Geohot released the root keys for the PS3, hacking it wide open. At the time, hackers were convinced that the PS3 was pretty much screwed, and that nothing Sony could do would secure the system again.
It looks like they were wrong.
Today’s new firmware update, 3.60 not only adds acloud-based storage, but adds a whole new layer of security that should lock out pirates and hackers – quite possibly forever. One of the biggest players in the PS3 hacking scene, KaKaRoToKS – known to his mum as Youness Alaoui – has analysed Sony’s new firmware and come away impressed.
“For now, it looks to me (at first glance) that the PS3 has been re-secured, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be broken again from scratch,” he said, adding that’s he’s only had a quick look, and that it doesn’t mean that the system can’t be cracked all over again. The epic fail was epic,” Alaoui said, adding that “It doesn’t mean they can’t come [up] with an epic save.”
how the PS3’s security system worked was through a “chain of trust.” Discrete layers of encryption allow access to succeeding layers, starting with the “mtldr†root keys that GeoHot made public. According to KaKaRoToKS, mtldr isn’t used at all anymore, making way for a brand new system.
“Wow, in 3.60, Sony removed all the loaders, no more isoldr/lv1ldr/lv2ldr/appldr.. but they added lv0.2! Seems they found a way to secure ps3†he said on Twitter.
Clever stuff, Sony! I’m happy with any moves that actually keep hackers, cheats and pirates off of PSN, so I have no problems with this particular update.
Last Updated: March 10, 2011
