A large number of PS4 have reported on Reddit a hack, which takes place via a malicious message containing a string of characters that “crashes” the console. Many users have confirmed the attack, but Sony has yet to make a statement about it.
The PS4 attack occurs when a user receives a malicious message that causes the console to crash. Some users have reported that the attack freezes their console and leaves them with no choice but to perform a factory reset.
How to Avoid PS4 Hack?
Here are some useful tips to avoid any such attack:
- Set the Message Setting to Friends or No One
- Go to Settings from your console, click Account Management > Privacy Settings and open 'Personal Info| Messages'.
- Select Messages and then “Friends” or “No One.” Most of the users who fell victim to the hack reported that their default setting was “Anyone.”.
You can visit this link to change your settings, via a browser. Enter your credentials and select Personal Info| Messages to change your settings.
Factory reset your PS4 if you are affected
If you've already been affected by the hack, it might be helpful to perform a factory reset via safe mode by turning off your console, holding down the power button until it beeps twice, then selecting "Initialise PS4" in safe mode.
Avoid opening messages from your PS4 console
Since opening any unknown message can lead to your console being blocked. You can check messages from the Sony Play Station 4 messaging app which can be downloaded from the Google Play Store and the Apple App Store.
We expect Sony to release a security update to close this issue, but until then, you can use the tips above to keep your PS4 console safe.
