauthorized transactions. If you notice any inconsistencies, contact your financial institution right away.
• Change Passwords: If any of your online accounts use the same password as a compromised one, change them immediately. Use strong, unique passwords for each account.
• Credit Monitoring: Take advantage of any credit monitoring services offered by the affected organization.
• Set Up Fraud Alerts: Consider placing a fraud alert or security freeze on your credit report with the major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This can help prevent unauthorized accounts from being opened in your name.

Protecting Your Identity and Personal Info 

Compromised personal data can have serious consequences, including identity theft and financial fraud. We would encourage readers to head over to our FREE ID Protection tool, which has been designed to meet these challenges.  

With ID Protection, you can: 

• Check to see if your data (email address and phone number) has been exposed in a leak, or is up for grabs on the dark web.
• Secure your social media accounts with our Social Media Account Monitoring tool, with which you’ll receive a personalized report.
• Receive the strongest tough-to-hack password suggestions.
• Enjoy a safer browsing experience, as Trend Micro checks websites and prevents trackers. 

Why not give it a go today? As always, we hope this article has been an interesting and/or useful read. If so, please do SHARE it with family and friends to help keep the online community secure and informed — and consider leaving a like or comment below.