Thu, Mar 29, 2012 | 05:24 BST
Suspicious advertising noted on Japanese PSN
The What’s New section of PlayStation 3 consoles connected to the Japanese PlayStation Network is hosting some very odd content.
PSN Stores noticed the ads while checking out this week’s Japanese PlayStation Store content update.
The ads appear in a Sony-controlled space normally populated with links to new games and content, but look very similar to any number of spam scams you’ve probably seen on all kinds of sites.
Purporting to have a prize for the viewer, the ads ask users for their contact details; as most Internet savvy users will know, it’s a very bad idea to hand anything over to these “services”. You won’t get a prize, unless you consider “junk email forever” a bonus.
Non-Sony advertising of any kind appearing in this section is extremely odd; we’ll follow up with Sony to double check that the platform holder is aware of and condones the content.
The ads haven’t shown up on the Australian or US XMBs at time of writing. Check out a video of PSN Stores demo-ing the ads below.
9 comments
#1
Ireland Michael
29/03/12, 5:44 am
Lawl. Haxxored.
#2
Xiahou_Yuan
29/03/12, 6:36 am
Can anyone tell me, what’s the 2nd Japanese game ? I can’t recognize it :/
#3
Gekidami
29/03/12, 7:50 am
^ Yakuza: Black Panther 2, i think.
#4
The_Red
29/03/12, 8:49 am
So a spam-bot got through PSN Japan!? WTF Sony. This is BAD.
#5
Halo Jones
29/03/12, 11:54 am
I wouldn’t be surprised that someone in japan hasn’t been doing their job and haven’t checked the adverts prior to them being published on the What’s New section
I don’t think its a spam bot other wise it would fill the other What’s New icons!
#6
themadjock
29/03/12, 12:53 pm
@1 I would expect this from lolshock94 as he’s clearly only 18 but from you…well maybe
#7
LOLshock94
29/03/12, 1:05 pm
@6 im so happy you remember my name <3
#8
Da Man
29/03/12, 1:08 pm
LOLshock, I would just like to use this moment to say that you’re an amazing poster. Really.
Haters gonna hate!
#9
LOLshock94
29/03/12, 1:13 pm
@8 thanks man!!!