PS5 Podcaster’s Account Hacked, Raising Social Engineering Fears
▼ Summary
– Colin Moriarty, host of the Sacred Symbols podcast, had his PSN account hacked and later recovered with help from his connections at Sony.
– Moriarty acknowledged that his status in the PlayStation community gave him advantages in recovering his account, and he called for improved security procedures to help others.
– The hack was part of an ongoing series of attacks targeting both random and prominent PSN users, and Moriarty was warned he was a target days before it happened.
– The breach did not involve phishing; instead, hackers changed his email and disabled two-factor authentication, then used his account to contact a co-host.
– A 2023 report by journalist Nicolas Lellouche suggests hackers exploit Sony’s customer service by using minimal information, like a transaction ID, to reset account emails.
A prominent figure in the PlayStation community has had his PSN account hacked, reigniting serious concerns about social engineering vulnerabilities within Sony’s security systems. Colin Moriarty, host of the Sacred Symbols podcast and a former IGN editor, announced the breach on social media, revealing that he lost access to his account despite not falling for a phishing scam.
Moriarty stated that he received a text message notifying him that his email address had been changed and that two-factor authentication was disabled. He insists he did not enter his credentials anywhere suspicious. “I’m positive of this,” he said. Shortly after, his compromised account was used to contact his co-host, Dustin Furman, with the chilling message: “you’re next.”
The incident mirrors a detailed report from French journalist Nicolas Lellouche, who investigated similar breaches last year. His findings suggest that hackers can bypass security by contacting PlayStation customer service with minimal information, such as a transaction ID. Lellouche claims he publicly detailed this flaw in 2023, and believes hackers used that article to target his own account.
Moriarty acknowledged that he was warned days in advance that he would be targeted. In a follow-up post, he confirmed his account was recovered, but only thanks to his industry connections. “I fully know I exercised advantages due only and exclusively to my stature in the PlayStation community and my many… With the help of my friends and connections at Sony, I got my account back,” he wrote.
While his recovery is a relief, Moriarty’s case underscores a troubling reality: the average user lacks such pull. With years of digital purchases and countless hours of gameplay at stake, the incident raises urgent questions about Sony’s security protocols. Customer service must be efficient, but without rigorous verification, accounts remain vulnerable to social engineering attacks. As Moriarty himself put it, “Clearly there are procedures and protocols that need to be improved to prevent this from happening to others.”
(Source: Push Square)
