Sony cracks down on PSP hacks

[wraggster]

Source - Cnet (http://news.com.com/Sony+cracks+down+on+PSP+hacks/2100-1002_3-5885945.html?tag=nefd.top)

Sony is engaged in a tug-of-war with hackers who keep cracking its PlayStation Portable software to unlock the device and run their own applications on it.

The company is preparing another update to the PSP firmware to fix a recently disclosed bug that lets hackers downgrade the PSP system software and run their own, so-called homebrew code on the device, a Sony representative said Thursday.

"It is not...what the device was designed for," said Patrick Seybold, a spokesman for Sony Computer Entertainment America. "We plan to deal with this issue with the next system update." He declined to say when that update would be ready.

Soon after Sony released the PSP earlier this year, hackers started hunting for bugs in the software that runs the device. Flaws were found and used to run homegrown applications, such as a PDF reader and an FTP client, on the device. The bugs were not used to attack PSP users.

Sony last month updated the PSP firmware to version 2.0. The update encompassed new features, including a Web browser, but also fixed the flaws that had been exploited by the hackers. The 2.0 update was made available on Sony's Web site and will be included in new PSP games, which will require the update, Seybold said.

Sony is not "actively going after the people doing it," Seybold said, but the company does not advise running homebrew code on the PSP. "Running unauthorized software will void the warranty," he said.

The PSP was released in the U.S. in March. Since then, more than 2 million units have been sold in the U.S., according to Sony. The device is sold primarily as a portable game machine, but users can also play movies and music, display digital photos and browse the Internet through its built-in wireless networking.

[xuphorz]

unauthorized code voids warrenty?

all you need to do is delete the homebrew completely, no one wil ever know
(or just don't send the psp to sony with a memory card)

[ShinSean]

seriously - I thought that was the stupidest thing I've ever read from Sony. How the heck would they know?

[jimjamjahaa]

i think it is simply to scare the lesser informed in to not doing it

[shadow77]

seriously - I thought that was the stupidest thing I've ever read from Sony. How the heck would they know?

they said it because people who aren't too smart will immediaty say "oh crap, this stuff voids my warranty" and then not run it.

[slayer2psp]

"Running unauthorized software will void the warranty," he said.
WTF how lame is sony oh know my warranty is void ever here of a product replacement plan sony? also they could never know any ways

[jimjamjahaa]

yeah i noticed that too. odd.

[xuphorz]

sony isn't good on the brain side, but good on the console side :)

[wraggster]

newspost changed but theres one thing thats been brought to my attention, PSP-Hacks.net were the original source(their forums) of the downgrader release so in reality all this weeks links should have gone to them and not other sites.

[Clay]

Lol, just delete the whole paragraph eh? good enough i guess wraggs.

oh and, MPH has his own website that we linked.

EDIT: Answer MSN for discussion of something totally off topic please >:E

[Niacin]

"By agreeing to these rules, you warrant that you will not post any messages that are obscene, vulgar, sexually-orientated, hateful, threatening, or otherwise violative of any laws."

As I don't feel i have broken any of the rules. I would like to know why my post was censored. As you own the forum its your right to delete posts with out question. But i'm sure your users would like to know why you deleted the post. I'm not for/against any particular PSP news site. But removing my post and the paragraph from the page doesn't solve the problem.

Nor does bickering or slander. However if the admin of this site feels the need to censor me. Then I will take it upon myself to post a copy of the thread on the front page of my site. I think its important for users to know which sites report the news as it is and which sites shape the news to suit them selves.

\Niacin
Toc2rta

[quzar]

If they really cared they could know even though you think not. The bigger thing though is that it is relatively unenforcable due to the fact that they'd have to check every psp. I assume though they refer to psps that are sent back under warranty because of being bricked, in which case it would be easy to tell homebrew from not.

[wraggster]

Hmm let me explain some things

1) Psp-hacks deserve credit as MPH released the downgrader on their forums (read Niacin, now when did they get credited, you tell me)

2) was a tad naughty of me to change the post but i didnt like it but i removed the paragraph so i also removed the forum posts (if you dont like it then please dont visit the forums)

3) your threat was already posted on your site and irc chat, so thats hardly playing ball, ( you did a great job with the exploit but your atitude is a tad off)

and u say we dont post storys correctly, tell me who does :)

[wraggster]

Ill close this because ive had no reply but the comments above sum this up, it seems some people just want to make public scene fights and while i could easily join it i wont but its fair to say that if you cause trouble here then youl be banned and i dont care who you are, also if theres articles rubbishing the site then youll get the treatment you deserve.

The psp scene isnt about one site its about 100s of sites and just because one exploiter has alligned himself with some sites doesnt mean he has to fight their battles.

have a nice day :)