The PS3 is insecure in a neglectful way ... watch out!

blackninja

blackninja

blackninja

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If you have a pS3 watch out that stuff is not purchased from the store without your consent ... why? Because the security is pants ...

My 4 year old son managed to purchase the GT 5 game for 24.99 (which I already have on disc!) I did have the 'require password for purchase' option to on the last time I used it .... well, it was off when I discovered this and the PS3 will not request a password to change this option or the 'automatically fund wallet' option either therefore the security is rubbish and SONY have thus far refused to refund my money. The irony is that he loves racing games so was this an accident :p

My son clicks buttons at random sometimes and so must have managed to change this - he also managed to get to the checkout and buy a game which was far too easy by the way :)

So - my only safe course is to not let him use the PS3 unless he is being closely watched or remove my data from the PS3 - I did have a habit of buying cheap games for the kids but that will now stop as I won't be bothered with the store any more as I will remove the funding info ..
 
Hmm, I will have to have a look at this. Is there not an option to request your card number each time or does it autosave it for all future purchases?
 
I had my details saved (much like many web sites!) and used the password to protect the purchasing .... if I have to enter those details via *** controller each time I won't be bothered!
 
blackninja said:
If you have a pS3 watch out that stuff is not purchased from the store without your consent ... why? Because the security is pants ...

My 4 year old son managed to purchase the GT 5 game for 24.99 (which I already have on disc!) I did have the 'require password for purchase' option to on the last time I used it .... well, it was off when I discovered this and the PS3 will not request a password to change this option or the 'automatically fund wallet' option either therefore the security is rubbish and SONY have thus far refused to refund my money. The irony is that he loves racing games so was this an accident :p

My son clicks buttons at random sometimes and so must have managed to change this - he also managed to get to the checkout and buy a game which was far too easy by the way :)

So - my only safe course is to not let him use the PS3 unless he is being closely watched or remove my data from the PS3 - I did have a habit of buying cheap games for the kids but that will now stop as I won't be bothered with the store any more as I will remove the funding info ..
Click to expand...

Does your son use your PS3 logon & account then ? if so, why hasnt he got his own logon and account ?. You could easily have avoided this - this appears to be your mistake not Sony's.
 
Have to agree with WWWebber... your console, you are the parent.
Rather than blame Sony for your own failings, do your own job properly!
If the child was able to use your account, then I guess you set your account to Save the logon password, or the child knows it... this was your first mistake.
 
Create your son an account, then set a password on yours. They have provided the tools required to protect your account but you didn't use them.

[EDIT] Am i the only one that thought this post was going to be something to do with the PS3s rather insecure personality?
 
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Sorry mate - have to agree with others here, there are ways this could have been avoided, you cant really blame Sony for not re-embursing you imo
 
I find it quite hard to believe a 4-year old can turn on the PS3, go to the store, click the game and proceed to purchase the game all at random :confused:

My 5 year old plays Burnout Paradise but I always turn on the PS3 and the game and when he is finished he tells me and I shut down.
 
The parenting on the console section forum is so hit and miss!!

Half the parents here let kids play 15 and 18 rated games, and the other half have problems with kids buying stuff on their accounts or changing their console settings etc.

Do parents not read the instructions on these consoles with PARENTAL controls built in before giving the toy to their kids?


rp2000
 
Dutch Guy said:
I find it quite hard to believe a 4-year old can turn on the PS3, go to the store, click the game and proceed to purchase the game all at random :confused:

My 5 year old plays Burnout Paradise but I always turn on the PS3 and the game and when he is finished he tells me and I shut down.
Click to expand...

Well you can turn the system on just by pressing the PS button on the controller - then some random button mashing / joystick wiggling could accidentally get you onto the store and purchase something...... you would need to be bloody unlucky for it to happen, but doesn't mean it couldn't.
 
Just don't tick the box saying remember my password tbh.

You don't need to be signed in unless you want to go into the store or play online. I can't see why a 5 year old would want to do either.
 
Joebob said:
Well you can turn the system on just by pressing the PS button on the controller - then some random button mashing / joystick wiggling could accidentally get you onto the store and purchase something...... you would need to be bloody unlucky for it to happen, but doesn't mean it couldn't.
Click to expand...
Well, I said I find it hard to believe, not that it is impossible :p

Maybe the cursor defaults to just the right place to purchase a game, so that if you keep mashing the X button you end up purchasing the game :confused:
 
It is very easy to buy stuff, it is on the PSP too.
I connected to the PSP store and aside from logging in with my PSN account I bought a game without any passwords at all, it even added cash to my wallet automatically.
 
NokkonWud said:
It is very easy to buy stuff, it is on the PSP too.
I connected to the PSP store and aside from logging in with my PSN account I bought a game without any passwords at all, it even added cash to my wallet automatically.
Click to expand...

True, but the user does have the option to enable password protection which would have been the first thing i'd have done if my kid was using it on a regular basis without supervision.
 
Streeteh said:
True, but the user does have the option to enable password protection which would have been the first thing i'd have done if my kid was using it on a regular basis without supervision.
Click to expand...
But blackninja said it was on, or at least it can be switched off very easily.
 
Dutch Guy said:
But blackninja said it was on, or at least it can be switched off very easily.
Click to expand...

Fair point, didn't notice that part, personally i would have used separate accounts and locked mine with a password, then the kid wouldn't have been able to access my settings. Content purchased on the PSN is typically available to all accounts so the kid would have access to everything apart from the PSN store.
 
I'm sorry but I disagree with all those that said its the OPs fault.

If a 4 year old can hack the system then it is fundamentally flawed. Sony should incorporate much more stringent security measures (actually thinking about it so should MS) to prevent unauthorised purchases.

Most online retailers require you to resubmit a password at the point of the transaction to verify that you are authorising the use of this card as payment.

To a degree I have suffered from this as Miss K used my card once to buy some points for a game. At a later date she "Accidentally" did it again. There is no way to confirm authorisation of payment on these consoles.

PS.
I called up MS and had my card removed from her account. Which whilst I believe I was in my rights to request this as the card owner. I had to answer her personal details questions to be able to do it and she wasn't around (I also had to do it for her best friends account as miss K had registered her account on my card as well ). It turns out I am fairly good at social engineering.
 
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