Boonbox
Pacific Coast Information Systems
700-1112 Pender Street West
Vancouver, BC V6E 2S1 Canada
+1 (604) 844-7558
www.boonbox.net
For Immediate Release
Sony PS3 Website Hack Part of Larger Criminal Trend
‘Business’ website application layer needs better security from SQL injection attacks
VANCOUVER, CANADA – July 3, 2008 – The hackers who turned Sony PlayStation website into a site for illegally harvesting IDs are part of a larger trend of web application insecurity, says Pacific Coast Information Systems Ltd. President Vaclav Vincalek.
“Reports indicate that cyber-criminals used an SQL injection vulnerability to recently add unauthorised code to pages promoting PlayStation games SingStar Pop and God of War. “This is just the latest example of when bad things happen to good websites. Typical IT security measures like firewalls and virus scanning software are not effective against the kind of attack hackers used on Sony’s website, using SQL injection against the application layer,” Vincalek notes.
Since up to 75 per cent of hacker attacks are directed against those types of targets, companies that fail to protect website users are opening themselves up to inevitable problems. The number of attacks against the application layer has surged over the past two years.
“And we know from independent analysts from organizations like Forrester Research that a security breach can cost a company between $90 and $305 per record to remedy the situation,” Vincalek adds. “When a company’s website allows hackers access to thousands or even millions of records, the damages add up quickly.”
A web security audit is part of the overall security solution companies need to think about. Devfense is a web security audit tool from PCIS' Boonbox product line. "The tools are already available for businesses that want to be secure," Vaclav says.
About Boonbox – www.boonbox.net
Boonbox, a division of PCIS, was created in 2007. Boonbox specializes in productivity solutions that deliver immediate results in support of business challenges. Partnered with world-class, market leading technology vendors, Boonbox enables mid-sized companies to address security, compliance and data integrity issues.
About PCIS – www.pcis.com
Pacific Coast Information Systems (PCIS) Ltd. is a full-service technology and consulting firm based in Vancouver. Founded in 1995 as a technology company providing application development and support, PCIS’s core business today is to provide technical assessment & services, business analysis, and I.T. project management. PCIS has proven expertise in networking, security, application development, portals and compliance.
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Media Contacts:
Karen Chiang Jonathon Narvey
Boonbox Program Manager PCIS Boonbox Communications
Phone: +1 (604) 844-7558 Phone: +1 (604) 844-7558