Why hasn't the PS3 been hacked?

by Andrew Yoon { Mar 8th 2008 at 2:30PM }

Where is the PS3 homebrew scene? Considering how active the PSP scene, one would think that Sony's other console would get the same kind of attention from hackers. It's not that people aren't trying -- rather, it appears that Sony has learned from their mistakes with the PSP.

PSP was rather insecure from the start. A primer from "nikkelitous" explains that "the PSP didn't have any security protections in the first version: Thats right! It essentially ran anything that you put on it." In spite of Sony's continued attempts at fixing PSP security through firmware revisions, the damage has already been done. "The PSP now has a very powerful security system, but like the Greeks, we had people inside. Once a system is hacked and understood, very little can be used to continue to protect it."

Not only has Sony made the PS3 much more secure, but its use of Blu-ray makes it significantly more difficult to hack. "It's not using a DVD drive it's using a custom Blu-ray drive, we can't simply copy the disks, and we don't know enough about the firmware on the drive to accomplish a 'debug mode' even if it's on there." Of course, all of these hindrances aren't stopping the hacking community. They're going to keep on trying, and will probably one day succeed. However, it's clear that this time around, Sony isn't going to be taken off-guard.

Tags: hack, hacking, homebrew

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

ajiezer @ Mar 8th 2008 2:41PM

Maybe that's why in game xmb is not out yet, they are busy protecting it LOL

-T2K @ Mar 9th 2008 1:52AM

Lol XDDD

BananaBoat @ Mar 9th 2008 3:46AM

Ahaaaaa good show sir

Brodie-san @ Mar 8th 2008 2:42PM

I've pretty much hacked every console I've ever owned. From Dreamcasts to PS2s to Xboxs. I don't want to hack my PS3. For the first time I want to keep a console just the way it is.

lee @ Mar 8th 2008 2:53PM

we all no the main reason for hacking a console is that you can pirate games, but look what that has done to the psp developers dont want to make games for the psp because they no they will loose lots of money by people just downloading the games for free off torrent sites, i like free games as much as the next guy, but i wouldnt like to see the ps3 go the same way the psp did, even though the homebrew side of hacking a console is kinda cool.

Kspraydad @ Mar 8th 2008 2:58PM

Hey hackers...concentrate on the Xbox and Wii will you and leave my investment alone...I want games and I'm willing to pay for them

Emophia @ Mar 8th 2008 3:08PM

The only reason I moded my PS2 was to play import games.

I don't need to mod my PS3 to do that though.

Dahk @ Mar 8th 2008 3:24PM

Lol nicely put kspray.

I hacked my PSP to play my old dusted off PSX games though =P. It's was friggin' awesome. I have both discs of MGS1 and Gran Turismo running perfectly now w00t!

But yeah, I want this PS3 investment left alone lol.

Nate @ Mar 8th 2008 3:37PM

Kudos for the screen cap from Hackers! :)

I'm with the guy that said he doesn't want the PS3 hacked. What more would you want? It already plays all PS1 games, all PS2 games (if you have the right version, and if you don't, that's no one's fault but your own). It plays music and movies and can connect to your media server. It has a browser... seriously, what would you put on there with hacked firmware? You wouldn't be able to copy games to the hard drive... they're 25 gigs each. Good luck with that.

I think it's fine. PSP homebrew is cool, but it's probably killing sales of games, and that's bad for everyone.

lee @ Mar 8th 2008 3:45PM

lol yh what would they put on apart from a SNES emulator that appears on every hacked console.

dave @ Mar 9th 2008 7:58AM

Personally, I'd really love the PS3 to play import PS2 games. If they hacked the PS3 to do that, then I'd go for it.

RoboJoel @ Mar 8th 2008 3:47PM

I think it's because virtually every attempt to install LINUX on the system has ended in success!

Where's the hacker fun when SCE actually encourages you to do a little home-brew and modification?

I'd be interested in seeing Sony expand this style, and branch out into actual PS3 home-brew development tools for people to run on their PS3. Similar to what Microsoft has been trying with their XNA Studio Express initiative.

Darko @ Mar 8th 2008 5:58PM

if by success you mean its like installing linux on an old pc with a 500mhz processor then yes. Sony needs to stop being pricks and unlock the damn hardware.

Tiptup300 @ Mar 9th 2008 9:45PM

No, XNA Gives you all the power. PS3 Linux gives you a low-spec pc with an awesome processor. Which isn't very easy to install. Really wheres the linux distro made specifically for PS3? Like no keyboard/mouse required?

adorna @ Mar 8th 2008 4:13PM

hmm .. I still hope someone will hack the drive so you can play PS2 games from different reasons .. and I think quite a few of the later PSP functions are coming because the homebrew crowd demonstrated its possible...

Andy @ Mar 8th 2008 3:55PM

Considering standalone Blu-Rays are ridiculously expensive and games are so big I don't see the point.

And if they are hacking it to add features, what can they add that I'll want? I can already watch movies, avi's, view photos, use the interweb and obviously play games.

I'm sure they will keep doing it, as its probably a hobby for them, but it seems rather pointless to me.

Note: This could be why there are no hacks yet.

The Sound @ Mar 8th 2008 4:01PM

Because Sony was actually intelligent and included the things people actually WANT?

Region free gaming, internet browser, ability to install linux, >80% BC ('cept 40gigger), music, blu-ray, streaming, photos...

I mean, come on, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that Sony actually did something right, and even though the thing is a pain to code for, and is still slightly expensive, it's a solid piece of hardware that has basically what the majority of people want.

Coupled with the fact that it was $600, and let's face it, even most hackers can say that they don't have that much money to spend on a piece of hardware for the sake of 'hacking it'.

StevenRafael @ Mar 8th 2008 4:17PM

There have already been some instances of hacked PS3s, such as a disc-swap, and a disc-swap utilizing an added switch.

I haven't kept up to date on them though. For all I know, such methods could have been made obsolete by now via firmware. They weren't huge hits anyway.

Theres also that PS3 Megabox that some people are working on.

Every system has its share of pirates. Hopefully it just doesn't get out of hand like with the PSP, or the DS even.

I think this generation is fairly safe however compared to previous ones. Firmware updates, and online functionality for example help to counter modchips. Plus, a wider, more mainstream audience renders such methods less popular.

AshStampede @ Mar 8th 2008 4:42PM

I for one would only hack a console to play imports, never have hacked one as there was always a disc base way to do it. Sony has released a system that is region free. I have no intrest in anything some would be ps3 hacker has to say. However, as a programmer. Sony should allow programmers to use the graphics card through linux via the "other os " option. If sony release a sort of xna if you will that allowed you to build games on the ps3 through linux that acted like a psn or full retail game we go out and buy, well it would be a true homebrew scene and not one shrouded in mystery. But who knows, maybe that is in the works. I only have a 20gb ps3, setting aside the funds to get a larger hard drive and then i am installing linux.

oct @ Mar 8th 2008 5:15PM

I think there are a few reasons. I think GNU/Linux support has discouraged some people who might otherwise try to hack it. I also think the PS3 itself is more secure. Remember, on the seventh SPU there is Sony code running at all times - presumably this could (and maybe is) be used as another layer of protection. With the PSP most of the exploits have been buffer overflow exploits (the libpng exploit, a couple of the game save exploits, etc) which can affect the Game OS but don't get at the hypervisor. Of course the Hypervisor does not give unsigned code access to certain things, so CFW like on the PSP is quite a bit harder to do.

Musouka @ Mar 8th 2008 6:02PM

Even if Sony didn't provide all those goodies (B/C, region-free, linux, divx, cd-ripping, browsing,....) , I bet it'd still be staying unhacked. These are 3.2GHz signals, heavily protected everything [near-paranoid encryption], no way to underclock. PS3 could turn-out to be the sole exception of hacker's rule "everything is hackable". Until 6GHz logic-analyzers come-out below $3000 (but with some simple code, logic-analyzers can be defeated).
There is one thing that still drives hackers - the RSX access that Sony changed/removed in FW2.10. Without it, Linux is pretty much useless on PS3 - the desktop is way too slow.

Imbro @ Mar 9th 2008 7:00AM

And sony can never give this access considering their business model. They lose money on each console. The income is from licenses. If I could make a game for the linux version as good as the gameOS one, there is little reason to buy a license.

However Sony could prevent this by sponsoring a spe accelerated mesa implementation, spe optimized version of libavcodec/ffmpeg and access to the video ram. This would make linux on the ps3 extremly usefull but not as powerfull as with the rsx available from licensees.

vegi-saurus @ Mar 8th 2008 6:49PM

How do you hack a Foreman grill? :p

Haiddasalami @ Mar 8th 2008 7:10PM

Seriously whoever is going to pirate PS3 games can afford to pay for them. Lets looks at what you would technically need

1 - blu-ray burner 427$
2 - Blu-ray dvds 9.29 pounds per disc
3 - Fiber optic connection - 100+/month??
4- Banned from PSN - priceless

oki @ Mar 8th 2008 7:44PM

well stated

John @ Mar 8th 2008 7:24PM

What would be interesting is if sony allowed you to access the RSX through Linux but you had to pay like $60 or more. It may be a little outrageous but it would stop people who are just cheep and would want to use it to pirate games... People who seriously want to use Linux for non pirating game purposes would probably pay up. And even they payed up and pirated games, that still $60 to sony. Kind of bad idea, just a rumination...

Haiddasalami @ Mar 8th 2008 8:39PM

I would pay 60$ so I could make some indie games

Popfrogs @ Mar 8th 2008 11:51PM

Pretty soon you can make indie games on your PC then use Sony's tools to port it. If it's good enough it may end up on the PSN like Everyday Shooter.

Innocent Bystander @ Mar 8th 2008 9:13PM

Since Sony allows you to install Linux on the machine there is not much point to hacking it. You want homebrew, compile it on Linux and run it on your PS3. Why on Earth would you need to hack the original PS3 firmware for that?

Not to mention that Linux programming is easy and well documented...

IB

toefer @ Mar 8th 2008 10:40PM

I think part of the reason the PSP homebrew scene took off is because its portable. If I want to play SNES, or PS1 games at home, I can play my SNES or PS3, but playing Chrono Trigger or FFVII on the go, wherever I am, actually makes CFW on PSP worthwhile.

Bobby Boobs @ Mar 8th 2008 10:48PM

The only hacks I am interested about on the PS3 is to have a BD / DVD free zone player, and also to be able to play my imported PS2 games on the PS3, cause being stuck with these stupid regions is simply very frustrating !

I don't wat free games on PS3, I want the developer to get paid for their hard work, this also ensures that the game's quality stays high.

randomshagz @ Mar 9th 2008 1:46AM

randomshagzbookmark

In a few months from now... lets see if anything has changed.

idomagic @ Mar 9th 2008 5:17AM

"why would you want to hack the ps3 except for pirating games?"

I'm sorry, I don't own a ps3 yet, however I didn't think it was able to stream 1080p x264 media yet?
The hardware is certainly capable, but has sony implemented appropriate codecs?

Yeah, I'm waiting a bit more for price-cuts and hopefully some decent HTPC-hack.

baronjon @ Mar 9th 2008 10:06AM

i wouldnt mind region free dvd playback... neither would i mind region free blu-ray and ps2-games. also, xvid/whatever playback..

i miss region free dvd most though...

xrich @ Mar 9th 2008 11:52AM

This argument that its bad for consumers if consoles get hacked console because it will lead to less dev support is regularly made. It makes sense tht devs need to make money and if people are pirating the games, then there less incentive for devs to make high budget games. However, the ps2, 360 , wii, ds and pc games are all widely hacked and they all receive extensive and expensive game development. Don't get me wrong, piracy is wrong and illegal, but im not sure it really affects the gaming of honest consumers.

theclaw @ Mar 9th 2008 2:48PM

There are other things hackers could do if they had full access.

Make PS1 and PS2 support region free. Have DVD/BD movies be region free too, and allow upscaling on component. Remove HDCP from the HDMI port...

Starfire @ Mar 9th 2008 8:36PM

I'm not for the pirating of games, but the fact that the DS, PS2 and PC have been hacked kind of shows that this doesn't affect their attraction to developers too much (though the PC has all kinds of protection, especially for online playing). The main issue seems to be having an enthusiastic install base to play the thing and in most cases pay for it!

I would like Sony to open up the RSX to Linux for emulators, homebrew, internet surfing and so on. Personally, this wouldn't lead to me pirating games. The need for a Blu-Ray burner is also a pretty powerful deterrent for the moment, not to mention the download times.

davedrastic @ Mar 9th 2008 8:45PM

Yeah i've had hacked systems in the past but I'm quite likely to keep the PS3 intact, mainly because it's a big investment, i wouldn't want to stuff up PSN access or RemotePlay functionality and there's no way i'm downloading 25gb games, and I don't care how fast the internet gets, it's just too much.

monark @ Mar 9th 2008 11:55PM

Funnier than a barrel of monkey's. Having thoroughly studied the many Security systems in the PS3 (having a background in this), all I can say is Good Luck! The layers of Software, Cell BE hardware security, and some shocking surprises. I will so LMAO when "H4X0RZ" finally think they're walking through the door, they find themselves walking out the back door.

The IBM Cell already has Military Grade Security and Sony heaped another Hardware Layer and two software layers on top of that!!! ....a maze of mirrors encompassing the size of Texas is what the Security is described as. Another term the Military uses is "Virtual Impenetrable Fortress"!!!

Wonder why U.S. Airforce wants the Cell BE PS3's? ....hint...it's not the black box it comes in! ;)