Playstation 3 the final hack? Console is Fully open now

Sony is waking up to a new PlayStation 3 security nightmare after a day in which a brand new, PSN-enabled custom firmware was released for hacked consoles, swiftly followed up by publication of the console's LV0 decryption keys - which some say blows the system wide open.

We've been here before of course. Over two years ago, the first piracy-enabling firmware and USB dongle combo - PSJailbreak was released, which exploited a weakness in the PS3's USB protocols, allowing for the system software to be patched in order to run copied software running from hard disk. This was followed up some time later by the release of tools from hacker group fail0verflow, which allowed users to encrypt files for the system in the same way that Sony does, allowing for a new wave of piracy. Geohot's public release of the "metldr" root key also added to the challenges facing Sony, resulting in a messy legal battle.

The firm's response - firmware 3.60 - plugged many of the holes, neatly working around the entire root key problem, and even with the release of the new custom firmware, any console running system software 3.60 or higher is effectively locked out. Only hacked consoles, or those still running 3.55 or lower can run the new code unless expensive, difficult-to-install hardware downgrade devices are utilised on older hardware.

Despite the effectiveness of firmware 3.60, PS3 has still had to contend with piracy issues, notably the JB2/TrueBlue dongle, but this hack still locked consoles to 3.55 and stopped compromised consoles gaining access to PSN - until recently at least, where the "passphrase" security protocol protecting PSN was leaked, giving hacked consoles full access to the service.

The release of the new custom firmware - and the LV0 decryption keys in particular - poses serious issues. While Sony will almost certainly change the PSN passphrase once again in the upcoming 4.30 update, the reveal of the LV0 key basically means that any system update released by Sony going forward can be decrypted with little or no effort whatsoever. Options Sony has in battling this leak are limited - every PS3 out there needs to be able to decrypt any firmware download package in order for the console to be updated (a 2006 launch PS3 can still update directly to the latest software). The release of the LV0 key allows for that to be achieved on PC, with the CoreOS and XMB files then re-encrypted using the existing 3.55 keys in order to be run on hacked consoles.

So just how did LV0 come to be released at all? The original hackers who first found the master key - calling themselves "The Three Tuskateers" - apparently sat on its discovery for some time. However, the information leaked and ended up being the means by which a new Chinese hacking outfit - dubbed "BlueDiskCFW" planned to charge for and release new custom firmware updates. To stop these people profiteering from their work, the "Muskateers" released the LV0 key and within 24 hours, a free CFW update was released.

"You can be sure that if it wouldn't have been for this leak, this key would never have seen the light of day, only the fear of our work being used by others to make money out of it has forced us to release this now," a statement from the hacker group says

- Eurogamer

Oh wow another !! on Playstation thread [pic] and here they come....

this isn't a !! on Playstation thread...this is a news thread...just happens it's about PS...

i remember my hacked ps3. had my roommates and my homies goin bananas playin all the new games that was comin out. i need to hack a 360 or somethin.

I believe you actually believe that

you and this other dude are so much alike now

Well not to derail your thread so let me go ahead and post something....

[pic] Sony takes another L

Huh? what are you talking about? I post news as I see it...no matter if it's positive or negative about Nintendo, Sony, Microsoft, Or whoever...I didn't post a XBL live got hacked thread because their isn't one...

Sony is waking up to a new PlayStation 3 security nightmare after a day in which a brand new, PSN-enabled custom firmware was released for hacked consoles, swiftly followed up by publication of the console's LV0 decryption keys - which some say blows the system wide open.[pic][pic][pic][pic]

right I never said you was wrong I read your threads

Find a recent XBl live got hacked thread and post it... I'll wait

This is good for Sony, them new PS slims will sell out at Xmas

software sales will suffer but the Hardware will do good

jesus what has happened to the gamer section[pic]

what do you mean?

Crazy how 2-3 !!s can ruin a section. Anyways about time they got a proper hack on the PS3. Sony will never stop it and they need to learn that.

You the main one lol stay throwing mud when ps3 is mentioned here.

to the rescue [pic]

The hack still requires a console that previously had ofw 3.55 or lower so the new slims won't work with this latest hack.

Let's back up for a second to wimpinationCM's post. I don't get how this is a !! on Playstation thread? If anything, I think many of us are happy about this. Sony has been diligent in securing the PS3 and this may be the one exploit that could eventually give us the freedom we want.

And "Xbots" are supposed to be the ones derailing threads [pic]

[pic]

The PlayStation 3 has been hacked before, originally with the PSJailbreak dongle and fail0verflow, but Sony managed to fight back with Firmware 3.60 which managed to ingeniously resecure the console. Now, however, the PS3′s LV0 keys have been released, which allegedly means that no matter what Sony puts in its next firmware upgrade, hacking it will be very easy, similar to how it was on the PSP. This means that switching to CFW will be far simpler, something that primarily leads to piracy.

A group known as The Three Musketeers claim to have been the ones to have discovered the keys, but apparently weren’t planning to release them. Somehow, however, the keys leaked and were used by a Chinese hacking group to release BlueDiskCFW – which they charged for (this has since been hacked as well). The Three Musketeers, angry at someone trying to profit off of their work, then released the keys publicly, leading to a CFW anyone can download. The group detailed their announcement in a statement (nb: edited to remove keys):

Sony has yet to comment on the hack – and likely won’t – but do you think that this could lead to a surge in piracy on the beloved black box? Let us know in the comments below.



Anybody know anything else about this? I wouldn't mind using one of my systems for a CFW. I put the ?'s in the title because this is the first I've seen of this.

nah its not hacked, its just a spoof of 4.2x...you would still need to be on 3.5x to install cfw