Sony in Japan announced Monday 2 May that the amount of data stolen when hackers broke into Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) network as well as PlayStation Network and Qriocity streaming music service is greater than the company first thought. Credit card information and other financial data is part of the theft. Sony announced last week that hackers had breached its security systems, although this did not appear to include its SOE systems, but Monday the company told its customers that SOE account information may have been stolen. Fraudulent intrusions now appear to have affected more than 100 million user accounts.

Links to other sites: AFP, Play Station corporate blog, NDTV

Zurich, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) – Football fans the world over are waiting for the 17:00 (local time, South Africa) Final Draw to see which teams play each other in the 2010 World Cup matches in South Africa. Once the draws are made, the mad rush to get tickets will begin. Meanwhile, Zurich-based Fifa (world football federation) announced 3 December that it has signed a media rights agreement with Sony for the latter to provide 3D versions of as many as 25 matches.

Links to other sites: Fifa, TelevisionBroadcast

Sony will keep wages unchanged for this year and cut bonuses from six to four months. The global financial crisis has hit the Japanese technology sector, causing Sony to freeze workers’ salaries in order to recover, reports Reuters. Sony, unlike some of its competitors, does not raise wages automatically based on seniority. Instead, wages increase annually based on role and performance, and rivals may follow suit as the crisis worsens. Reuters

Sony will cut about 8,000 jobs, 4% of its workforce, in an effort to save over $1 billion. The troubled firm, whose shares have fallen 70% in 2008, is making the larges job reductions to date in Asia.