PS3 - Sony activation/deactivation policy

dnmharwood

Hi folks,
I need some advice please.

I have owned a PS3 for a couple of year and rarely played on it, used it more to watch movies etc.

On Nov 26th I downloaded some new games partly for me and one for my sons 8th birthday present.

To play downloaded games on the console I was required to activate the console, which I did successfully through the settings.

Things have been fine for the last couple of weeks and my son loves FIFA 14.

Last night when I attempted to open the game it said I have to activate my system, strange I thought, as I'd already done it but I went ahead and tried it anyway only for the system to say it was not possible as I had 2 consoles activated already (The Sony limit)

I spoke to the helpdesk in America who directed me to a site to deactivate all consoles but that proved impossible as I got a message saying I'd recently deactivated consoles and this is apparently something you can only do every 6 months.

So I called the UK helpdesk this morning. I was effectively accused of sharing my Playstation Network login details, or lying about activated consoles. 45 minutes later I got nowhere, I've been promised a call from a Supervisor but warned they will not be able to deactivate the consoles that are currently on the account even though they clearly are not mine.

So it seems to me someone has somehow hacked my account deactivated my console and activated 2 of their own consoles and is now enjoying my downloaded games and I can do nothing about it.

They have stated it is clear in their terms and conditions that security of my credentials is my responsibility and they cannot do anything, but I have not disclosed my details to anyone and who's to say their security is not at fault?? They are adamant I must have signed in on someones console or disclosed my username/password, and this is simply not the case, I'm a 42 year old Company Director, I really have better things to be doing!

I've changed the account password but right now I'm faced with no way of accessing £105 worth of downloaded games and one very upset 8 year old.

I really do not know which way to turn as this seems grossly unfair, I've considered disputing the charges on my credit card for the game purchases but not sure if that is something I can/should do.

I'd be happy if they just closed/suspended my account and either gave me a refund for the games or let me download them under a new account, but they seem totally unreasonable and unwilling to help me.

Advice/thoughts very welcome.

Duncan

bebewoo

I know it's not much help but they are kidding if they think they can stand by the security of their systems. The Sony hacking was one of the biggest ones in recent memory.

http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/2013-01/24/sony-hack-fine

dnmharwood

Thanks that's got me thinking actually. I suspect my account was created prior to this incident. So given they were accused of failing to provide sufficient security to customers they breached the contract so for them to now (Without any evidence) accuse me of compromising my own security is outrageous.

Ade_Sands

Hi Duncan - I don't know if this is much help, but have you tried logging into the PSN on your computer? uk.playstation.com (no www) I know that there are activation/deactivation instructions there. I haven't been in that situation before, but it's worth having a go at that, if you haven't already. Ade

senileturtle

Try to take it higher up. They too have responsibility to ensure details are safe by way of security measures on their online network etc.

RichL74

dnmharwood wrote: »

Thanks that's got me thinking actually. I suspect my account was created prior to this incident. So given they were accused of failing to provide sufficient security to customers they breached the contract so for them to now (Without any evidence) accuse me of compromising my own security is outrageous.

Right okay I don't like this blame sony thing for the following reason

When the well publicised hack happened, when it was fixed EVERYONE had to change their passwords. And I mean everyone. Did you? If you did then how can you be blaming sony? You say yiourself the original account was created prior to the hack so when you started using it again, you would have changed your password whenever it was - last summer I think.

EDIT: I dont mean the password you changed in the past couple of days as you mentioned in your first post.

Are your sons friends all playing fifa online with each with your log-in credentials I wonder - might be worth checking out just to make sure?

dnmharwood

I have no desire to 'Blame' anyone, all I seek is a resolution to my problem, a problem I can be confident was not of my making.

My son is 8, he plays FIFA 14 under my supervision, does not meet with any friends who have a PS3. He simply comes onto the PS3 selects his name at sign-in and clicks the game to play, his sign-in does not even have Playstation Network Access and I never give him any of my passwords for any online accounts where he could spend money. I've read all the horror stories relating to Apple purchases and alike and given I have a long experience of protecting my own company against fraud and malicious attacks I am probably a lot more careful and tighter with my own personal security than most. I can be confident in the eyes of the law I would and do take fair and reasonable steps to remain secure and comply with the Sony agreement I signed up to.. could they say the same for the past 3/4 years? You know the answer to that.

Furthermore I have not signed into, played on any other console or shared my details with anyone else, and I mean anyone.

For access to my games to stop suddenly Tuesday evening and to be told I have no way of accessing them again for 6 months because I have somehow compromised my own security is not fair.

So in reality it is me that has been unfairly 'Blamed', they have no evidence whatsoever and given their history of failing to protect customer data as the 2nd poster said its a bit rich at the very least..

RichL74

But the point I am trying to make is, and without going round in circles, yes there was the hack, data was comprimised, Sony took the servers down and fixed the problem and then made everyone change their password - you would have been included in the everyone.

However, and you might want to look into this further, EA / Origin accounts are notorious for being compromised - would you account details with them be the same as your PS3 log in details?

As in dnmharwood @ something.com
password whatever2013

For both PS3 and your EA / Origin account which you would have had to create to play FIFA? I dont think it lets you carry on any further with the game until you do that?

Oh and please dont take a post I made at 06:00 this morning as a personal attack on you or your son, I'm just trying to look at other avenues, for example he may have had some friends that come and play FIFA with him who are more savvy - but again, please dont be offended as offence is not what I am trying to create.

senileturtle

Rich, Sony was hacked twice.

RichL74

Since the time they took it down for a couple of months and made everyone change their passwords?

senileturtle

The password change was after the first hack. Don't think they did it after the
second.

There was also a exploit on the password change page:

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2011-05-18-sonys-psn-password-page-hacked

Either way, a psn account is still hackable with the right resources.

They also forced some people to password change this year without any warning. They didn't actually tell users to change their passwords, they just went ahead and changed it for them without notifying users!