PlayStation Network Down Update: Some PSN Services To Return This Week

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Now that Sony has had to deal with the biggest security breach in the history of gaming, the possibility of personal user information being stolen and then sold off on the black market, and an intervention from the United States congress, it seems that it’s about time to get the PlayStation Network up and running again, wouldn’t you say?

Well, it may be time to celebrate, because the latest post on the PlayStation Blog outlines plans for just that. Sony says that some services will be restored this week, while everything should be more or less back to normal within the month. Sony assures users that since shutting down PSN and Qriocity servers in order to perform an “extensive audit of the system,” a few weeks ago, they’ve been working with third-party experts and have “implemented a variety of new security measures to provide greater protection of personal information.”

It seems that those measures have passed the test, and Sony is ready to begin restoring PSN. In the immediate future (within the next week), those with a PSN account can expect the following:

• Restoration of Online game-play across the PlayStation®3 (PS3) and PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) systems (This includes titles requiring online verification and downloaded games)
• Access to Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity for PS3/PSP for existing subscribers
• Access to account management and password reset
• Access to download un-expired Movie Rentals on PS3, PSP and MediaGo
• PlayStation®Home
• Friends List
• Chat Functionality

Sony also said that they’ve created the new position of Chief Information Security Officer, who will be “directly reporting to Shinji Hasejima.” Concerning the new security measures they’ve put in place to make sure that a breach of this scale doesn’t happen again, Sony says that users can expect additional protection in the form of added automated software that will defend against future attacks, enhanced data encryption, enhanced ability to actually detect intrusions, and added firewall protection.

But what’s in it for you, the customer who has had to deal with the nightmare of your personal info possibly getting out into the open (and perhaps even sold)? While Sony says that there’s “no evidence at this time that credit card data was taken,” they’ve detailed their “Welcome Back,” compensation program, which will treat users to the following freebies:

• Each territory will be offering selected PlayStation entertainment content for free download. Specific details of this content will be announced in each region soon.
• All existing PlayStation Network customers will be provided with 30 days free membership in the PlayStation Plus premium service. Current members of PlayStation Plus will receive 30 days free service.
• Music Unlimited powered by Qriocity subscribers (in countries where the service is available) will receive 30 days free service.

They’ve also announced that they will help users enroll in identity protection services free of charge, though they didn’t give too many details on that, and that more “Welcome Back,” services and offerings will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Well folks, it finally looks like we’re heading toward the light at the end of this tunnel (hopefully). Have you stuck by Sony through this debacle? Will what they’re offering as compensation suffice, or do you expect more after all of this? Do you trust that they’ll be able to keep your information secure in the future, or are you not even going to give them the benefit of the doubt? Sound off in the comments section below.