UPDATE: Rockstar And Sony have now issued a joint statement claiming the opposite of what they originally claimed.

Now that Sony is finally bringing back the PlayStation Network, the road to recovery has started — or one would like to believe so. Earlier today, Sony disabled the update password function on the PSN Web site due to an exploit that allowed end users to update the password on any account to which they had the e-mail address and birthday — the very same data that was compromised in the original hack. Something weird also happened with Rockstar's support site today.

Sony has been working on a new PS3 system software update that requires all PSN users to change their password once PlayStation Network is restored. The update (v3.61) is mandatory and was rolled out earlier this week.

Sony issued this statement earlier:

As an added layer of security, your password can only be changed on your own PS3 (or a PS3 on which your PSN account was activated). If you have never downloaded any content using your account on the system, an e-mail will be sent to the registered sign-in ID (e-mail address) associated with your account when you first attempt to sign into PSN. This e-mail will contain a link that will enable you to change your password. In this e-mail, click on the link and follow the instructions to change your password. Once you have changed your password, you can sign into your account using your new password.

The newly added PlayStation Network security protocols:

• Advanced security technology
• Increased levels of encryption
• Additional firewalls
• An early warning detection system looking for any signal of an attack on the system

While all of these items sound very nice, Rockstar Support claimed earlier today that the added security features in the new v3.61 update was the cause of various reports by users who were complaining that their PS3s were shutting down, beeping like a maniac, and "red ringing."

Rockstar Support must have gotten quite a few complaints after it launched L.A. Noire, since it thought it was a good idea to dedicate an actual page with a Q&A on its Web site. However, after tweeting about it earlier today, the page has now mysteriously disappeared.

We have contacted both Sony and Rockstar to ask for comment and will update when we receive a reply, but since Rockstar is on the East Coast, their offices might already be closed. We decided not to wait with publishing this fata morgana.