If you ever used a credit card on the PlayStation Network, there's a chance that someone out there now has that information; the PSN has been hacked. However, don't panic -- Robert Siciliano, CEO of IDTheftSecurity.com, said that number was never safe to begin with.

"There's no security in the credit card number," Siciliano said. "You should be monitoring your credit card statements as closely as you monitor the scores of the game, as closely as your monitor your email, as closely as you monitor the weather. You need to know what's going on at all times regarding your credit card statements, what charges are being made and who is making them."

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More tips from Siciliano.

Yes, things are bad right now for the millions of PlayStation 3 and PSP players out there who have to deal with the fact that birthdates, addresses and passwords have been compromised and the PSN is still offline, but Siciliano said that things aren't as bleak as they might seem. PSN users just need to monitor their accounts "weekly" and refute bogus charges that appear. As long as you argue a false charge within 60 days, you should be able to get it wiped from your record, Siciliano said.

Plus, now that your email is out there, don't trust messages even if they appear to be from a trusted source.

"If you receive emails that look like they're coming from Sony or PlayStation or whoever -- emails that you might be accustomed to already receiving from brands you already trust -- be suspect," Siciliano said. "Never click on links in the body of the email."

Need more advice on how to make sure this PlayStation Network hiccup doesn't turn into a personal disaster? The Federal Trade Commission deals with this stuff all the time and has a number of tips on how to watch for the bad guys.

Here are the FTC's tips straight from its website.
Identity Theft Signs

* accounts you didn't open and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.
* fraudulent or inaccurate information on your credit reports, including accounts and personal information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers.
* failing to receive bills or other mail. Follow up with creditors if your bills don't arrive on time. A missing bill could mean an identity thief has taken over your account and changed your billing address to cover his tracks.
* receiving credit cards that you didn't apply for.
* being denied credit, or being offered less favorable credit terms, like a high interest rate, for no apparent reason.
* getting calls or letters from debt collectors or businesses about merchandise or services you didn't buy.

Was Your Identity Stolen?

* You may find out when bill collection agencies contact you for overdue debts debts you never incurred.
* You may find out when you apply for a mortgage or car loan and learn that problems with your credit history are holding up the loan.
* You may find out when you get something in the mail about an apartment you never rented, a house you never bought, or a job you never held.

What Should You Watch?

* Your financial statements. Monitor your financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking closely for charges you did not make.
* Your credit reports. Credit reports contain information about you, including what accounts you have and how you pay your bills. The law requires each of the major nationwide consumer reporting agencies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months. If an identity thief is opening credit accounts in your name, these accounts are likely to show up on your credit report. To find out, order a copy of your credit reports.

Once you get your reports, review them carefully. Look for inquiries from companies you haven't contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't explain. Check that information, like your Social Security number, address(es), name or initials, and employers are correct. If you find fraudulent or inaccurate information, get it removed. See Correcting Fraudulent Information in Credit Reports to learn how. Continue to check your credit reports periodically, especially for the first year after you discover the identity theft, to make sure no new fraudulent activity has occurred.
Get Your Credit Report

An amendment to the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the major nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report, at your request, once every 12 months.

To order your free annual report from one or all the national consumer reporting companies, visit [url]www.annualcreditreport.com[/url], call toll-free 877-322-8228, or complete the Annual Credit Report Request Form and mail it to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281. You can print the form from ftc.gov/credit. Do not contact the three nationwide consumer reporting companies individually; they provide free annual credit reports only through [url]www.annualcreditreport.com[/url], 877-322-8228, and Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

Under federal law, you're also entitled to a free report if a company takes adverse action against you, such as denying your application for credit, insurance or employment, and you request your report within 60 days of receiving notice of the action. The notice will give you the name, address, and phone number of the consumer reporting company that supplied the information about you. You're also entitled to one free report a year if you're unemployed and plan to look for a job within 60 days; you're on welfare; or your report is inaccurate because of fraud. Otherwise, a consumer reporting company may charge you up to $9.50 for any other copies of your report.

To buy a copy of your report, contact:

Equifax: 800-685-1111; You must login or register to view this content.

Experian: 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742); You must login or register to view this content.

TransUnion: 800-916-8800; You must login or register to view this content.
Should You Use A Credit Monitoring Service?

There are a variety of commercial services that, for a fee, will monitor your credit reports for activity and alert you to changes to your accounts. Prices and services vary widely. Many of the services only monitor one of the three major consumer reporting companies. If you're considering signing up for a service, make sure you understand what you're getting before you buy. Also check out the company with your local Better Business Bureau, consumer protection agency and state Attorney General to see if they have any complaints on file.

tl;dr, you should summarize it into the main parts of what to do

I'll put the parts i find most helpful in Bold print. I do not own a credit card and I'm not experienced so give me some slack.

I already posted a simple step by step tut... But good job not trying to be a dick lol just sayin Since mine is more condensed. You must login or register to view this content.

Yea i looked at your's to see if mine has already been posted as this info was released today at 2:55. i don't own a credit card so I could never write something similar to your thread but :y: dude.