A Reddit report claims that a custom firmware that allowed users to download free content on the PSN is the result of the PSN outage.
According to former PSX-Scene moderator, “chesh”, a custom firmware called “Rebug” allowed users to log into the PSN as if it were from a developer console (debug unit).
Modifications can be exploited as a result of this as people could create fake credit cards and therefore allowing them to purchase PSN content for free.
As a result of this, this prompted Sony to shut down the PSN entirely to stop users from stealing content from the PSN.
Sony has yet to comment whether these claims are true or not.