For many of us, our PSN accounts can be one of our longest-running relationships. PSN accounts hold details of thousands of hours of playtime, several friendships, and countless worlds we’ve experienced along the way.

However, hackers are becoming more and more aggressive about gaining access to it. In fact, when left in the wrong hands, your PSN account can be used to steal your identity or the character you have been leveling up for several years.

Why Do People Hack PSN Accounts?

Besides memories, our PSN accounts also house important personal information such as your address, credit card details, and email. This information can be used in multiple ways, including getting access to your other accounts outside the PlayStation Network.

Related: What Is the PlayStation Network?

On the other hand, many users also don’t want to take the time to level up. With this, hackers target accounts with high-level characters for reselling to the highest bidder. Some users also don’t want to pay for games separately and buy accounts with multiple game access from hackers.

The black market for hacked PSN accounts is growing each year. While Sony has taken several steps to keep things safe, there are always a few delinquents that can slip between the cracks.

If you know or suspect that your PSN account has been hacked, here are all the steps you need to take to regain control of your account immediately.

1. Block Linked Credit Cards

Credit Cards

One of the main indicators that your PSN account was compromised are traces of anomalous payments and credit card notifications.

If your credit card is linked to your PSN account or an email associated with it, call your service provider or use your bank app to block the card temporarily. This is to prevent further purchases by the hacker while you are trying to regain control over your PSN account.

2. Check Your Email for Suspicious Activity

Gmail

While having your PSN account hacked is terrifying enough, it can be worse than you think. If the source of the security breach is your email, changing your PSN password is not enough. In fact, this may mean that more than just your PSN account is compromised.

Make sure you check your email, including the Trash, for any suspicious activity—logins, transactions, or messages. If you’ve found traces of other people using your email, change your email account password first.

Then you can proceed to recover access to your PSN account.

3. PlayStation Account Recovery: Reset Your Password

If the intent of the hackers is to steal your PSN account, one of the first things they will do is change your passwords. To recover your account password, go to the Playstation Website or App. Then click Trouble Signing In?

Under "I forgot my password", click Reset your password. Next, type your email address associated with your PSN account and select Send Email. A verification puzzle will then appear to make sure that you are a real person.

Once completed, PSN will send a link to your email. Click the Change Password button and proceed to verify your identity.

Then type in your new password. Make sure to choose a stronger password as your next one. To confirm your password change, check your email address for a message.

4. Change Your PSN Account Passwords

Should you be lucky enough to still have access to your PSN account after a hack, you still have to change your password. Aside from the account recovery options above, there are three additional ways to change your PSN account password—web browser, PS4, or PSN App.

How to Change Your PSN Account Password from a Web Browser

PSN Password Edit

Using a web browser, you can change your PSN password by going to the Play Station Network website. Then log into your PSN account.

Next, click your profile picture and select Account Settings > Security. Under Password, select Edit and type in your new password preferences.

Alternatively, you may also change your PSN password directly on your console.

How to Change Your PSN Account Password on Your PS4

To change your PSN password through your console, go to Settings > Account Management > Account Information > Security.

Then, log in to your PSN account details again and select Password. Enter your current password and new password twice before selecting Confirm.

How to Change Your PSN Account Password on Your PSN App

On your iOS or Android device, open your PSN app and log in to your PSN account. Next, click the Settings > Account Information.

Select Hamburger Icon and tap Security. Under Password, select Edit. Type in your current and new password before tapping Save.

5. Sign Out All Devices

Next, make sure that whoever has accessed your PSN account does not do any more damage. To do this, you have to make sure that you’re the only one with access to your PSN account by signing out all other devices.

How to Sign Out All Devices Through the PSN Website

PSN Sign Out

Go to the PlayStation Network website and log into your PSN account. Next, click your profile picture and select Account Settings > Security.

Under 2-Step Verification, select Sign Out on All Devices.

How to Sign Out All Devices Through the PSN App

On your iOS or Android device, open your PSN app and log in to your PSN account. Next, click Settings > Account Information. Select Hamburger Icon > Security. Lastly, scroll to the end and tap Sign Out on All Devices.

Once you are sure that no one else is logged into your PSN profile, you can proceed to enabling 2-Factor Authentication.

6. Add 2-Factor Authentication (2FA)

As with all things, prevention is better than cure. While it’s good to know how to recover your account and change your passwords, it is better to prevent any hacks beforehand.

Related: What Is Two-Factor Authentication? Here's Why You Should Be Using It

Thankfully, one way to shoo away potential hackers is to set up 2-Factor Authentication (2FA) on your PSN account. You can do this in three ways—console, web browser, or PSN app.

How to Enable Your PSN Account 2FA on Your PS4

To change your PSN password through your console, go to Settings > Account Management > Account Information > Security. Then, under 2-Step Verification, select Edit.

Select the method of authentication: Text Message or Authenticator App. Carry on with the verification process for either option.

How to Enable Your PSN Account 2FA on Your Web Browser

Using a web browser, you can change your PSN password by going to the Play Station Network website. Then, log into your PSN account and click your profile picture. Next, select Account Settings > Security.

PSN 2FA Security

Under 2-Step Verification, select Edit. Select the method of authentication (again, either Text Message or Authenticator App). Then, proceed with the verification process for either option.

PSN 2FA

How to Enable Your PSN Account 2FA on Your PSN App

On your iOS or Android device, open your PSN app and log in to your PSN account.

Next, click the Settings > Account Information. Select the Hamburger Icon and tap Security.

Under 2-Step Verification, select Edit. Select the method of authentication, and proceed with the verification process as instructed.

Keep Your PSN Account Safe

Our PSN accounts have our friends, game history, and even progress. Through the years, it builds up a nice picture of how we’ve grown not just as players but also as people. With this in mind, making sure that our accounts are safe should be standard practice.

To keep our PSN account safe, it is a combination of keeping other accounts such as our email addresses and web browser safe as well. With so many ways to access our account, there are also many ways to hack into it. You can prevent many of them by simply turning on 2FA.