PS3 Hacked; Exploit now released

they will find a work-around pretty soon, happens with all the other consoles.

I love pretty much any game console but my most favorite is the PS3. I got mine cheap on ebay and replaced the broken laser. Works perfectly. Spent around 160 dollars total on it. Come to think of it ... it might not be as expensive as it used to be to test around with these things

this worked for me
YouTube - Play Online WithOut Update Your PS3 Hack ( Working in All firmwares )

hugo999999 said:

they will find a work-around pretty soon, happens with all the other consoles.

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Haha, except for the Wii, they're completely clueless. Usually after every update, the new homebrew comes out within a day.

jamilm9 said:

this worked for me
YouTube - Play Online WithOut Update Your PS3 Hack ( Working in All firmwares )

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I'll have to see if I can get that to work with my mac- I'm thinking I'll use etterfilter. I just need to test it on my friend's PS3

I understand George Hotz intends to work on modifying the v3.21 firmware to retain OtherOS & allow psn.
I personally would like to see a class action lawsuit against sony for removing a feature which they advertised. Of course they have truck loads of cash & lawyers. Certainly some people may not have brought a PS3 if it was not for Linux hacking fun in addition to gaming.
Sony may make some very nice innovations but their ego has always sucked, wish they could be taken down a few notches. Sony giveth and sony taketh. *bows before their might*

HaloBlu said:

I understand George Hotz intends to work on modifying the v3.21 firmware to retain OtherOS & allow psn.
I personally would like to see a class action lawsuit against sony for removing a feature which they advertised. Of course they have truck loads of cash & lawyers. Certainly some people may not have brought a PS3 if it was not for Linux hacking fun in addition to gaming.
Sony may make some very nice innovations but their ego has always sucked, wish they could be taken down a few notches. Sony giveth and sony taketh. *bows before their might*

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I think they are removing something that they know will be bad for them due to hacking. They have a whole department for that kind of thing. But I digress... it is inevitable :evil:

Similar thing could be done by setting up a custom DNS server instead, there'd be less of a performance hit doing so. I'm surprised Sony are removing OtherOS, shows how scared they are of it though...

charliebruce said:

Similar thing could be done by setting up a custom DNS server instead, there'd be less of a performance hit doing so. I'm surprised Sony are removing OtherOS, shows how scared they are of it though...

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hold on-I'm pretty sure that DNS servers can only redirect traffic, but I believe for this hack to work you have to use some kind of MITM setup to actively modify the information sent, hence in the video he used a proxy server set up on his laptop (I don't know of a router with that capability). My guess is you have to wait through loads of data for just the right string, and then change a 2.7 to a 2.8 or whatever the latest firmware is.

Yes, but there's an inherent performance hit, higher risk of incompatibility (if the proxy doesn't support incoming connections, some games may not work, I'm not sure of the technical details of games online) and latency in all the data going through another machine - how I'd approach that is a custom DNS entry that resolves the update server to another machine (similar to HOSTS on windows) and through that other machine, either change the string, or just have a pre-prepared response packet. Of course that presumes that the update server is separate and is referred to by a hostname and not IP.

I agree that they should not be taking away an advertised feature, but I understand them wanting to protect against piracy. Although it seems like an "unhackable system" would be impossible.

Since the firmwares are getting updated on the Internet, I doubt we will ever see again a "modchip".

Hacker demos firmware update restoring Linux on the PS3 2010-04-08
"Geohot" posted a video yesterday demonstrating a tweaked version of Sony's 3.21 firmware update for the PlayStation 3, apparently restoring the ability to load Linux on the console. It's said the CFW (custom firmware) may even work on the "Slim" consoles introduced last year.

Geohot (George Hotz) announced his intentions to develop the CFW (custom firmware) hack when Sony tipped its plans to release a 3.21 update on April 1 that would block the "OtherOS" feature on the PlayStation 3 (PS3). For four years, thousands of PS3 users have used that feature to load various Linux distributions on the game-player.

Geohot did not offer many details on his CFW update, nor did he say when it might be publicly available. Geohot, who is known for exploits such as jailbreaking the iPhone, previously said he might use a technique similar to Hellcat’s Recovery Flasher to get the PS3 (pictured) to accept the altered version of the 3.21 update.

The video (shown farther below) appears to show the CFW hack enabling the continued use of Linux on the PS/3, while still offering access to the PlayStation Store and other features. In his blog introduction, Geohot says users won't need to open up their PS3 boxes. Instead, they will simply need to restore a custom generated PUP file from version 3.15 or earlier.

Can the Slim finally run Linux?

In the blog post, Geohot also offers this intriguing tease: "It's possible this CFW will also work on the slim to actually *enable* OtherOS; I'll know when my infectus gets here." Here, Geohot is referring to the new "Slim" versions of the PS3 introduced last year, for which Sony quietly removed the "OtherOS" feature without explanation, thereby blocking alternate installs.

Geohot suggests that there are over 100,000 PS3 users who make use of the OtherOS feature. Many of these, mostly Linux-using, PS3 users are waiting for the CFW release before deciding whether they should install Sony's update -- and lose Linux access -- or remain with an older version that will lose compatibility with new titles and technologies.

Sony has warned that those who don't upgrade won't be able to sign into the PlayStation Network, use "online features of PS3 games and chat," or play Blu-ray discs or games that require 3.21 or higher. In addition, they won't be able to play copyright-protected videos that are stored on a media server "when DTCP-IP is enabled under Settings," the company adds.

Presumably, Geohot's CFW update will allow the continued use of all these technologies, as well as optional OS installs. However, loading it would likely be a violation of Sony's PSN terms of service and warranty, and Sony may well release another update with a more robust security system. According to Sony, the continued use of optional installations threatens security for PS3 users, although the Japanese consumer electronics giant doesn't explain how.



Geohot's demo of PS3 3.21 with OtherOS on YouTube
(Source: Geohot Blogspot, YouTube)
(Click to play)

Sony's PS3 update causing havoc

Users who have installed Sony's version of release 3.21 for the PS3 are reporting system errors after loading the update, according to a story yesterday in Computerandvideogames (CVG). Numerous complaints have appeared on the PlayStation forums, reporting system errors that include blank screens, disc read errors, locked PSN accounts, and "even systems that won't power up," says the story.

Several posts on the forums complain that after installing the update, and visiting the PlayStation Store, a blocking message flashes, "This service is not available in your country/region." Meanwhile, others are using the forums to complain about the update, which they say offers little in the way of new functionality in addition to removing the OtherOS feature. As one user puts it, "Seriously Sony!?!?! You are going to force an update on us that only takes away functionality!??!?!?!"

Availability

The Geohot blog posting announcing the successful development of the Sony PS3 3.21 custom firmware may be found here.

The PlayStation forum threads on Sony's 3.21 update may be found here. The CVG story on the complaints over Sony's update should be here.

I knew he would come through. He is certainly fast.

For lucky european, they can claim partial cashback to the store they bought it from.

April 8th, 2010 at 9:38 am - Retailer Amazon has offered a partial refund to a European PS3 owner following his complaint about the removal of the console’s ‘Other OS’ feature. Firmware 3.21 infamously removed the ability to install other Operating Systems (such as Yellow Dog Linux) on the PlayStation 3. Though the feature was widely unused by the majority of PS3 gamers, many were angered by Sony’s audacity to remotely disable an original PS3 feature. One gamer has come up trumps, citing European law to earn a partial refund.
That’s a partial refund from Amazon without returning their PS3. Said gamer is NeoGAF Forum moderator ‘iapetus‘, who cited European law to argue that his original 60GB console, which was considerably out of warranty and Amazon’s 30-day guarantee, no longer operated as advertised. The online retailer’s policy was to offer a refund weighing in at approximately 20 per cent of the console’s original value. Amazon responds:

We are writing to confirm that we have processed your refund in the amount of £84.00 for your Order 666-5327564-4432412.
Item Refund: £71.49
Item Tax Refund: £12.51
This refund is for the following item(s):
Item: Sony PlayStation 3 Console (60GB Premium Version)
Quantity: 1
ASIN: B0007SV734
Reason for refund: Account adjustment
The following is the breakdown of your refund for this item:
​

Said European law is Directive 1999/44/EC, which was accepted into European Parliament on 1 January 2002. Apart from requiring all European member states to alter their legislation to carry at least a two-year warranty on all new consumer goods (the UK’s Sale of Goods Act offers up to 6 years possible protection) the Directive also includes a stipulation relevant to Sony’s removal of the PS3’s Other OS. The two points read:

“The goods must:

• comply with the description given by the seller and posses the same qualities and characteristics as other similar goods
• be fit for the purpose which the consumer requires them and which was made known to the seller at the time of purchase.”

The key statement is “which was made known to the seller at the time of purchase,” where Sony made it known at the time of purchase that you would be able to install an ‘Other OS.’ This was raised with Amazon, and their policy was to offer a partial refund whether that feature had been used by said consumer or not. It should be noted that in European law responsibility is placed on the retailer and not the manufacturer.
This cost will most likely be passed over to Sony and if such refunds get out of hand, Sony may have no other option than to reinstate ‘Other OS’ or instead take legal action to prove that they are not acting outside of the law. Sony’s argument may be that they are allowed to change the software side of their console, since it does not act as an alteration to hardware. Moreover, Sony may argue that they have given Other OS users an option to not update their console; though this is an option that will stop these gamers from going online or playing future PS3 games. Of course, there’s the simple fact that the PS3’s user agreement states:

“Without limitation, services may include the provision of the latest update or download of new release that may include security patches, new technology or revised settings and features which may prevent access to unauthorized or pirated content, or use of unauthorized hardware or software in connection with the PS3 system.​

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get 20% back.

Will be doing that, methinks - thanks Ranged for the advice. As for the US, let's hope that geohot takes Sony's decision badly and does everything in his power - if he releases an iso loader in the next months he will elevate himself to the ranking of a demi-god, plus, on top of all that, will have saved me from resoldering my PS3's drive.

Is there a way to downgrade? Obviously not through the 'Other OS', but someone might find a way to sneak in petitboot.