Sony links Anonymous to Playstation hack

Sony has suggesteda hacking group known as Anonymous planted a file on one of its servers, leading to a massive data breach that compromised the security of information on millions of accounts.

In a letter to a U.S.congressional subcommittee, the company said cyber vandals planted a file named Anonymous on one of its Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) servers, with thetag line, "We are Legion," which is used by the group.

Sony did not directly accuse the internet vigilante groupof carrying out the attack.

"Sony has been the victim of a very carefully planned, very professional, highly sophisticated criminal cyberattack," the company told the House subcommittee on commerce, manufacturing and trade on Wednesday.

Intruders may have obtainedpersonal information, includingnames, birth dates and email addresses as well as credit and debit card data frommore than 100 million usersofSony's PlayStation Network and Qriocity music streaming services worldwide.

The SOE breach was discoveredlastweek while Sony wasinvestigating an earlier attack that compromised information onmillions of accounts from itsPlayStation video game network.

Sony has acknowledged it waited for two days before itreported the April breach to legal authorities.

Back in April, a YouTube video presumably posted by Anonymous admitted there was "ill will" between the group and Sony over the company'slawsuits against PlayStation 3 hackers, butdenied involvement in any cyberattack.

A $1-billionclass action lawsuit related to the Sony data breach was announced in Ontario on Tuesday on behalf of as many as one millionCanadians.

As of Wednesday, Sony said, "the major credit card companies have not reported any fraudulent transactions that they believe are the direct result of this cyber attack."