One of the bigger gaming news stories this year so far is that George Hotz (or Geohot to the internet at large) , the justifiably ego-driven hacker du jour found, and released the PS3’s root keys. What’s are these root keys, you ask? It’s a set of largely incomprehensible numbers that Sony uses to digitally sign licenced software for their current console, allowing the PS3 to know that the games that are being run are genuine.
They’re now in the wild, meaning that homebrew devs and custom firmware creators will be able to sign their own software, and have it run on PS3s, without the need for any hardware modifications or USB dongles. It will also very likely lead to some pretty large scale, and easy PS3 piracy – because with the keys made public, the PS3’s security has practically been completely eroded.
Apparently – according to fail0verflow, the hackers responsible for the exploit used by GeoHot – there’s not much Sony can do about it. The root keys are hard-coded in to the PS3, and altering them will prevent older retail games from functioning.
As of right now, there’s already a modified firmware that allows users to install PS3 software packages (and not much else). How easy is it to hack, then? It’s as simple as copying the modified firmware to a flash drive and updating – as you would with an official firmware update from Sony.
There’s been nothing released as yet that enables piracy yet, but it’s inevitable. It’ll be interesting to see in the coming months just how much it affects sales of PS3 games, particularly locally where PS3 software sales eclipse those of its rival HD console.
Ironically, the reason hackers have recently put so much effort in to cracking the PS3 open is because the company removed “OtherOS,†the ability to install Linux, something they did out of fears of potential piracy.
While we at Lazygamer do not condone piracy at all, the homebrew scene will be an interesting one. I’d not be particularly disappointed to have my PS3 running XBMC, for instance. The PS3. It only does everything. Except maybe security.
Source : Geohot, KaKaRoToKs
Last Updated: January 6, 2011
Gavin Mannion
January 6, 2011 at 13:22
Now that all 3 consoles are hacked I wonder how long it will be before we start hearing about the next generation?
Especially from Sony with this massive security breach, I truly feel bad for them. (and especially the developer who screwed up the code)
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 6, 2011 at 13:36
It’ll still be a while before this leads to piracy proper…but I reckon we’ll hear of a new console next year.
Gdurfy
January 6, 2011 at 18:23
Correction. Xbox 360 is the only console not hacked. You cannot run homebrew on it.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 6, 2011 at 18:47
Yeah you can, but it needs to be a Jtagged Xbox 360, which are quite rare these days.
Banana Jim
January 6, 2011 at 13:34
All it really means, is that in the next few days or weeks, we’ll be getting even more annoying firmware updates and patches. Thank you GeoHot, I sincerely hope you get “Aids and die”.
Harsh? Perhaps, however GeoHot is not helping gaming, and no matter how you spin it about homebrewed apps, he’s harming console gaming.
Banana Jim
January 6, 2011 at 13:34
All it really means, is that in the next few days or weeks, we’ll be getting even more annoying firmware updates and patches. Thank you GeoHot, I sincerely hope you get “Aids and die”.
Harsh? Perhaps, however GeoHot is not helping gaming, and no matter how you spin it about homebrewed apps, he’s harming console gaming.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 6, 2011 at 13:45
I’m so, so glad that the PS3 does incremental updates now. Those 100+ Mb firmware updates were a pain in the balls.
DieJason
January 6, 2011 at 13:34
Well done though to Sony for keeping the PS3 piracy-free for so long *salutes*
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 6, 2011 at 13:40
Thing is, the hackers only started poking the thing properly once Sony removed OtherOS. So it really only took them 8 months.
Rez
January 6, 2011 at 13:38
I wonder if after years of the PS3 staving off piracy which PS3 fanboys used as an argument as PS3 superiority they will now tout the fact that the PS3 is much as easier to play pirated games on than the Xbox as an indication of superiority.
Eet
January 6, 2011 at 13:41
Waar will jy uit?
fred
January 6, 2011 at 14:18
That’s just nuts . See the pirates drooling already.
Exalted Overlord Geoffrey Tim
January 6, 2011 at 14:20
That’s just nuts? Was that a very astute observation of the header image? 😛
Potty391
January 6, 2011 at 14:48
Actually, the Xbox 360 pirates are working on software that you can put on a USB drive that will make the flashing process much easier.. no idea how, but I read that a while back.
lans
January 6, 2011 at 20:37
WHAT ARE U PEOPLE DOING
KILLZONE 3 STORY TRAILER IS OFF THE ROCKS
FUCK YEAH!
Gavin Mannion
January 7, 2011 at 06:18
It’s coming lans
eXpZA
January 7, 2011 at 08:27
Such a pity 🙁 No one runs “Homebrew” software, the only reason the PS3 or any console is cracked is so that you can pirate games on it.
I hope Sony are as intense with account / console banning as MS are.
Banana Jim
January 7, 2011 at 12:12
Anyone else thinks George is merely trying to land a job at Sony?