Hacker Got Personal Info, Potentially Credit Card Numbers, of 77 Million Playstation Users

According to the Wall Street Journal, Sony has taken down its online Playstation Network service after a hacker accessed the personal information---and possibly credit card numbers---of 77 million Playstation users.

In a blog post, the company said, "Out of an abundance of caution we are advising you that your credit card number (excluding security code) and expiration date may have been obtained."

The Wall Street Journal reports:

The Japanese electronics giant said it has informed PlayStation Network customers that personal information—including names, addresses, billing history and birthdays—was obtained by an "unauthorized person" following a hacking attack that caused Sony to shut down its Internet gaming service last week. Sony said customer credit-card numbers may also have been compromised.

The Japanese game maker said it has hired a security firm to conduct an investigation into what happened. In the mean time, Sony said it expects to restore its Internet gaming service within a week.

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