– Adult games appearing in PS5 “Recently Played” lists without user action, likely due to a backend exploit.
– The exploit involves PSN’s Game Library/Activity component, allowing unauthorized games to be added.
– No evidence of account security breaches or stolen credentials; Sony has disabled the affected dashboard section.
– The issue highlights a broader vulnerability that could be exploited for more severe attacks if unpatched.
– Enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) and monitor accounts for suspicious activity as a precaution.
Strange Games Appearing on PlayStation Dashboards
PlayStation console owners are noticing adult games on their dashboards or apps, despite never having downloaded the titles. A hacker may be exploiting PSN to inject these PS5 games into recently played lists. Sony hasn’t offered an explanation, but gamers are now seeing all entries removed from this section.
How the Exploit is Being Reported
Push Square highlighted a series of social media posts, including one displaying Sex Store Simulator on a PS5. Many of the mature-themed selections aren’t listed on the PlayStation Store. While embarrassing for some players, it doesn’t seem that PSN accounts are victims of a security breach.
Criticism of Sony’s Security Measures
Sony has been slammed for failing to protect logins on its network. After content creators like Colin Moriarty had their accounts compromised, they struggled to regain access. Players can lose thousands of dollars’ worth of purchases or PlayStation trophies. Customer support is a popular target for hackers, who are easily convinced to provide sensitive information.
The Likely Cause of the Adult Games Issue
Even with a rash of incidents, the recently played adult games epidemic is likely the result of an unrelated security flaw. Social media poster Poncho labels it as a “potentially serious data integrity issue”. He notes that the Game Library/Activity component of the PSN backend is particularly vulnerable. Nefarious parties can add a PS5 game to this list, whether or not a console user owns it.
Potential Consequences and Sony’s Response
It’s possible that the exploit could have more severe consequences if left unaddressed. For now, Sony may have disabled this part of the dashboard while it investigates. The situation reminds critics of past issues or service outages, when PlayStation’s communication was non-existent.
Steps Users Can Take to Protect Themselves
It may not prevent adult content from invading, but it’s always wise to enable Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) on PSN accounts. Occasionally changing passwords and monitoring for suspicious activity is also recommended.
Push Square, xviixvo@PlayStation subreddit, Poncho X account