Hackers bamboozled by PSP 3000 security

***wraggster*** · November 3rd, 2008, 19:08

I love these amusing articles posted by tech sites, heres another to read and amuse yourself at:

It's still early days in the life of the PSP-3000, which was released approximately 3 weeks ago, but Sony will be happy to hear that hackers have so far failed to exploit the latest hardware revision.

So far hackers have only been able to swap its CPU with that of a PSP Slim, but haven't been able to exploit the hardware in the same way as previous models.

Dark Alex, one of the most popular PSP sites for the hacking and homebrew community, has been unable to find a work around to hack the hand-held and the community as a whole appear to be stumped as to whether it will even be possible.

If it can't be hacked then Sony will have finally won its long battle against piracy and the homebrew community. Throughout the life cycle of the PSP, Sony has tried to thwart hackers by releasing firmware updates to improve security, but every time it's still managed to be hacked. PSP hackers have in the past been vocal about the fact that they're not actually interested in hacking the PSP to take advantage of copied games, but believe they should have the right to do whatever they want to the hardware.

Fanjita, a member of the hacker group "N00bz!", stated,

"Everyone has the right to do what they want with their own hardware. Piracy does upset me, and because what we are doing opens the way to piracy it's harder to justify it morally. But our stance on piracy is clear, and we hope to be role models. Sony have never been in touch with me, so I am confident that what we are doing is legal."

However. some people believe that by stopping hackers from exploiting the hardware, Sony is actually doing itself no favours.

Phillip Torrone from Make Magazine recently stated:

"I think the really smart companies should release their products to the alpha geeks for six months and let the alpha geeks play around with them. It seems to me they'd save a lot of money on R&D, and they'd come out with much more solid products."

The PSP 3000 is obviously going to be tough nut to crack, but there lies the challenge - something that the hacking community will relish.

http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=16194

**carlitx** · November 3rd, 2008, 19:32

Originally Posted by wraggster

"I think the really smart companies should release their products to the alpha geeks for six months and let the alpha geeks play around with them. It seems to me they'd save a lot of money on R&D, and they'd come out with much more solid products."

http://gaming.hexus.net/content/item.php?item=16194

haha yah i would say. Stupid Sony :P

**Shrygue** · November 3rd, 2008, 20:42

I'm sure that the series 3000 PSP will get cracked eventually, it just needs some more time as it has only been out in stores for a short while now.

**darkdex52** · November 3rd, 2008, 21:06

Since I own PSP-2000 it's only playing in my own good that the PSP-3000 is unhackable.

**alanparker05** · November 3rd, 2008, 21:52

In the short term i think the psp 3000 being unhackable is a good thing... It will mean developers have more incentive to make games if people have no choice but to buy, and that will benefit us with psp 1 + 2000's... Personally i'm thinking about making a voodoo doll of dark_alex and keep poking needles everytime i think he's making some progress on hacking it, then i can finally have some more games

**mike_jmg** · November 3rd, 2008, 21:55

I consider this will be a good thing on the long run as it might bring more interest from the developers to the platform

Sorry for the people that can't get a PSP slim or phat to play homebrew

Better handle my slim more carefully from now on, as it will become priceless.

**Buddy4point0** · November 3rd, 2008, 22:26

I would actually not care weather the PSP 3000 got hacked or not.
I'm not going to buy one with the scanline issue, and if it's not hacked it will help the PSP thrive.

**havoc_012** · November 3rd, 2008, 22:46

I'm not going to buy a 3000 (no scanlines please, kthxbye) but theres no reason to hope that the 3000 doesn't get cracked.

**reluttr** · November 3rd, 2008, 22:53

Originally Posted by alanparker05

In the short term i think the psp 3000 being unhackable is a good thing... It will mean developers have more incentive to make games if people have no choice but to buy, and that will benefit us with psp 1 + 2000's... Personally i'm thinking about making a voodoo doll of dark_alex and keep poking needles everytime i think he's making some progress on hacking it, then i can finally have some more games

Umm I highly doubt that most of your psp homebrew makers can afford the 2000$+ Dev kit. Thats kind of the point of having the custom firmware, so anyone and everyone could develop for the psp for FREE.

Besides if sony calls a hardware design flaw a "feature" what do you expect for them to do when they have total control. I can see it now..."The game crashes are actually a feature to help gamers stop playing and take a break."

On top of that, by the 3000 being uncrackable only hurts the homebrew users... because it 1 stops new developers from emerging and 2 it keeps devs from replacing bad hardware.

Not to mention... If the system is locked shut, then I wont have cheat device for gta which destroys the overall playability of the game.

I for one thinks that sony will quickly regret what they have done "assuming it is as secure as they say". I mean look at apple, they saw what the user wanted and they provided somewhat of a solution "at least most people are happy now".

If you don't like homebrew and opensource software then you should NOT be on a website that specializes in homebrew and opensource software.....

**carlitx** · November 4th, 2008, 00:02

Originally Posted by alanparker05

In the short term i think the psp 3000 being unhackable is a good thing... It will mean developers have more incentive to make games if people have no choice but to buy, and that will benefit us with psp 1 + 2000's... Personally i'm thinking about making a voodoo doll of dark_alex and keep poking needles everytime i think he's making some progress on hacking it, then i can finally have some more games

must-refuse-urge-to-call-names!

Dude get a grip.

there! thats all I am saying, if I say anything more it will be the "Homebrew with DRM" Forum all over again....

PS: Learn the damned fact before making posts like that.
PSS: I Hope DaX makes a doll of you.... and sets it aflame.

Originally Posted by reluttr

If you don't like homebrew and opensource software then you should NOT be on a website that specializes in homebrew and opensource software.....

exactly right.