Sony offers free identity protection after data breaches
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Hacker-struck electronics giant offers US customers free access to identity theft protection services
Japanese electronics giant Sony began is offering free access to identity protection services for US-based users of its Playstation Network (PSN) and Qriocity online services, both of which suffered data breaches last month.
Affected customers will receive free access to various services from identity protection provider Debix, it announced on a company blog post. These services include monitoring the Internet for signs that users' personal data is being used or sold and identity theft insurance worth up to $1 million.
"Sony has arranged, at no charge to eligible PlayStation Network and Qriocity account holders, for twelve months of this service to be provided by Debix to those who choose to enroll," the company said.
Debix's service usually cost $9.95 a month, although it appears that Sony's offer does not include all the components of its standard offering.
Writing in the comments section of the official blog, a Sony representative said a similar package will be made available for Canadian users, but there was no mention of whether the service will be offered to UK users.
Sony revealed yet more data breaches this week, affecting customers in Greece, Thailand and Japan. "As long as it is popular within the hacker community to expose Sony's flaws, we are likely to continue seeing successful attacks against them," remarked Chester Wisniewski, an advisor at UK security company Sophos.
