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Lindows CEO Funds XBox Hacking Contest

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the stuff-to-do dept.

Kai writes "PCWorld.com recently posted an article on how Lindows CEO Michael Robertson is funding the 'Linux on XBox Hacking Challenge'. He was previously annonymous donor who donated $200,000 to the project. His donation will be split in to two prizes, one to who completes part A of the challenge, and the other to the who completes part B. Part A, running Linux on the XBox, has already been completed, but Part B, running Linux on XBox with no hardware modifications has yet to be completed. Part A of the challenge can be downloaded from Sourceforge." Without a bios change, it seems like part B might be a bit tricky. T. adds: Tricky, but not hopeless. Eric C. writes "The Neo Project recently updated its client so users can use free processor cycles to try and crack the private key that Microsoft uses to sign Xbox software."

4 of 269 comments (clear)

  1. Lindows taking advantage of open-source R&D? by k-hell · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Geoff "Dissonance" Gasior at The Tech Report has made an interesting comment regarding how Lindows could potentially take advantage of open-source "R&D".

  2. Poor neo project by Rogerborg · · Score: 4, Insightful
    • We do not know if it is legal or not to participate in the Xbox challenge, we are looking for some legal advice as a donation to Neo.

    Welcome to a maibox full of "IANAL, but I play one on Slashdot, and..." messages.

    Also, the site is slashdotted, but from what I can make out, it seems to be a Windows client. Ironic, nes pas? Does anyone know if it runs under wine?

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    If you were blocking sigs, you wouldn't have to read this.
  3. STOP with this Neoproject bullshit! by Troed · · Score: 4, Insightful
    The signing key used for Xbox executables is 2048 bit RSA.


    That's astronomically more than most BANKS use today .. i.e, there's no way - absolutely no way - you can brute-force the Xbox signing key. The Neoproject guys are complete morons without any knowledge about cryptography. This is the third forum in 2 days I've had to post in to put some sense into this.


    There are two places in the Xbox suspectible to a "no-modchip" attack - but with $100k being offered no real _groups_ of hackers are targetting this yet ..

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    it's in my head
  4. Re:Oh that's swell.. by rmohr02 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Technically the DMCA shouldn't apply in other countries, but US courts claim jurisdiction over the whole world.