Sony's PlayStation site down in suspected hack

LONDON, Dec. 8 (UPI) -- The Sony PlayStation website went offline for several hours, early Monday, in a suspected hack of its network.

PlayStation customers were unable to communicate with other players or use network functions, receiving a message reading, "Page not found! It's not you. It's the Internet's fault."

The hacker group Lizard Squad, which shut down the website of PlayStation rival Xbox last week, took responsibility for the interruption. A Twitter message from Lizard Squad read, "Unlike Santa, we don't like giving all of our Christmas presents out on one day. This entire month will be entertaining."

Sony Corp. later announced the problem had been resolved, and an investigation had begun.

The suspected hack came days after Sony reported over 100 terabytes of data, including internal memos, personal information regarding Sony employees and material regarding the premiere of new movies, were stolen, although Monday's issues are evidently unrelated to the theft. The North Korean government, which was originally suspected, denied any involvement in the incident.

Lizard Squad, also known as Lizard Patrol, has a Russia-based website.