Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Rumor: 'Rebug' custom firmware enabled 'free' PSN downloads, forced Sony's network shutdown]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/rumor-rebug-custom-firmware-enabled-free-psn-downloads-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/rumor-rebug-custom-firmware-enabled-free-psn-downloads-for/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/04/25/rumor-rebug-custom-firmware-enabled-free-psn-downloads-for/#comments According to PSX-Scene forum moderator, "chesh," the now six-day-long PlayStation Network outage may be the result of a particularly exploitative custom firmware (CFW) modification for PS3. In a post on Reddit, chesh claims that a CFW known as "Codename: Rebug" had given its users the ability to log into PSN as if they were doing so from a developer console (or "debug unit").

As a result, chesh contends, this same exploit could allow its users to add funds from "dummy" credit card accounts into their PSN wallets, ostensibly giving them the ability to "unlock" (read: steal) certain PlayStation Store content. Joystiq's research into the purported exploit has turned up multiple tutorials detailing the process, which appears alarmingly easy to execute on consoles running the Rebug CFW.

The hack does not allow its users to access the credit card or other personal information of PSN users, chesh adds. Nevertheless, as we reported earlier today, Sony is working to rule out information theft as part of its investigation during the maintenance outage in which the company is also implementing new security measures.

Sony has not yet responded to our request for comment on this story.

[Image source: rebug.me]

JoystiqRumor: 'Rebug' custom firmware enabled 'free' PSN downloads, forced Sony's network shutdown originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 25 Apr 2011 18:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cfwcodename-rebugcustom-firmwarehackhackingoutageplaystationps3psnpsn-outage-2011rebugsonyMon, 25 Apr 2011 18:05:00 EST<![CDATA[Federal Magistrate allows Sony to look up visitors to GeoHot site]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/federal-magistrate-allows-sony-to-look-up-visitors-to-geohot-sit/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/federal-magistrate-allows-sony-to-look-up-visitors-to-geohot-sit/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/03/05/federal-magistrate-allows-sony-to-look-up-visitors-to-geohot-sit/#comments Sony was recently awarded another minor victory in its continuing legal action against George "GeoHot" Hotz and his distribution of a workaround allowing users to jailbreak their PS3s. Federal Magistrate Joseph Spero decided Thursday to allow Sony to subpoena Hotz's web provider to acquire the IP addresses of any of GeoHot.com visitors from January 2009 through present day. Sony was also given subpoenas for information from Google, YouTube and Twitter.

Magistrate Spero explained the information obtained by the subpoena would be used to measure the extent of the "defendant's distribution" of the jailbreak files, as well as settle whether Sony must sue Hotz in New Jersey or San Francisco -- the former being Hotz's home state, and the latter being the region in which Sony argues the files were most downloaded. The jurisdiction of the suit will be settled in court during a hearing in San Francisco next month.

JoystiqFederal Magistrate allows Sony to look up visitors to GeoHot site originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 05 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>custom-firmwaredmcageohotgeorge-hotzjailbreaklawsuitplaystationps3sonySat, 05 Mar 2011 15:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Github removes PS3 jailbreak files after Sony sends DMCA takedown notice]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/github-removes-ps3-jailbreak-files-after-sony-dmca-takedown/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/github-removes-ps3-jailbreak-files-after-sony-dmca-takedown/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/31/github-removes-ps3-jailbreak-files-after-sony-dmca-takedown/#comments Removing files from the internet is about as difficult and futile a task as trying to remove an upsetting mental image from your thoughts -- elephants with spider faces! (Boom! That's in your mind now.) This isn't stopping Sony from trying its darndest to keep the PS3 jailbreak files from circulating. The company recently sent a Digital Millennium Copyright Act notice to Github -- a site for hosting super efficient Git files, designed to assist coders in collaborating over the web -- to remove the "Custom Firmware" files authored by George "GeoHot" Hotz.

Github acquiesced, removing the files in accordance with its policy concerning DMCA notices. Of course, in doing so ... the site also highlighted the filenames of each of the removed Custom Firmware components!

JoystiqGithub removes PS3 jailbreak files after Sony sends DMCA takedown notice originally appeared on Joystiq on Mon, 31 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>copyrightcustom-firmwaredmcageohotgitgithubpiracyplaystationps3sonyMon, 31 Jan 2011 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[First PS3 'custom firmware' working, doesn't allow piracy]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/first-ps3-custom-firmware-working-doesnt-allow-piracy/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/first-ps3-custom-firmware-working-doesnt-allow-piracy/http://www.joystiq.com/2011/01/05/first-ps3-custom-firmware-working-doesnt-allow-piracy/#comments Building upon the exploits of the fail0verflow hacking troupe, a tinkerer known as "KaKaRoToKS" has got the first "custom firmware" (CFW) running on PS3. The modification can be applied to any version of the system's official firmware, including the latest 3.55 patch, and simply adds an "Install Package Files" option in the Game section of the XMB.

Importantly, this unauthorized option isn't an open flood gate for pirated games, but rather a means by which users could install signed and encrypted executable files -- in other words, "retail" .pkg files like the ones Sony uses for PSN downloads. While no current homebrew application is packaged like this (and therefore compatible with the custom firmware), it would be possible for homebrew developers to re-package their files to be installed through the CFW. (PSJailbreak offers similar functionality, DigitalFoundry explains, but as its name implies, Jailbreak allows for the installation of unsigned, unencrypted code.)

"Since the kernel is left unmodified, this means that this custom firmware is really meant for future homebrew installation, and it will not allow piracy," writes KaKaRoToKS in a blog post about the CFW. "I plan on keeping it that way."

[Thanks, Roland]

JoystiqFirst PS3 'custom firmware' working, doesn't allow piracy originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>cfwcustom-firmwarefail0verflowfirmwarehackhackshomebrewinstall-package-filesmodmodspiracyplaystationps3xmbWed, 05 Jan 2011 11:20:00 EST<![CDATA[PS3 hacker claims custom firmware revives 'Other OS' in 3.21, provides video proof]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/ps3-hacker-claims-custom-firmware-revives-other-os-in-3-21-pr/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/ps3-hacker-claims-custom-firmware-revives-other-os-in-3-21-pr/http://www.joystiq.com/2010/04/07/ps3-hacker-claims-custom-firmware-revives-other-os-in-3-21-pr/#comments
What the PS3 homebrew community hoped was an April Fool's joke by Sony turned out not to be, as the latest system update for the console (3.21) axed the ability to install another operating system, i.e. Linux, on it. The feature has been absent from the PS3 "Slim" since its release, but owners of the original form factor probably never expected to lose the functionality. Enter Geohot, the person who in January claimed to have "hacked the PS3." He now claims to have created a custom firmware update that not only reintroduces the Other OS feature to original PS3 units, but potentially the Slim systems as well.

Geohot writes on his blog that "this can be installed without having to open up your PS3, just by restoring a custom generated PUP file, but only from 3.15 or previous. It's possible this CFW will also work on the slim to actually *enable* OtherOS." He also takes Sony to task for removing the feature in the first place, saying it is "potentially turning 100000+ legit users into 'hackers.'"

The YouTube video we've embedded after the break purports to show Geohot's PS3 booting Linux thanks to his custom v3.21 firmware. He hasn't put a firm date on the release of the hack, but simply divulging its existence was probably more than enough to get Sony's lawyers drawing up the paperwork for a cease and desist.

[Via Engadget]

Continue reading PS3 hacker claims custom firmware revives 'Other OS' in 3.21, provides video proof

JoystiqPS3 hacker claims custom firmware revives 'Other OS' in 3.21, provides video proof originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>custom-firmwaregeohothackotherosPS3-Firmwareps3-firmware-3.21sonyWed, 07 Apr 2010 16:28:00 EST<![CDATA[PSP firmware 3.90 cracked (yes, already)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/psp-firmware-3-90-cracked-yes-already/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/psp-firmware-3-90-cracked-yes-already/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/01/psp-firmware-3-90-cracked-yes-already/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Well that was fast. Here we are, not more than two days after the Skype-granting PSP 3.90 firmware was released, and a new custom firmware comes along to let PSP owners run homebrew and/or pirated programs yet again.

While there aren't many exciting new features for this quick and dirty custom firmware upgrade, we should note that the M33 line of hacks now has the ability to download updates directly from the internet via Wi-Fi using the PSP's built-in Network Update tool. When PSP users don't even have to be tethered to a computer to break Sony's copy-protection, what chance does Sony really have of stopping them?

[Via PSP Fanboy]

JoystiqPSP firmware 3.90 cracked (yes, already) originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 01 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.90crackcustom-firmwaredark-alexfirmwarehackm33PSPFri, 01 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST<![CDATA[M33 custom firmware catches up to latest 3.90 release]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/m33-custom-firmware-catches-up-to-latest-3-90-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/m33-custom-firmware-catches-up-to-latest-3-90-release/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/31/m33-custom-firmware-catches-up-to-latest-3-90-release/#commentsFiled under:


It didn't take too long for the talented M33 team to release a custom version of Sony's latest Skype-enabled firmware. With the new Network Update feature of these custom releases, homebrew users can simply update directly from their systems. However, those that aren't fortunate enough to be near a wi-fi point can simply download the necessary files here. (But, considering Skype is the main benefit of 3.90, we think only those with reliable access to wireless internet will really download this update.)

JoystiqM33 custom firmware catches up to latest 3.90 release originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 31 Jan 2008 22:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>3.90custom-firmwaredark_alexm33skypeThu, 31 Jan 2008 22:25:00 EST