This is truly a sad but expected day. Trend anti-virus has noticed that the PS3 can browse the Internet and has released some software to protect the PS3 from viruses.
Trend Micro Web Security for PS3 is expected to be available on November 8, and will be free of charge until the end of April 2008(*2). This service is the first globally supported Web security service for a home game system.
Now how long do you think it is now going to be before some idiot develops a virus that spreads through multiplayer mods… Unreal Tournament anyone?
Trend Micro Total Web Security Service for
PLAYSTATION 3 Available Worldwide – Trend Micro UK
Last Updated: November 15, 2007
Ruslan
November 16, 2007 at 07:14
Imagine going to a PS3 LAN and having to enable your PS3 firewall to avoid being hacked. Priceless.
hilt_ctn
November 16, 2007 at 08:15
” xbox OS ” it’s a stripped down version of Windows 2000, it will be far more susceptible to viruses, since 99.999% of virus codes out there are windows executables in some way shape or form
A PS3 cant execute that code. So at best it’s reaction will be similar to that of a Mac surfing a site infected with a windows virus…ie nothing. Since most of the PS3 code is a best kept secret within Sony, I think it will be a long time before this is a REAL concern
PS – The PS3 has a firewall already 😉 Try running a port scanner sometime
Ruslan
November 16, 2007 at 08:38
Well, I dont need to surf with my GAMING console so I have no worries. 😉
LazySAGamer
November 16, 2007 at 08:40
@hilt_ctn, as far as I am aware though the Xbox 360 is a completely closed system, which means that while it is simple to write a virus for it the system will not execute anything that is not digitally signed by the Microsoft team. Granted this can be hacked around by chipping your box but I am not the least bit phased if all the pirates machines get infected.
However this virus protection is for the PS3’s web browser, since the PS3 has a fully functional web browser it is also now susceptible to the same dodgy web pages our pc’s are.
To be honest I expect the first attempt at a virus to land in about March next year.
hilt_ctn
November 16, 2007 at 08:56
Sure, but the PS3 can’t execute majority of the malicious code in those pages since they’re majority Windows based. A PS3 has no clue what a .exe is for eg.
I’m not naive enough to think this is never going to happen however. Once people ( more accurately – virus writting twats ) start getting their head around console coding, a rampant infection is inevitable ( regardless of console brand ). You summed it up best when you said ” a sad but expected day ”
I’m with Ruslan on this one. I dont use my console to surf
XennoX
November 16, 2007 at 11:29
You don’t really need to surf, all you need to do is be online, having your PS3 exchange data with your router which is connected to the internet.
Another thing is all you have to do is install Linux on it. Problem solved.
baba
November 16, 2007 at 11:41
@hilt_ctn
It is true that the PS3, and even Xbox would not be able to run the PC’s code. But remember, many websites have a large portion of Java based applications integrated into webpages, and they are mostly platform independant.
Ruslan
November 16, 2007 at 12:31
Uh oh… java can be manipulated for malware purposes too. Seeing a similar trend cropping up in Symbian powered phones lately in SA. Dang.