Tens of millions of PlayStation owners were urged to change their online passwords yesterday after a huge data theft from Sony's systems.
Online banking and shopping accounts are at risk from cyber criminals after hackers raided the company's PlayStation Network and Qriocity service, because of the way internet users reuse passwords.
Sony's systems, which have been shut down for a week, provide online video gaming services and streaming of films and music via the internet. The company has so far refused to confirm whether passwords were stored in files protected by encryption.
The firm has, however, admitted that files of 77million names, addresses, email addresses, birth dates, passwords and usernames were stolen. Sony also said that credit card information may have been stolen, but it had no evidence either way.
Joseph Bonneau, a researcher at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, said: "It's hard to say if leaking passwords or credit card details is a bigger deal.
"Studies show that up to 50 per cent of passwords are reused elsewhere online, so even if the hackers didn't get the credit cards they might be able to access your online banking service using the data they did manage to steal."
Online banking and shopping accounts are at risk from cyber criminals after hackers raided the company's PlayStation Network and Qriocity service, because of the way internet users reuse passwords.
Sony's systems, which have been shut down for a week, provide online video gaming services and streaming of films and music via the internet. The company has so far refused to confirm whether passwords were stored in files protected by encryption.
The firm has, however, admitted that files of 77million names, addresses, email addresses, birth dates, passwords and usernames were stolen. Sony also said that credit card information may have been stolen, but it had no evidence either way.
Joseph Bonneau, a researcher at the University of Cambridge Computer Laboratory, said: "It's hard to say if leaking passwords or credit card details is a bigger deal.
"Studies show that up to 50 per cent of passwords are reused elsewhere online, so even if the hackers didn't get the credit cards they might be able to access your online banking service using the data they did manage to steal."