PSN is BACK

PlayStation Network is back. Nearly four weeks after a hacker attack forced Sony to turn off the PSN, Sony has announced that a phase of restoration per region for the PSN and Qriocity services, has begun.

This restoration phase will be carried out gradually between countries. Starting in America, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and the Middle East. But Sony did not announce the exact date of the return of the PSN service in total.

A firmware update for the PS3 are also available. Despite looking like an update that is not useful, but Firmware 3.61 will force the owners PSN account to replace their passwords so they are back online for the first time.

"We strongly recommend to all PS3 owners to update their systems to prepare for the return of the PSN," said Eric Lempel, Sony's vice president of Network Entertainment. "The release of this update is necessary in our efforts to make PSN more secure."

Password player can only be replaced on his PS3 or the PS3 in which he activate his PSN account. If he uses another PS3, an email will be sent to their email address.

"The email will provide a link that allows players to change their password," said Lempel. "At the email, the player can just click the link and follow all the prompts to change the password. After the password change, he will be able to sign in using the new password."

In addition to news about the return of the PSN, Sony Online Entertainment has also revived their servers. Sony stated that they have increased their security systems.

"Sony has made various improvements in data security, including the addition of advanced security technology, additional monitoring software and test the vulnerability, and increasing the level encripsi and additional firewalls,"said a Sony representative. "Sony also has added a variety of things on the network infrastructure including an early warning system to track suspicious activity that could damage the tissue."

Sony hopes the PSN service can operate in total at the end of May 2011.