EOC 5: Sony Sleuths Marketing

In this age of technology we have revolutionized the way we communicate with the world, along the lines of that communication we also developed the people that want to harm our internet world. The internet hackers are thought to be your average nerd who lives in their mother's basement and uses their computer all day. In fact they have become more threatening. Attacking major websites and companies. The most recent and critical security breach that was attacked was SONY. The company was recently hacked, and had about 77 million users personal data stolen from the play station network. "The attack, which exposed the personal information and possibly credit card data of 77 million customer accounts, was disclosed Tuesday, more than a week after the computer systems were breached. Sony's admission triggered an immediate backlash, with consumers filing at least two lawsuits against the company and lawmakers condemning it for failing to notify customers sooner."  http://articles.latimes.com/2011/apr/28/business/la-fi-0428-ct-sony-hack-20110428   What Sony failed to do was to notify their customers about the hackers getting into the system. As a company this was a very bad move on their part, because they had about one week to at least warn users that their personal data might have be stolen. This could have prevented some users data from being taken over. "Sony was slow to notify consumers about the attacks that compromised personal information in 77 million PlayStation Network accounts and 24.6 million Sony Online Entertainment accounts, said Bono Mack, who chairs the subcommittee. “Why weren’t Sony’s customers notified sooner of the cyberattack?” Bono Mack asked. “I fundamentally believe that all consumers have a right to know when their personal information has been compromise,” she added." http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/sony-response-to-hackers-half-baked-bono-mack-says-20110504  Users are extremely upset at the irresponsibility of the company for not warning them about it or being informed earlier. More of the customers are actually upset for not being able to play in the system. Those customers have been loyal to the company even with all the chaos going on, but with this occurring. The Trust factor has definitely been harmed. "If you have compromised my credit information, you will never receive it again," read one message on the PlayStation Network blog from a user under the name Korbei83."The fact that you've waited this long to divulge this information to your customers is deplorable. Shame on you." http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110427/wr_nm/us_sony_stolendata I believe this company has put its users through a lot of chaos, and should rightfully compensate its users for sticking through the whole mess. They should give their subscribers a years worth of free access, along with free games, a security confirmation that their personal data is out of harms way, and that piece of mind that they will fix the problem and make up for it. Indeed these customers deserve it.