Yesterday, we included a link in our “In Other News†post to news about an apparent “PS3 Jailbreak.†Once again, hackers are claiming to have bypassed the PS3’s up to now rock-solid security, allowing them to play backups.
A dubitable company of unknown origin – presumably Hong Kong – has forged what it terms PSJailbreak – a combination of software and a USB dongle apparently allows all currently available makes and model of retail PS3’s to copy and run Playstation 3 retail games, as well as unsigned homebrew code.
Unlike most other PS# hacking claims though, this one appears to be disturbingly genuine, with many hacking and mod-chip sites attesting to its veracity. Multiple mod-chip retailers were apparently sent anonymous packages EX Hong-Kong containing the dongle – and many of them are claiming it works.
Australian based OzModChips has offered up two Youtube videos showing how the device works. The USB dongle offers simple plug and play installation, making opening the console and voiding its warranty unnecessary. Booting up the console by holding down the power followed by the eject button appears to enable the dongle, which coupled with a software “backup manager†seems to allow user to back up and play games from the consoles internal – or external USB connected – hard drive.
If this is real, it’ll be a real punch in the stomach for Sony, who’ve amazingly managed to keep their console piracy-free for four years. While the device may offer some genuinely useful tools, like homebrew and backing up of originals, those features will be overshadowed by the devices potential for piracy. It may also start the cat and mouse game that’s plagued the PSP – with pirates and Sony each successively offering up new firmwares to counteract each other.
Let’s hope that we – as legitimate users – aren’t punished once again by potential exploits. Sony removed the OtherOS as a result of the threat of piracy. Could a similar firmware update remove the use of USB ports for anything other than charging controllers and officially licenced 3rd-party controllers?
What do you think? Is this real?
Last Updated: August 20, 2010
eXp
August 20, 2010 at 13:55
Just remove the ability to hold down the power button and eject button at the same time 😉
lans
August 20, 2010 at 14:03
I SWEAR IF I CATCH ANY ONE OF U FOOLS HACKING OR TALKING ABOUT IT I WILL HUNT YOU DOWN, AND PRAY I DONT GET UR EMAIL COZ IM DEFINATELY GONNA WATCH U BOAST AND REPORT U!!THIS IS NOT COOL!
SkaWarrior
August 20, 2010 at 14:12
Well I’m scared Ians, your capslock shows you really mean business
lans
August 20, 2010 at 14:17
Skawarrior im not playing anymore if u think this is funny. then it is your risk, just like hiv, i will make ur life worse one day at atime
mogness
August 20, 2010 at 14:25
lans. I lawl at your incompetence. you are the ultimate failure of the internet
eXp
August 20, 2010 at 14:27
Don’t worry LANS, none of us will pirate GT5.
because it’s not out.
still.
ewie
August 20, 2010 at 14:30
Time to hack my ps3, but first I need to buy it.
lans
August 20, 2010 at 14:33
im gonna save this page!
your my true enemies
im gonna make u my bitch one of these days!
gargoyle55
August 20, 2010 at 14:41
lans – correction:
“You’re my true enemies”
Your = Belonging to you.
You’re = You are.
It’s pretty basic.
Loki
August 20, 2010 at 14:47
Wow lans! I didn’t know you swing that way… :blink:
lans
August 20, 2010 at 14:49
gargoyle ur point?, your post is even more meaningless, your not saying anything relevant, spelling is a luxury on the internet not a requirement
eXp
August 20, 2010 at 14:53
*you’re not saying anything relevant
lans
August 20, 2010 at 14:55
**no u’re not saying anything relevant
………now what?? u dont seem so clever anymore, go back to school!
ewie
August 20, 2010 at 14:58
Hopefully they release a verion of XBMC on this,
Loki
August 20, 2010 at 15:00
How about I give you my address and then I save you all the hassles of finding out who I am. You can swing by if you want. I’ll put the TV on Cartoon Network if you want. Just warn be before you come so that I can go buy some cookies and Oros.
Loki
August 20, 2010 at 15:01
But you just came from there and it didn’t help you at all.
RSA-Ace
August 20, 2010 at 15:28
The thoughts of playing MKV’s and using an NTFS flash drive might sway me to try this out (not at that price).
I have an iPhone and I’ve jailbroken that – It actually makes the phone worth the price… And no I don’t download cracked games/apps for free. A jailbroken iPhone still has a store which costs money – just the apps have a lot more freedom to do what they want with the phone (I’ve had multitasking and categories for months)!
easy
August 20, 2010 at 16:03
hold up there pecorino… spelling is always a requirement! and so is basic grammar.
the internet allows the weak minded a platform to soil what is an otherwise useful tool. don’t be a nut knuckle, use your spell checker ffs!
Geoffrey Tim
August 20, 2010 at 16:04
It’s good to have you back.
mujabees
August 20, 2010 at 16:36
ooh ooh lans can i be your emeny too?
Fox1
August 20, 2010 at 16:47
Welcome back
Garith
August 20, 2010 at 17:42
I think this is great, it will no doubt lead to some fantastic open source and homebrew stuff hitting the PS3, I may even retire the Dingoo…. 😆
Werner
August 21, 2010 at 10:00
Sounds a lot like the way the PSP 3000 was hacked. Loading the hack into the memory of the device instead of actually flashing the firmware.
The only difference of course being that the PS3 has the ability to force you to update your firmware if you want any sort of online capabilities. So, anyone that uses this hack will in future, possibly not be able to play online, download demo’s, update games etc.
Ndibu
August 21, 2010 at 12:05
Its as simple as plug and play? No installations necessary? This could be bad
lans
August 21, 2010 at 23:44
@easy, so you think spelling is more important than discussing the topic at hand?
clearly you have a personal agenda, if i get under your skin easy no problem just ignore me and ill ignore you
lans
August 21, 2010 at 23:48
loki is that all you can do, twist my words?
man im done with this site, you try have a bit of fun and i get to deal with snot nosed school kids, who cant even have a decent conversation
Loki why dont you actually, speak and have a proper conversation your witty one liners are truly disposable this is the last time i comment on this Site.
im truly done with this.
easy
August 23, 2010 at 08:15
yes lans i do.
correct spelling and grammar normally produce sentences that make sense, and decrease the chance of ambiguity.
your and you’re (you are) will change the structure of the sentence and tends to befuddle the reader.
by the looks of it, your input is highly valued here and i would hate for your (not you’re) insights to be misconstrued by the gt5 hating gaming populous.
head over here if you would like to be understood properly old chap.