While presenting at the 27th Communication Congress in Berlin, a group of hackers called fail0verflow made a breakthrough that stunned the PS3 hacking community: They managed to bypass the console's major security barriers. The group was able to gain the same access Sony has in deciding what software to allow by gaining access to encryption keys. The keys were shown in the demonstration and are now available for the public.
This exploit allows people to sign into any program giving the user the same ability to allow software as Sony. Unauthorized applications, custom firmware, pirated games and burned Blu-rays can now be played using the keys.
Until now the PS3 was fairly resistant to hacking attempts due to its use of a tightly guarded encryption system that makes sure only games and software approved by Sony can run. The only way for Sony to address this issue would be to release a new PlayStation 3 with a new way of encrypting data.
According to Wired, this hack makes the PS3 the most vulnerable console, "even more open to exploitation than the Xbox 360 and Wii, which were opened up to piracy and hacking long before Sony’s box."
Source: Sony Insider
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Techrev
When you buy a PS3, you are only buying the hardware. Sony still owns the firmware that is running on it, without which the whole system is useless. You are basically paying $300-$700 for a brick. Sony owns the rest, the parts that make it work, and you are at their mercy as far as any of that goes, they can limit our rights in any way they want, and there is nothing we can do about it. Except this... Hack it, and try to take our rights back.
cmsnetherlands
Well people, those hackers can mess with what ever they like. Ever experienced your controls not seem to work properly? PS3 is just a PC with a different cover. Most of the time joined with your home network. Sharing your video's and other crap in your windows lib. It's not just for fun they try to hack the thing. What they are after is things like ID's passwords e-mail addresses and other interesting stuff.
You don't want this to be hacked because it opens the door to other parts of the PS3 and potentially the rest of your network.
k0phoegon
Sony has just started to piss off everyone, or more correctly the hackers with talent. Which is kinda dumb all in all.
I can't believe they thought they could get away with it, it's only a mater of time before hackers crack even the most secure things. Every Online enabled system has inherent flaws by design and they get exploited, despite the security measures. I would have thought it'd been in their better interest to actually keep the good hackers content, and not give them a decent reason to try and fully break the system, which sony went and gave them a decent reason or 3. Features are important and telling someone with the talent they can't use their system as they want and have been using is kinda asking for trouble.
I support the hackers, Sony needs to learn this lesson. They have been way to over-zealous and stupid with their anti-hacking measures have have ruined honest users system because of it.
PR__SLAYER
even the wii is less vulnerable, i fear for the ps3. ive seen wat hacking does to systems. ive been hacked in mw2 4 times and have been hacked in the wii more times than i can count. i also agree with Matt731, just get a darn job, do us all a favor.
twinmugsy
I sort of blame sony for this happening. They released it saying people would be aloud to run linux on it. I know and have spoken to quite a few people that bought it in large part because they could run linux on it and do much more than the average user. Then when sony took linux away they pissed off the upper echelon of hackers and the such, the ones that before were content with the way it was. I'm sure many of them that were working on it were just wanting to get back their capability to run linux on the system. Screwing sony over after they took linux off was just a bonus.
Akira420
Well people know I'm a widely known xbox fanboy. But if the ps3 has been cracked open I'll have to buy one, since that means free online gaming and games, XD
M6000
Man this is real bad news now there's no reason for the unscrupulous Hacking community to start releasing pirated games on the PS3 killing the system much like the Hackers have already done to the PC platform. Devs are pulling out of the PC platform left and right because of all the rampant hacking taking place and now the same will start happening with the PS3 all because hackers don't like to pay for there games. Something seriously needs to be done about these Hackers because in the end this only ends up hurting the loyal customers who either lose titles on there platform because devs are afraid they won't make any money there or have to suffer through ridiculous DRM like the one used by ubisoft that makes it where all PC gamers must have a constant connection the internet in order to play there games. in the end this just hurts us real gamers.
kapassikey
If i get a PS3 and decide to mod it, i have no interests in cheating personally but it'd be nice to load it up with old PS1/PS2 games. maybe, MAYBE turn the PS3 into a toaster to... maybe. i get hungry alot
Grishrak
I have 2 PS3s a 60 and a new slim. I'll burn games to play on the slim thats for sure. I'll just burn the terrible ones like Nauhthy Bear and all movie games and buy games I know Im going to love such as Uncharted 3 already pre-ordered and SOCOM.
cardinalsfan1122
Well it was only a matter of time. Sony had a good anti-hacker run. Up go the PS3 sales. Just wait.
DPsx77
The only thing worse than a thief is an uneducated, misinformed, playstation troll biatch
justified100
Now if every one does this then it is going to suck i mean if it is really easy to get the software to hack it then we are going to have the same problem as the x box then it would multiplayer crap
Snicker60515
Buying pirated games is also a slap in the face to the developers who practically whittle away their lives to bring us their product. $60 is a small price to pay if I can get hours upon hours of entertainment and buying anything pirated just shows how much of a cheapskate you can be.
Trikkey
Sony might be making a marginal profit from hardware sales now.A year or so ago they were sold at a loss.In the beginning a huge loss.Their profits really come from selling the games.People playing pirated games brings in no revenue.
choccy
As the saying goes "without physical security you have no security." Given that the PS3 is in millions of homes around the world, holding out for over 4 years probably exceeded Sony's original expectations. If this had happened in the PS3's first 6 months the entire system would have been DOA, but at this point, the user base is large enough that it can withstand the kind of piracy this will eventually lead to. It won't make a significant dent in sales, especially as more games are on-line based which makes it easy for Sony to detect/disable hacked PS3s.
Given that every other platform was cracked wide open years before, Sony should be congratulated on keeping the PS3 locked up this long. I expect the PS4 to last even longer, given the lessons learned with the PS3.
humanscum
so were can we get it
Creeper5150
Well let's see: it can run any firmware you want, play burned Blu-ray movies & burned games. Hey I guess the ads were right, "IT REALLY ONLY DOES EVERYTHING" LMAO! Just kidding I own all 3 consoles & I would never "hack" or "Mod" any of them.These machines were meant to be enjoyed like they're designed. You might get away with it 4 a while, but in the end either Karma or science will catch up to you. So to me it's just not worth the effort, or time.
Malcontent_Ronin
Not that they won't find some way to fix this with another mandatory firmware update, but I'm not sure why we should care in the first place. I don't see what the hell anyone would want to run other than games, and well no one can really copy blu-rays on their own now can they?
Bollocks_2_ya
Call me crazy guys, but I don't think it will be really worth pirating ps3 games, it's gonna take hours and blue-ray discs are expensive!
gamerjes
PS3 couldn't hold out forever. I respect them for a security system that held out so long. Sooner or later a lifeless hacker will get around any system, they just have more time than the industry. Still, this isn't that bad. It appears only to allow users to run any software they want, has no impact on PSN account security.... for now at least.
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