Sony says ‘Anonymous’ Set Stage for Data Theft

Sony blamed Internet vigilante group Anonymous for indirectly allowing a hacker to gain access to personal data of more than 100 million video game users.

The accusation came in letter to Congress and prompted renewed complaints that the Japanese electronic giant’s disclosure had been inadequate and tardy. The company said it waited for two days after first discovering data was stolen from its PlayStation video game network before contacting law enforcement and did not meet with FBI officials until five days later.

In a letter to US Congress, Kazuo Hirai, Chairman of the board of Sony Computer Entertainment America said, “Sony has been the victim of very carefully planned, very professional, highly sophisticated criminal cyber attack.”

The online vigilante group has denied being involved in the data theft. Sony said that it had been the target of attacks from Anonymous because it had taken action against a hacker in a federal Court in San Francisco.

Sony said that it had discovered on Sunday a file planted on one of its servers named Anonymous and featuring the line “We are Legion”, a phrase used by the group. In the letter Kazuo Hirai defended the way that his company had dealt with the breach.

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