Sony resumption of PlayStation Network, Qriocity Services (PC World)

Sony will begin a gradual recovery of its PlayStation Network and Qriocity services Sunday, more than three weeks after a cyber attack that resulted in the loss of personal information on more than 100 million customers.

The two services will be initially available for users in North America (where the service to resume late Saturday), Europe, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand. Service in the Japan and Asia will return to still to be announced later.

First services to return will be online, reading games and already rented video, "Music Unlimited" online audio streaming, access to the services of third parties such as Netflix and Hulu, PlayStation Home features and friends like the cat. Full service expected to resume at the end of May.

Users should change passwords

PlayStation users will be invited to download a software update when they connect to the network. The update of the version 3.61 ask users to change their password. Once modified, users can access their accounts.

The connection for each account password has been stolen data when an unknown hacker or hackers attacked San Diego Sony data center April 19. Other disclosed information included the names and addresses to registered PlayStation Network and Qriocity users, with their dates of birth, addresses, e-mail and other personal information.

Later, Sony discovered a similar attack on its Sony Online Entertainment Network, which serves PC users. This service will resume Sunday in the world.

Attack any net of personal information on more than 100 million users, which in fact the largest ever known consumer data leakage.

Three weeks to rebuild

Sony has spent much of the course of the past three weeks, analyze the hack and rebuild its network to better protect against future attacks.

Updates have been "considerable improvements to the security of data, including updating and adding additional technologies advanced security, monitoring of the additional software and penetration and vulnerability testing and increased levels of encryption and firewall."," Sony said in a statement. He also added software to provide a harbinger of the activity of the system that might indicate an attack took place.

During the period the PlayStation Network remained offline, depriving the owners of the console of the possibility of playing online.

"I can't thank you enough for your patience and your support during this period," said Kaz Hirai, Executive Vice President of Sony and its game division head, in a statement. "We know even the most loyal clients were frustrated by this process and are eager to use their services and products Sony again." We take aggressive measures at all levels to respond to the concerns raised by this incident and are full time, consumption data protection of society wide commitment. ?

For more information about the failure, see PlayStation Network Hack chronology of the PC world. See also "" PlayStation Network security breach: a survival Guide. ""

Martyn Williams covers the Japan and technology General breaking news for The IDG News Service. Follow Martyn on Twitter to martyn_williams @. Martyn e-mail address is martyn_williams@idg.com