PlayStation Network security slammed after support leaks trophy hunter's account to hacker

The PlayStation Network has a troubled history with protecting customer accounts. Since the 2011 PSN outage, when 77 million accounts were hacked, the company insists it has added security measures. However, gamers continue to report stolen login information. The latest example involves prolific trophy hunter, dav1d_123. Much of the criticism revolves around dysfunctional PlayStation Network support.

Nepharious individuals target accounts with a high trophy count or belonging to well-known users. Then, the login information sells for lofty prices on black market sites or Telegram. GGmuks on social media recounted how his friend, David, was a victim of such a scheme.

Dav1d_123, who has over 1600 platinum trophies, lost access to his PlayStation Network account on October 7th. Unfortunately, Authy 2FA failed to prevent the security breach. After reaching no resolution, GGmuks decided to message the stolen account on his friend’s behalf. Surprisingly, the hacker responded and shed light on flawed PSN security.

“Zzyuj” explained that it’s possible to convince customer support to provide access to accounts only by providing a user name. He believes the agents work in lower-cost-of-living countries for a minimal salary. The employees also aren’t properly trained in security protocols.

Dav1d_123 is one of many targeted trophy hunters

The recent incident reminds players of the Hakoom saga in 2024. Hakoom was a record-setting trophy holder and a content creator. During the incident, a leaked video showing the software used by PlayStation Network support surfaced. Refered to as “PACMAN”, it displays payment information, console serial numbers, and other sensitive data. GGmuks concludes that the program breaks fundamental security guidelines.

Customer support is also accused of succumbing to bribery and selling PlayStation Network accounts. Gamers are now again calling on Sony to respond to these claims. Critics note how the company has often lacked transparency when responding to past security breaches.