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Microsoft foils Xbox hackers with new Config

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the spoiling-all-the-fun dept.

randomizer9 writes was among several readers who noted that Microsoft has changed the configs on the XBox and really messed up the hackers who have been trying to coax the box into being divx players, linux boxes, microwave ovens, white noise generators and so on. Kinda doubt the conspiracy angle, but it certainly is annoying.

8 of 433 comments (clear)

  1. Application of the word security disturbing. by pete-classic · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I really don't like the way the word "security" is being used to mean "preventing the owner of the system from using it as he sees fit."

    In my mind security means only letting the owner use the system as he sees fit.

    -Peter

    1. Re:Application of the word security disturbing. by jbolden · · Score: 3, Interesting

      If you think about Windows NT the console is highly secure (i.e. an employee without administrative privs. has a hard time making any modification to their system without blowing it away). Its never been super strong on security over the network or allowing you to run questionable code in a safe environment. So while it certainly is good about giving the "owners" power it isn't so good about empowering workers.

      Originally where the Unix security model differed from Multics was that it empowered users not owners.

  2. If the ''hackers'' add value... by Tom7 · · Score: 4, Interesting

    What the "hackers" really need to do is make use of undocumented features in ways that every home user will want to use. Then Microsoft wouldn't dare remove them -- I remember this happening several times in the old days of the Palm Pilot (Remember all those *Hack programs?)

  3. X-Box "beta" of Palladium? by Niles_Stonne · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Could the X-Box be a prototype for Palladium/DRM-secure hardware?

    They release a product that they consider secure(the v1.0 X-Box), let the public pry away at it for a while, knowing the hacking consoles(especially with one as tasty as the X-Box) is an already established industry.

    Then, once it is hacked to a reasonable level, they revise the hardware to be more secure...

    Shake well, repeat...

    Basically, MS gets a free hacking team to test (fanatically) their security systems... The only negative point is that some of the hackers release how they did it to the public.

    All of the knowledge/experience that they gain from this security cycle will go directly into their security model for DRM "secure" PC hardware...

    ... enough of conspiracy theories for one day...

    --
    Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but copyright will always protect me.
  4. Re:In case of slashdotting.... by iamethan · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I feel bad for the game developers and companies...

    it's bad enuff having to test the shit out of a console game to make sure there is NO way it can ever crash/freeze/break... but now you have to support different BIOS', hardware revs for chips potentially and who knows what else.

    What happens when a loose QA procedure somewhere allows a game to slip out that runs fine on the "old" xboxs but crashes on the "new" xbox?

    And what's this about no fan on the nvidia chip? they probably did a study and found that it takes exactly 15 months for chip to burn out with decreased cooling, which puts them 3 months outside warrantee. Either that or they're pulling that speedstep-wannabe clocking bullshit where it clocks down when it gets hot, which I'm sure will be great for gameplay on a console system where the hardware is normally supposed to be static!

  5. Testing in progress. by miffo.swe · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Xbox is probably containing the exact same technology as Palladium and this is testing ground for the PC version. Thus its of vital importance for MS to show that its unhackable to keep support from music/movie industry on palladium.

    If it shows that Palladium is just another dongle and fail as DRM its going to dissapear.

    --
    HTTP/1.1 400
  6. Re:Beat the 'chippers by stubear · · Score: 3, Interesting

    on your point 2, DVD hardware manufacturers could not care less whether or not you chip your DVD player. They make back every cent and then some when they sell you the hardware. If Hollywood never sold a DVD it wouldn't matter, in the short term anyway. In the long term it would definitely be less of an incentive for people to buy DVD players now wouldn't it?

    Anyway, my point is, console manufacturers count on games being sold. Sony does it, Nintendo does it, Sega used to do it and not Microsoft does it. This isn't some dirty little secret of the console industry nor it is some new conspiracy of Microsoft's. When you allow consoles to me modded you offer fewer reasons for the users to purchase the games and you wind up losing money. When you allow DVD players to be modded you don't lose anything at all.

  7. Re:legal and legitimate by 13Echo · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Frankly, I don't blame Microsoft for doing it. All game companies have done it this way. The main issue is that they have a bigger plan for these set-top-boxes that doesn't just involve gaming. They want complete control of this closed box (like Apple).

    And before anyone tells me that I am full of it, think about what this would mean for them. They are already in the position to do this... They just need to do it before it is too late. The X-Box was never intended to be only a gaming platform, and we all know that. Microsoft has other reasons for protecting this hardware.