Sony Could Start Banning Hacked, Jailbroken PS3s

[rhino13]

So it's cracked without Linux. See there. Now give us Linux support back!

 

[insider3]

Surprised? I wonder how many people thought that Sony wasn't going to do anything about it.

 

[nforce4max]

Typical of the robber barons at Sony. Ban hammer on the resourceful newt gamers. This is why pc gaming is more flexible.

 

[ssddx]

[citation][nom]hoofhearted[/nom]Wasn't there some legislation that allowed jailbreaking recently? Would that apply here?[/citation]

One would think. They arent limiting your ability to jailbreak your PS3, they are taking away access to PSN so you cannot play copied games.

 

[1pp1k10k4m1]

[citation][nom]fyasko[/nom]one can change an IP but not a hexi-decimal MAC address. the MAC address is embedded in the hardware. though it is possible to flash the chip with a new MAC address it is far more difficult than changing a software based IP address. pwned![/citation]

I'm not sure why you wrote pwned, but what you wrote isn't exactly accurate. It takes about 4 seconds using freeware to spoof a MAC on a windows box. Most people who have consumer level internet don't have a static IP, they have dynamic IP, every comcast, warner, and verizon customer, unless paying extra is in this situation. That IP is subject to change and therefore is not a reliable banning method. Actually, mine changes within a week sometimes.

Spoofing a MAC on a PS3 is simply a matter of not having software developed to do it. Bc PS3 runs under a different CPU architecture, someone willing would simply need to develop software for the ps3. Something akin to Technitium MAC Address Changer, then the need for trying to flash the ps3 with another MAC is moot, you can just spoof one. The PS3 simply lacks a software to do this at the moment. But that probably wouldn't work anyway bc I hope Sony is smarter than that.

Chances are as Darkk said, when you register for PSN, Sony more than likely records both your Serial # and MAC and uses that unique combination to identify your console. I'm sure someone will try it though, so I guess we'll find out.

 

[1pp1k10k4m1]

[citation][nom]nforce4max[/nom]Typical of the robber barons at Sony. Ban hammer on the resourceful newt gamers. This is why pc gaming is more flexible.[/citation]

I don't know if its resourcefulness they are banning. I think its pirated (and potentially altered) games. It would inevitably be argued that someone with a pirated game could have used a hex editor on it and changed the functionality of his/her game, thereby allowing them unfair advantage (extra health, invincibility, unlimited clip size and ammo, etc.). This probably has something to do with the piracy issue as well, but seems to be more of a statement from Sony that says something like "you broke the terms and conditions (a legal contract) of PSN...bye."

 

[chick0n]

People wants to play without pay deserves the ban. hell, they don't even deserve to live.

Dont give me that "I just want to use back up" bullcrap. Blu-Ray disc is already very scratch resistant, if you still managed to scratch it, then you are problem.

 

[dark_lord69]

Well that wouldn't be an issue for me I don't play many games online. But I'm still not gonna buy the USB hack thingie anyways... IT'S $150!!

 

[pabeader]

i have a dog. need i say more? need backups!!

 

[chick0n]

150 bux is one thing (I thought it cost more like 170?)

Another thing is, this might be fixable by Sony, just ban all programs running on USB port ? or only run signed ones?

next thing I know if Sony really patch this thing, a lot of cheap fags going to cry like a little girl like OMG SONY I AM NOT BUYING UR PS3.

Don't buy it. Bunch of free loaders.

 

[zaznet]

[citation][nom]ssddx[/nom]One would think. They arent limiting your ability to jailbreak your PS3, they are taking away access to PSN so you cannot play copied games.[/citation]

The jailbreak exceptions in the DMCA were for phones to allow people to use unauthorized software (not pirated/copied games) and to change carriers while keeping their phone. It is likely these exceptions will find their way into the console market as each of the 3 big vendors lock users into their own gaming networks and exclusive titles but so far the game market hasn't been touched by the recent decision from the Library of Congress.

 

[g00ey]

But changing the MAC address doesn't necessarily mean that there are nefarious intentions behind it.

For example, at one occasion my internet connection stopped working. One part of the troubleshooting procedure was to change the MAC address on the router which actually brought the connection back up again.

I also don't see why the MAC address matters on the PS if it is behind a router. Only the router's MAC address is visible from the outside, or am I missing something here? I simply cannot see how it is possible to see the MAC address of a computer that is behind a router.

 

[hixbot]

the jailbreak term is being thrown around too much lately. people have been hacking and modding consoles for ages. The jailbreak term has been used more recently to refer to unlocking a cell phone so you aren't locked to one carrier.

 

[zaznet]

[citation][nom]g00ey[/nom]I simply cannot see how it is possible to see the MAC address of a computer that is behind a router.[/citation]

It is possible because the PS3 runs software that talks back to Sony and can tell Sony ANYTHING about the hardware for which that software can see...

This is the basis for the problem in this article. They don't know that you own the USB key, they just know that the ID associated with is in use on the console.

As for the mention of "tracking IP" to ban later I'm sure they would just track the PSN account name and ban that. They could possibly ban the PS3 serial number from PSN access as well. They never need to worry about the MAC address, but they could track that too if they wanted to.

 

[Major7up]

Doesn't US copyright law allow for users to make legitimate backups of the games/media they purchase? And if so, wouldn't the hardware manufacturers be required to allow legal use of said backups? If not, then what would be the point of backing up your media except to drive sales of writers and storage media?

 

[xerroz]

Greedy $ony

 

[mhughes81]

I see a lot of cheap PS3's going up for sale soon.

 

[fball922]

[citation][nom]fyasko[/nom]one can change an IP but not a hexi-decimal MAC address. the MAC address is embedded in the hardware. though it is possible to flash the chip with a new MAC address it is far more difficult than changing a software based IP address. pwned![/citation]
I think what he was getting at is that you cannot see the devices MAC address on the WAN... You would see the MAC address of the router or modem, if anything. PWNED!!@@#$@#!

 

[fball922]

[citation][nom]zaznet[/nom]It is possible because the PS3 runs software that talks back to Sony and can tell Sony ANYTHING about the hardware for which that software can see...This is the basis for the problem in this article. They don't know that you own the USB key, they just know that the ID associated with is in use on the console.As for the mention of "tracking IP" to ban later I'm sure they would just track the PSN account name and ban that. They could possibly ban the PS3 serial number from PSN access as well. They never need to worry about the MAC address, but they could track that too if they wanted to.[/citation]
[citation][nom]zaznet[/nom]It is possible because the PS3 runs software that talks back to Sony and can tell Sony ANYTHING about the hardware for which that software can see...This is the basis for the problem in this article. They don't know that you own the USB key, they just know that the ID associated with is in use on the console.As for the mention of "tracking IP" to ban later I'm sure they would just track the PSN account name and ban that. They could possibly ban the PS3 serial number from PSN access as well. They never need to worry about the MAC address, but they could track that too if they wanted to.[/citation]
This makes more sense. Other than a specific software solution to get the MAC address, I think we now agree you normally don't see the machines MAC address when behind a router.

 

[thebigt42]

[citation][nom]Blessedman[/nom]Why they would try to ban by IP and not MAC?[/citation]
I am sure Sony won't band wont be based on MAC or IP both are easily changed/spoofed. I bet you Sony put an unchangable (or at least very difficult to change) UID in each console and would ban based on this UID.