14 DAY TRIAL // A hacker breach prompting Sony to take its PlayStation Network (PSN) offline is still making headlines almost a full month into the attack as the network is still not fully operational. As a consequence, developer Logicswarm has now released PSN Status, an iOS application that allows users to check the status of their PSN connection.
As its name implies, PSN Status is a Playstation Network status checker. Using the application requires no additional documentation on behalf of the user, with the terse iTunes description standing as clear evidence of that.
The software is compatible with all iDevices that support iOS 4, including iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPod touch third- and fourth-generation players, as well as the original iPad and iPad 2.
For those who are not familiar with the March attack on the PlayStation network, Sony took down the network as a result of a breach that ended with a number of stolen PSN accounts.
“We have discovered that between April 17 and April 19, 2011, certain PlayStation Network and Qriocity service user account information was compromised in connection with an illegal and unauthorized intrusion into our network,” read the company’s official statement.
In response to the hit, Sony temporarily turned off both PlayStation Network and Qriocity services, engaged a security firm to conduct a full investigation into what happened, and re-built its system to provide users with greater protection of their personal information.
The admission came over a week after the hack, when Sony also confirmed that a number of accounts had been compromised.
However, the electronics company also assured users that the data stolen could not be traced back to them, and that it would put the service back online in a few days.
Yet, PSN continues to flicker on and off until this very moment, while the multiplayer and other services are back. There are still no updates for the PlayStation Store, although Sony promises that the service will be up and running again before June.