Sony Playstation & Microsoft Xbox networks attacked by hackers in wake of The Interview release
Both Microsoft’s Xbox and Sony’s Playstation networks continued to be down on Boxing Day with no clear resolution in sight in the wake of the release of the movie, The Interview.
Sony tweeted today (26 December) through its Ask Playstation Twitter feed to update users that engineers were “continuing to work hard” on resolving the issues almost a full day after issues first began.
Our engineers are continuing to work hard to resolve the network issues users have experienced today. Thanks for your continued patience!
— Ask PlayStation (@AskPlayStation) December 26, 2014
Sony has been the target of recent cyber attacks, ahead of the release of its comedy, The Interview, which despite theatres withdrawing from screening the film, was released across around 300 screens in the US, as well as being distributed online, including through Xbox Video.
#TheInterview is available today on #XboxVideo and on http://t.co/z0Uqvv6A3m. http://t.co/mnDwPuepko pic.twitter.com/FYlq2INWeJ — EntertainmentForXbox (@XboxEntertain) December 24, 2014Hacking group Lizard Squad claimed to have caused the outage and said that vouchers donated by Kim Dot Com were the reason as to why they ceased the attacks.
Thanks @KimDotcom for the vouchers--you're the reason we stopped the attacks. @MegaPrivacy is an awesome service.
— Lizard Squad (@LizardMafia) December 26, 2014
A Christmas Miracle. How @MegaPrivacy saved @Xbox & @PlayStation from the @LizardMafia attack. Enjoy your games! :-) pic.twitter.com/qoaZ33eqCi — Kim Dotcom (@KimDotcom) December 26, 2014Meanwhile, The Interview has received mixed reviews but its release alone has been praised by free speech campaigners such as filmmaker Michael Moore who ran his own screening in Traverse City.
The withdrawl by cinemas from screening the film due to threats from North Korea the week before was criticised by President Obama and George Clooney.
Day 1 of THE INTERVIEW @ my theater, TraverseCity,MI: Sold Out! People don't like 2 b told what they can & cannot see pic.twitter.com/yrJgY3Ez7a
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) December 26, 2014