Post: Can Sony detect hacked machines?
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01-12-2011, 01:49 PM
#1
riotmost
The Bad Guy
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Originally posted by another user
Restraining order filed against those behind root key release and custom firmware builds; Can Sony detect hacked machines?
Mirroring the path it pursued when fighting last year's battle against the PSJailbreak device, Sony has gone legal on at least two hackers at the heart of the current PS3 piracy drive.
Kotaku reports that SCEA is seeking a temporary restraining order against both George 'geohot' Hotz and hacking group fail0verflow regarding their efforts to crack Sony's internal PS3 security measures.
Sony argues that the pair's actions violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act as they knowingly open the PS3 up to piracy. It wants their associated websites to be taken offline, equipment to be seized and to restrict their access to PS3 technology.
Hotz is also accused of benefitting financially through unlawful conduct.
At the time of writing both of their websites are down. Hotz' now links to copies of Sony's legal documents. fail0voerflow's splash page states that "Sony sued us", adding:"Our motivation was Sony's removal of OtherOS; Our exclusive goal was, and always has been to get OtherOS back; We have never condoned, supported, approved of, or encouraged video game piracy."
Last year as part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act the US courts ruled that it is perfectly legal for owners of mobile devices to circumvent any in-built copy protection measures, thus paving the way for legal jailbreaking of things such as the iPhone.
The same does not apply to other devices such as games consoles, however, where it debatably remains illegal to bypass restrictions embedded by the manufacturer.
Meanwhile, it looks as if Sony may well be able to remotely detect any PS3 that has been tampered with.
DigitalFoundry speculates that any PS3 connected to the internet automatically has some element of communication with Sony upon powering up, even if the user is not signed into PSN.
The site believes that this exchange of information could well contain an application log, which if correct would certainly make Sony aware of any unauthorised code that has been run. In theory this could lead to waves of console bans in much the same way as Microsoft has become accustomed to on Xbox Live.
Mirroring the path it pursued when fighting last year's battle against the PSJailbreak device, Sony has gone legal on at least two hackers at the heart of the current PS3 piracy drive.
Kotaku reports that SCEA is seeking a temporary restraining order against both George 'geohot' Hotz and hacking group fail0verflow regarding their efforts to crack Sony's internal PS3 security measures.
Sony argues that the pair's actions violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act as they knowingly open the PS3 up to piracy. It wants their associated websites to be taken offline, equipment to be seized and to restrict their access to PS3 technology.
Hotz is also accused of benefitting financially through unlawful conduct.
At the time of writing both of their websites are down. Hotz' now links to copies of Sony's legal documents. fail0voerflow's splash page states that "Sony sued us", adding:"Our motivation was Sony's removal of OtherOS; Our exclusive goal was, and always has been to get OtherOS back; We have never condoned, supported, approved of, or encouraged video game piracy."
Last year as part of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act the US courts ruled that it is perfectly legal for owners of mobile devices to circumvent any in-built copy protection measures, thus paving the way for legal jailbreaking of things such as the iPhone.
The same does not apply to other devices such as games consoles, however, where it debatably remains illegal to bypass restrictions embedded by the manufacturer.
Meanwhile, it looks as if Sony may well be able to remotely detect any PS3 that has been tampered with.
DigitalFoundry speculates that any PS3 connected to the internet automatically has some element of communication with Sony upon powering up, even if the user is not signed into PSN.
The site believes that this exchange of information could well contain an application log, which if correct would certainly make Sony aware of any unauthorised code that has been run. In theory this could lead to waves of console bans in much the same way as Microsoft has become accustomed to on Xbox Live.
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01-12-2011, 02:30 PM
#4
FourzerotwoFAILS
COD4 God
01-12-2011, 04:28 PM
#7
sammyboy24
Do a barrel roll!
Im pretty sure they only check for custom apps such as backup manager and blackbox. You can just clear it in your history data logger using blackbox. If they checked the actual firmware you are running, I think a lot more of us would be banned. But who knows if they will start to do it in the future.
01-12-2011, 09:19 PM
#8
flip3547
Guest
I know I've never posted before. I've been lurking and learning on this site for quite a while. After reading the majority of the complaint against "the defendants", I'm not sure if they can detect anything or not, but I'm sure they can somehow. This is a quote from the papers served:
"By distributing the Circumvention Devices discussed herein, Hotz has caused irreparable injury and damage to SCEA"
I don't believe that Sony can fix the progress now without issuing new devices with new security. Roadblocks, sure, but it can't be taken away from anyone. I've been in the cell phone scene for a long time now and carriers are dealing with the same problems Sony will have for a long time. I know, first post, this is only my two cents.
"By distributing the Circumvention Devices discussed herein, Hotz has caused irreparable injury and damage to SCEA"
I don't believe that Sony can fix the progress now without issuing new devices with new security. Roadblocks, sure, but it can't be taken away from anyone. I've been in the cell phone scene for a long time now and carriers are dealing with the same problems Sony will have for a long time. I know, first post, this is only my two cents.
01-12-2011, 09:33 PM
#9
InSaNe-xPWEEx
a.k.a. PWEE21
Originally posted by flip3547
I know I've never posted before. I've been lurking and learning on this site for quite a while. After reading the majority of the complaint against "the defendants", I'm not sure if they can detect anything or not, but I'm sure they can somehow. This is a quote from the papers served:
"By distributing the Circumvention Devices discussed herein, Hotz has caused irreparable injury and damage to SCEA"
I don't believe that Sony can fix the progress now without issuing new devices with new security. Roadblocks, sure, but it can't be taken away from anyone. I've been in the cell phone scene for a long time now and carriers are dealing with the same problems Sony will have for a long time. I know, first post, this is only my two cents.
"By distributing the Circumvention Devices discussed herein, Hotz has caused irreparable injury and damage to SCEA"
I don't believe that Sony can fix the progress now without issuing new devices with new security. Roadblocks, sure, but it can't be taken away from anyone. I've been in the cell phone scene for a long time now and carriers are dealing with the same problems Sony will have for a long time. I know, first post, this is only my two cents.
i was thinking this earlier sony sued them because they jailbroke there console just like the psp i dont think sony can see what FW you using. i think its scare tactic thats my opinion correct me if im wrong.:dunce:
01-12-2011, 10:05 PM
#10
flip3547
Guest
I'm thinking that Sony checks firmware, but everyone is on 3.55. Whether it be CFW or OFW it's still 3.55. I only believe this because if they put out an update, they only send it to those not on the higher numbered FW. Once your PS is updated, no more notifications. It is very likely they can figure a way but with everything being signed with their private keys, what would be different? I'm just some guy who reads alot and follows directions well. I only have a basic understanding of the bottom end of all these devices. I will say T-mobile can't tell my phone is completely unlocked with a custom rom, that is connected to the internet all the time. I'm sure there is some kind of technical difference but with the vast amount of people doing this, I think the widespread bans are their only defense, if even that. Again, I don't know anything, only time will tell. I will enjoy it as long as it is my machine and not Sonys anymore.
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