X-Box Hackers Trying to Blackmail Microsoft?

wumarkus420 writes "According to this article from CNet News, an anonymous X-Box security research team is threatening Microsoft: either release a digitally-signed official Linux bootloader or face the release of a new exploit that supposedly works without a modchip. While I doubt Microsoft 'negotiates with terrorists,' this should still turn out to be a good I-told-you-so if the exploit is verified." Sounds like a good way to end up in jail.

Comments

*slaps forehead and winces*

[Bame Flait]

These morons are just going to make the case for tougher enforcement and DRM.

It's not a war we want - because (and not to be trite) everyone will lose. Throw these criminals in jail and get on with it.

Pipedot. Geek news without the slant.

[Speare]

You know, c|net did a pretty good job of covering the story without the scare-mongering, sensationalistic crap that this poster did. People could read the article and draw their own conclusions, rather than shepherding the flock to the appropriate anti-X rhetoric opinion.

Bluff.

[Squidgee]

They really think MS would release an official LINUX bootloader?! Of course not.

THis is, plain and simple, a bluff. If they had a way to do it, they'd release it; why wouldn't they? Who needs an official bootloader if you can boot Linux without a modchip?

It's a bluff to bully MS into allowing Linux on the Xbox. And it isn't going to work.

How to make linux look stupid

[Anonymous Coward]

yeah really professional guys,thanks for that

what happens when IT/CTO managers read antics like this ?, you think it furthers Linux adoption or sets it back ?, i know we would look rather stupid if this article came up at one of our board meetings,

Linux terrorists

[The Bungi]

O yeah, it sucks to be your own worst enemy. Not "release the specs", not "allow other OSes to run", no. "Make Linux run on this thing or else". All Microsoft has to do is turn around and say See? This is what open source is all about! You've heard about al-Qaeda and Hamas, but you ain't seen nothing until you face the the Pensacola LUG!!

Take gun, aim at foot, pull trigger. Repeat until death.

Re:Playing Nice With Vendor Notification?

[drinkypoo]

They can't release a patch because the flash update jumper is not connected. People couldn't flash their Xbox without opening it and voiding their warranty; Xboxes would have to be returned to service to be updated.

Of course, Microsoft can fix the problem in upcoming Xboxes, which will happen if they do release the exploit.

Re:The land of the free

[goldspider]

"if the DMCA didn't exist then they wouldn't need to blackmail M$."

And if I were rich, I wouldn't have to rob a bank.

So does the fact that I'm not rich justify my robbing a bank?

Sooooo....

[Doomstalk]

They're trying to force Microsoft to release a piece of software that turns the Xbox into a cheap PC that Microsoft sells at a significant loss. I'm sorry, but I don't see that as especially likely. The modification they propose still requires you to solder the mainboard of the Xbox, and to flash the BIOS. That's only moderately cheaper and easier than installing a modchiop, and a lot more prohibitive than popping a disc into the drive. Let's not also forget that flashing your BIOS in that fashion effectively bars you from playing Xbox Live, since it automatically scans the BIOS on load. Many mod chips, on the other hand, can be switched on and off making them a much more reasonable solution for many pirates.

Re:Waste of Time

[OrenWolf]

Almost.

You're forgetting the obvious.

Each XBOX is a loss to Microsoft. Supply channels mean there aren't a lot of em on store shelves anyway.

Microsoft's greatest fear? A situation where someone buys an XBOX, and *no* games. Ever.

Let's pull a number out of my ass and say the MS needs someone to buy 2 games to "break even" on an XBOX sale. If you buy an XBOX, Mod it, run Linux and/or pirated games exclusively on it, then all you've done is cost them money. They've lost money on you.

If modding the XBOX becomes trivial, the chance that less games will be bought, and that the magic number of required games will *not* be exceeded for them to be profitable grows. THAT is the issue.

It's not "Microsoft doesn't want you to buy an XBOX", its "Microsoft doesn't want you to buy an XBOX and *nothing else*".

Re:Microsoft would never negotiate with terrorists

[Surak]

The only reason that's funny is that it's true.

WHy can't you get modded Funny *AND* insightful? :)

Uh uh

[fm6]

All they want is a boot-loader that is digitally signed so it can run on the xbox WITHOUT A MOD CHIP.

Which Microsoft will never do. Once such a boot loader was out there, you could run any software on an XBox. If Microsoft is unable to control what software gets run on the XBox, they get no licensing fees from XBox developers. Since the XBox itself is sold at a loss, that'd be the end of the whole platform.

The Racket Racket

[fm6]

Suppose tennis rackets were very expensive to make. No one can afford to buy them, until somebody gets the idea of selling them at a loss, and making a profit by selling tennis court time. They've patented tennis courts, of course, so you can't just build your own. Then people discover that squash is public domain, so they start playing squash instead. How soon would it be before it was illegal to play squash with a tennis racket?

I hear you saying, "That's lame. You can't use regulate people's behavior to that level." I certainly agree. And eventually the big IP hoarders will figure this out. But in the meantime -- well, I was never any good at tennis.

pointless

[geoff lane]

If they really have a mod-less hack to allow unsigned code to boot on the xbox the correct thing to do is release it.

There is no way MS will allow Linux or any other OS to boot on xbox as that effectively makes the system open and then MS wouldn't make any money selling certificates.

Besides, MS will now play the terrorist card and you _know_ how well that plays in Washington.