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"In order to further safeguard our users and their accounts, we are preparing to offer a 2-step verification feature," a Sony representative told Polygon.The representative did not provide a time frame for when the new feature would be rolled out, adding that more details would be shared at a later date. Earlier this week, Sony released a firmware update for its PlayStation 3 console – version 4.80 – which mentions the feature if a user enters incorrect login information. One PlayStation 3 users shared a screenshot of the login error screen on Twitter:
The screen reads:More proof about #PSN 2-step verification. This is from PS3 after today's v4.80 update. pic.twitter.com/Kt4WbyGk6G
— Tuomas Tonteri (@tontsa) April 20, 2016
“The sign-in ID or password is incorrect. If 2-step verification is active, you must enter a device setup password into the [Password] field. Check your mobile phone for a text message about your Sony Entertainment Network account.”Two-step verification, or two-factor authentication, requires users to confirm their identity by providing two different forms of verification when logging into a service. The process often asks users to enter their existing login details, as well as a second piece of information, such as a one-time passcode, which may be generated by a mobile app or received via text message. Some users believe Sony’s move was long overdue. In 2011, Sony suffered a major hack, forcing the company to shut down its PlayStation network for three weeks, and potentially exposing the personal information of over 77 million users. Furthermore, in 2014, hackers released a trove of confidential data from Sony Pictures Entertainment, including sensitive employee information, e-mails between employees and copies of the then unreleased film, The Interview.
