- Personal data of millions of users worldwide stolen
- Access to PlayStation Network was suspended a week ago, but Sony only revealed details of data theft today
- Fury as Sony announces breach in blog post just hours after launching tablets at high-profile event
The Japanese firm suffered a massive breach in its online video game network last week that allowed the names and addresses of the users to be stolen in a hacking attack that could cost the company billions.
Access to the PlayStation network was suspended last Wednesday, but the company only revealed the true extent of the data breach today.
A post on a Sony blog said hackers obtained user names, passwords, logins, security questions and, potentially, credit card numbers.
Scroll down for Sony's full announcement
Massive blow: Sony has admitted that the credit card details of 77million PlayStation users could have been stolen by hackers last week
WHAT HAS BEEN STOLEN?
Sony said it believed hackers have obtained the following details from its PlayStation Network users:
- Name
- Address details including postcode, city and country
- Email address
- Date of birth
- PlayStation Network / Qriocity passwords and login
- Handle / PSN online ID
The online network that allows PlayStation owners to play video games against one another was shut immediately after the hacking was discovered on April 19.
A spokesman said it took 'several days of forensic investigation' after learning of the breach before the company knew consumers' data had been compromised.
Sony announced the details of the breach hours after the glitzy launch of a new tablet PC yesterday - and users reacted furiously after Sony made its hacking announcement in a low-key manner on a company blog.
One said: 'If you have compromised my credit information, you will never receive it again. The fact that you've waited this long to divulge this information to your customers is deplorable. Shame on you.'
Mystery still surrounds who is responsible - as the primary suspect, the Anonymous group has denied all responsibility