Sony Confirms Two-Factor Authentication for PlayStation Network
In an attempt to step up security of its PlayStation Network, Sony confirms its plan to implement a two-factor authentication to the system. The plan was first noticed by some users after the recent PS3 update went live.
"In order to further safeguard our users and their accounts, we are preparing to offer a 2-step verification feature," a Sony representative told gaming site Polygon.
PlayStation Network accounts are used across Sony's gaming devices including the PS4, PS3, PS Vita, online, the PlayStation mobile app, and the PlayStation Portable. The spokesperson did not mention any time frame for the implementation of the two-step verification feature but said the company will share more details at a later date.
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The plan first came to light when a PSN account holder shared a couple of images (below) on Twitter Tuesday and Wednesday. The images contained mentions of a two-step authentication process after the user entered incorrect login information. The prompt started appearing after Sony rolled out PS3's firmware update to version 4.80, though it was also noticed on the PS Vita.
The two-step verification process works by asking users to enter their password and a code received as a text message. This makes the login process more secure than entering a password alone. In recent years, the process has become a stable with tech bigwigs like Google, Twitter, and others adding it as a feature in their services. Sony's competitor on the gaming front Microsoft added two-factor authentication as an option for Xbox users in 2013.
Sony's confirmation comes five years after a massive data breach in 2011 and two years after hackers leaked email data from Sony Pictures Entertainment. The former compromised details from millions of users, while the latter subjected the company to embarrassment as sensitive personal and commercial information became available online.
