Sony PlayStation network users face password change

Users of Sony's PlayStation Network will have to change their passwords, the Japanese entertainment and technology giant said on Sunday as it looks to boost security after its system was hacked. Sony apologised for a security breach that compromised millions of users, and said that while it had no evidence that credit card information was stolen it could not rule it out. In a statement on Sunday, Sony said that it will soon issue a security software update for PlayStation 3 users. "PS3 will have a system software update that will require all PS3 users to change their PlayStation Network and Qriocity account passwords," it said in a statement. Sony said it "will highly recommend users to review account statements and to monitor credit card purchase history to protect against possible identity theft or other financial loss". Launched in November 2006, the PlayStation Network has 77 million registered accounts worldwide, allowing gamers to compete against each other online and buy games, movies or music via the Internet. Sony executives on Sunday bowed in apology and said the company would begin restoring its PlayStation Network and Qriocity online services in the next week and improve security measures after the breach. The PlayStation Network and Qriocity streaming music service were shut down on April 20 after what Sony described as an "external intrusion" and remain offline as the company upgrades security and works with US Federal Bureau of Investigation.