IT Security Stories to Watch: PlayStation Network, Bebe Cyber Attacks

Another week, another list of IT security newsmakers to watch. The Sony (SNE) PlayStation Network security breach tops this week’s list of IT security stories after cybercriminals reportedly attacked the online store earlier today.  Bebe Stores (BEBE), Experian Data Breach Resolution and Sony Pictures Entertainment also made this week’s list of IT security newsmakers to watch.

What can managed service providers (MSPs) and their customers learn from these IT security stories? Check out the following list of the four IT security stories to watch for the week of Dec. 8 to find out:

1. Sony’s PlayStation Network goes down

Sony said its PlayStation Network today suffered an outage that lasted roughly two hours.

“We are aware that users are having issues connecting to PSN. Thanks for your patience as we investigate,” Sony tweeted earlier today.

This incident reportedly occurred due to a cyber attack, but Sony pointed out that there are no indications that any PlayStation Network user information has been leaked or stolen.

2. Cyber criminals target Bebe locations

Did you or any of your customers shop at women’s fashion apparel retailer Bebe last month? If so, your payment card information may have been compromised.

Bebe last week released details about a cyber attack in which hackers focused on collecting data from payment cards used at the retailer’s U.S., Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands stores between Nov. 8 and Nov. 26.

The women’s fashion retailer said the compromised data may have included cardholder account numbers, cardholder names, card expiration dates, and card verification codes.

Bebe is offering free credit monitoring services for one year to customers whom the cyber attack could have affected.

“Our relationship with our customers is of the highest priority and we recognize the importance of protecting their information,” Bebe CEO Jim Wiggett said in a prepared statement. “We moved quickly to block this attack and have taken steps to further enhance our security measures.”

3. Experian Data Breach Resolution offers data breach predictions for 2015

What data breach industry trends could affect MSPs next year?

Credit bureau Experian Data Breach Resolution last week provided details about several key issues that could affect businesses worldwide in its second annual “Data Breach Industry Forecast.”

The credit bureau’s 2015 data breach industry predictions included:

All of Experian Data Breach Resolution’s 2015 data breach industry predictions are available here.

4. FBI: Antivirus software did not detect Sony Pictures data breach

Last month’s Sony Pictures data breach resulted in the release of gigabytes of sensitive information, but not even the most up-to-date antivirus software could prevent this cyber attack from happening, according to the FBI.

“This incident appears to have been conducted using techniques that went undetected by industry standard antivirus software,” an FBI spokesperson told USA Today.

Kevin Mandia, CEO of IT security firm Mandiant, added that the Sony Pictures cyber attack was unlike any other he had previously encountered.

“This was an unparalleled and well-planned crime, carried out by an organized group, for which neither Sony Pictures Entertainment nor other companies could have been fully prepared,” he said.

What do you think will be the biggest IT security stories for MSPs this week? Share your thoughts in the Comments section below, via Twitter @dkobialka or email me at [email protected].