How To Recover a Hacked PlayStation Network Account

Over 94 million people have PlayStation Network accounts, and with that vast number of people comes the risk of being attacked by a hacker. Since games, movies, and music can all be tied to an account, losing it could be a big deal.

So what should you do if someone stole your PSN account? Here are the best steps you can take to get it back.

1. Act Immediately

The second that you think someone has accessed your PSN account, you should take action. There is a black market for PSN accounts online, and if you don’t stop them, someone could make money selling access to games through your account.

2. Change Your PlayStation Network Account Password

As with most security breaches, the first and simplest step you should take should be to change your password. Likely, your password is now known to the hacker, plus any accounts that use that same password are potentially compromised. There are two methods to do this, depending on if you’re on a console or your PC/phone.

On Console: Go to your settings menu, then press on ‘Account Management,’ ‘Account Information,’ ‘Security,’ and finally on ‘Password.’ To enter the security menu, you may be required to re-enter your current password to confirm your identity. On the final screen, you can enter your existing and new passwords to change them.

On PC: Log into your PSN account, then click your account picture on the top-right of the screen. In the drop-down menu that appears, click on ‘Account Settings.’ You may be asked to provide your login information again to confirm your identity. On the main Sony Entertainment Network page, click on ‘Security’ on the left side of the screen. On the new ‘Security’ page, click ‘edit’ on the password heading, and you’ll be able to enter your new password.

In either case, it is recommended to use a service such as Dash Lane to generate and store more secure passwords.

3. PlayStation Network Account Recovery

If you cannot log into your account to change the password, then you’ll have to go with PSN account recovery. For the best results, use your PC/phone/laptop to go to the Sony Entertainment Network page. Click on ‘Trouble signing in?’ under the login screen. On the next page, press ‘Reset your password.’ Now you can enter your email to receive a password reset link.

4. Kick Out Intruders

SEN accounts include a handy security feature, which should be your next step. Once you’re logged back into your SEN account, go back to the ‘Security’ page. At the bottom-right of that page is a button titled ‘Sign Out on All Devices.’ Click this button and then on ‘OK.’ This feature will sign out your account on any device where it is currently signed in. Although this means signing in on your console again, it also means that if your account has been sold or stolen, the hackers will also lose access.

5. Turn on 2FA

Once you’ve secured your PlayStation Network account from would-be thieves, you need to keep it secure. As well as keeping your security info up-to-date, 2FA (2-Factor Authentication) is a great feature to help secure your account. On the ‘Security’ tab of your settings page, make sure that you’ve already attached your phone number to your account. Then click ‘edit’ on the two-factor authentication tab. You can now turn on the feature which will send codes to your phone to allow you access.

It is recommended that you keep your security questions and answers up-to-date as a backup if you change or lose your current number.

6. Unlink Social Accounts

Like with many things these days, PlayStation Network and SEN accounts can be connected to social media accounts. Having your gaming account attached to a social media account is a great way to share gaming info with your friends, but it also leaves you open to more attacks. Being connected to social media means that hackers know which games you play, so if you’ve got a big game assigned to your account, you’ll be a prime target for resellers. Unless you need to tweet at your friends whenever you get a headshot, then it’s probably not worth the risk.

If all else fails, you can contact us, and we’ll fight your corner.

Playstation image by Joeri Mostmans from Shutterstock.com