The Internet security crisis at Sony deepened further with the company today admitting to a second massive breach, indicating that hackers have stolen data from another 24.6 million accounts on its online PC games network.

Sony Corporation and Sony Computer Entertainment today said personal information from around 24.6 million Sony Online Entertainment (SOE) accounts may have been stolen, as well as certain information from an outdated database from 2007.

Sony said these account details were hacked before the theft of 77 million users accounts, which was revealed last week.

The information from the outdated database that may have been stolen includes around 12,700 non-US credit or debit card numbers and expiration dates and about 10,700 direct debit records of certain customers in Austria, Germany, Netherlands and Spain, the Japanese electronics major said in a statement.

Upon discovery of this additional information, the company has shut down all servers related to SOE services while continuing to review and upgrade all of its online security systems.

On May 1, Sony had apologised to its customers for the inconvenience caused by its network services outage.

"The company is working with the FBI and continuing its own full investigation while working to restore all services," the statement added.

In order to compensate its clients, Sony will grant its SOE customers 30 days of additional subscription time, besides giving them one day for each day the system is down. It is also in the process of outlining a "make good" plan for its clients, Sony said.

Additionally, the company is committed to helping its customers protect their personal data and will provide a complimentary offering to assist users in enrolling in identity theft protection services and/or similar programmes.