COLORADO – A Denver kindergartner – Joshua Hill – has cast further doubt over the strength of Sony Corporation’s security policies after unwittingly hacking the company’s website.
It is understood that father Gavin Hill had been browsing the Sony Electronics website when he decided to “take a leak and maybe grab a sandwich or something.” He later found son Joshua hitting the keyboard whilst watching Yo Gabba Gabba!
Mr Hill described the scenario in which the four-year-old gained access to approximately 10,000 user names, e-mail addresses and passwords as a “complete shock.”
It is unclear whether customer credit card data was affected.
Pwnage
This is not the first time the Sony websites were attacked. In a similar incident last week, a dog in Munich was said to have breached security after stepping on a keyboard on his way to the corner of a room where he was due to lick himself profusely.
Mr Hill was apologetic: “I’m sorry about this. Joshua gets really excited when he watches that show. I don’t think he really meant to hack Sony.”
“I thought he was just trying to copy daddy y’know…but I guess that’s all it takes to compromise Sony’s security.”
Sony boss Sir Howard Stringer is said to have been informed of the juvenile hack and has promised to beef up security to a level that would protect from future pre-schooler attacks.
A spokesman for Sony said the website had been shut down after the attacks were discovered and the company planned to sent an engineering team to interview the child in hopes of discovering what he knows about their security that they have yet to get a grip on.
“Daddy play on computer…I wanna play,” said Joshua when questioned over his motives that lead to another high-profile security breach.
“Ohhh! Elmo,” he added before ending the interview early to play.
Security lessons
Security analysts blasted the Japanese company, saying it was time Sony ‘swallowed their pride’ and brought in experts, suggesting there were plenty of teenagers that could show them basic network security.
Joshua’s father said the incident was all “a little embarrassing,” and he just wanted to put his son to ‘beddy byes’ and forget the whole thing.
Sony expects the attack on its network to cost the company in the region of $70 million.
“He knows not to touch the computer again. That’s for grown ups.” said Mr Hill. “Honestly, I’m just glad he didn’t find the porn.”
Leave a Reply