Sony Hires Former Homeland Security Official Following PSN Attack

Sony has hired a former U.S. Department of Homeland Security official as its new chief information security officer, as a means of further improving its network security following the PSN attack earlier this year. Philip Reitinger was previously director of the U.S. National Cyber Security Center, and will now take on a senior vice president role for Sony Corporation. A Sony spokesman explained to business site Reuters that the PlayStation Network attack, which took place in April of this year and caused a service outage of over three weeks, was a reason for this appointment. "Certainly the network issue was a catalyst for the appointment," the Sony spokesman said. "We are looking to bolster our network security even further." Sony said last week that sales via its online gaming service are currently exceeding those from before the attack. As part of a Sony conference at the IFA electronics show, Sony CEO Howard Stringer explained that the network has recovered and is now doing better than before, with 3 million new customers since coming back online.