Sony offering $1 million identity theft protection in the U.S. per user

No need to rehash the Sony PlayStation Network got hacked and everybody’s credit card information might be potentially stolen story for the millionth time. What matters is when is Sony going to restore online service back to PSN and Qriocity and what is Sony going to do to protect its users who might be facing fraudulent charges and identity theft?

For starters, Mr. head of all things Sony Howard Stringer’s apology isn’t going to light the world on fire but it’s start. Sony’s official PlayStation blog posted a new protection plan for its affected users in the U.S.

Sony is partnering with Debix, Inc. a proven identity theft protection firm to provide free AllClear ID Plus for one year to all PSN and Qriocity users. Codes for signing up will be sent out by Sony via email very soon. Click on to read about what you’ll get with the protection plan.

• Cyber monitoring and surveillance of the Internet to detect exposure of an AllClear ID Plus customer’s personal information, including monitoring of criminal web sites and data recovered by law enforcement. If his/her personal information is found, the customer will be alerted by phone and/or email and will be provided advice and support regarding protective steps to take. The customer will also receive monthly identity status reports. Debix works with an alliance of cyber-crime experts from the government, academia and industry to provide these services.
• Priority access to licensed private investigators and identity restoration specialists. If an AllClear ID Plus customer receives an alert, or otherwise suspects that he/she may be the victim of identity theft, the customer can speak directly, on a priority basis, with an on-staff licensed private investigator, who will conduct a comprehensive inquiry. In the case of an identity theft, the customer can work with an identity restoration specialist to contact creditors and others, and take necessary steps to restore the customer’s identity.
• A $1 million identity theft insurance policy per user to provide additional protection in the event that an AllClear ID Plus customer becomes a victim of identity theft. This insurance would provide financial relief of up to $1 million for covered identity restoration costs, legal defense expenses, and lost wages that occur within 12 months after the stolen identity event.

Similar plans for other regions is expected to roll out as well, so please keep an eye out for that if you don’t reside in the U.S. For Sony, this is a step in the right direction to ensure its customers that it’s doing everything it can. Whether or not PlayStation fans will forgive them is another. You decide.

Raymond Wong
Categories: Gaming
Tags: playstation network, PS3, psn, qriocity, Sony