How to protect your PlayStation account from theft: 7 steps to take today

PlayStation Network accounts are being stolen even with two-step verification enabled. Sony acknowledged in its November 2026 earnings report that there have been several incidents with PSN accounts, without providing details. At the same time, reports from users who have lost their accounts, with years of purchased games, have multiplied.

How the theft works

According to published cases, the method is not a technical hack but social engineering against Sony's support:

1. The attacker obtains your PSN ID (which is public) and some old payment data, such as the last numbers of a card, often from leaks on other websites.
2. They contact customer support posing as you.
3. If they are believed, they change the email address associated with the account and two-step verification becomes useless.
4. The account is resold on Telegram or Instagram.

7 steps to protect your account today

1. Enable two-step verification with an authentication app (not via SMS). On PS5, it's in Settings, under Users and accounts, in the account security section.
2. Use a unique password, one that you don't use on any other site. A password manager can help.
3. Protect your email: if your email is compromised, your PSN account is too. Enable two-step verification for your email as well.
4. Remove old cards from your PSN wallet. The fewer payment details you have stored, the fewer details that can be used against you.
5. Review devices with active sessions and close any that you don't recognize.
6. Save your two-step verification backup codes in a safe place.
7. Don't show your real ID in live streams or on social media along with other personal data.

If your account has already been stolen

• Contact PlayStation support as soon as possible from the official website.
• Have proof of purchase, dates, and your original email address ready.
• Notify your bank if you had cards stored.
• Change your email password and review its forwarding rules.

Beware of another leak

In Japan, the provider So-net / Plala suffered a leak affecting around 2.58 million customers. It's a group company, but it does not affect PSN accounts.

Frequently asked questions

Does two-step verification not work? Yes, it does work, and it's very effective, but it won't protect you if someone convinces support that they are the owner. That's why your email and payment data are also important.

Has PlayStation Network been hacked? There has been no report of a general PSN hack; the cases are thefts of specific accounts.

Sources: Sony's earnings report (November 2026); Digital Citizen, NoobFeed, TweakTown, and Critical Hits.