Sony has now introduced 2-Step verification for PlayStation Network accounts, bringing in an extra layer of security when trying to login.
You can activate 2-Step Verification for your account here. Once enabled, a text message will be sent to the specified mobile phone number, which will contain a code needed to gain access to the account.
Sony explained on the PlayStation website:
Passwords can be compromised if you use the same password for multiple accounts, click on malicious links, open phishing emails and other methods. If your password is compromised and becomes known to someone other than yourself, your account will still require a verification code to gain access when you activate 2-Step Verification.
Obviously, unless you’re unlucky enough that someone gets hold of your PlayStation account details and manages to swipe your mobile phone without you knowing, it should be much easier to keep any potential hackers at bay.
Sony confirmed its plans to introduce 2-Step Verification back in April, five years on from a massive hack to the PSN which forced the company to shut down the service, and could potentially have exposed personal info from the 77 million registered accounts at that time.
SonyI hate to be that guy, but Xbox has had this security feature for over three years now, so it’s about time Sony got cracking.
Ewan Moore is a journalist at UNILAD Gaming who still quite hasn’t gotten out of his mid 00’s emo phase. After graduating from the University of Portsmouth in 2015 with a BA in Journalism & Media Studies (thanks for asking), he went on to do some freelance words for various places, including Kotaku, Den of Geek, and TheSixthAxis, before landing a full time gig at UNILAD in 2016.