Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Geek Speak => Topic started by: smart on 21/10/2016 21:57:52

Title: Does sony playstation network has been attacked?
Post by: smart on 21/10/2016 21:57:52

I've just noticed my PS3 system won't let me signin today. Is this a side-effect from the recent DNS handover to ICANN?

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/tech/gaming/555533/PSN-down-not-working-PS4-PlayStation-Network-PS3

Title: Re: Does sony playstation network has been attacked?
Post by: RD on 22/10/2016 14:05:48

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/netflix-twitter-internet-down-not-working-broken-paypal-ebay-facebook-instagram-a7374506.html

Title: Re: Does sony playstation network has been attacked?
Post by: evan_au on 24/10/2016 09:20:10

Yes, this Distributed Denial of Service attack (DDoS) did take down a DNS server.
- But this server was operated by a private company (Dyn), just as it was last year.
- So the handover to ICANN did not affect this attack at all.

DDoS attacks are growing in power and sophistication.
- Some of the largest recent attacks have harnessed the "Internet of Things" to generate the attack
- Things like a PS3 that is left powered up and connected to the internet can be taken over by a hostile attacker, and used to launch huge amounts of traffic at some target.

Groups like the FBI and NSA will certainly investigate this and other cyber attacks, to try and locate the source(s).
- They can advise on how to make the internet more robust
- They can advise how to detect an infection, and disinfect it
- They can advise how to make devices harder to infect
- But they are not free to fight back without government approval.

And they have an inherent conflict of interest. The harder it is for hackers, criminals and nations to break in to your devices, the harder it is for the government to hack into your devices.