Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

First PSP Trojan Reported

Posted by Zonk on from the watch-what-you-click dept.

Evangelion writes "PSP hackers beware! According to 1up.com today, Symantec has identified the first PSP Trojan in the wild. Known as Trojan.PSPBrick, it turns the PSP into, well, a brick. With buttons. Users have to download and install it themselves, and as a result it effectively breaks the PSP."

8 of 76 comments (clear)

  1. Well then... by PapaBoojum · · Score: 4, Funny

    ...I would recommend users NOT download it.

    1. Re:Well then... by RootsLINUX · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Wait, so I actually read TFA and I didn't see any details here. If the hack takes out user buttons, what's to stop it from taking out all other I/O? How do you remove a virus when you have no way to actually get your machine to interact with anything in the real world? The symantec report says removal is "difficult". What if someone accidentally downloads this virus, then isn't able to use their PSP anymore because they can't wipe the memory clean? Who is responsible then? Does Sony have to give them a brand new PSP? Do they have to physically open the device and set a jumper to clear the memory? I want to know the implications of the virus, not just "there's a virus, and it's bad".

      --
      Hero of Allacrost, a FOSS RPG for *NIX/*BSD/OS X/Win
    2. Re:Well then... by Joe+Random · · Score: 4, Insightful
      If the hack takes out user buttons,
      It doesn't just take out the buttons; it flashes the firmware with junk, preventing the PSP from even booting.
      What if someone accidentally downloads this virus, then isn't able to use their PSP anymore because they can't wipe the memory clean? Who is responsible then?
      The user is, of course. The trojan is disguised as a firmware downgrader, and there's no way in hell that Sony is going to reimburse a person who was trying to "hack" their PSP. I'm pretty sure that there's something in the PSP boilerplate that covers that, but I'm too lazy to look.
      Do they have to physically open the device and set a jumper to clear the memory?
      There is no jumper. The memory has to be rewritten by an EEPROM programmer, which I doubt that any normal user is going to have access to. Sony won't send you a new PSP, and I don't doubt that, if anyone out there were able to reflash the PSP's firmware, Sony would be suing them under the DMCA or something.

      In other words, this trojan turns your PSP into a $250 paperweight/brick, hence the name.
  2. Who would be so silly... by Zangief · · Score: 3, Funny

    As to install a virus manually!

    Hey, Microsoft just sent me a security update! Nifty!

  3. Re:Simple solution to this one by snuf23 · · Score: 4, Informative

    It's not a virus. It is a Trojan horse. A program which claims to be something beneficial but in reality just messes your computer up.

    "Don't download and install it."

    I'm sure if it's listed as "PSP Trojan Horse - turn your PSP into a useless brick" - nobody would download it.

    --
    Sometimes my arms bend back.
  4. Re:How is this a Trojan by SpottedKuh · · Score: 3, Informative

    How is this a Trojan? Your answer:

    "In computer security technology, a virus is a self-replicating program...", from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_Virus.

    "In the context of computer software, a Trojan horse is a malicious program that is disguised as legitimate software.", from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trojan_horse_(computi ng).

    In this case, the PSP malware is not self-replicating, and it is something you have to download and install on your own (which claims to let you run your own games on the PSP). Therefore, it is a Trojan rather than a virus. A destructive one, yes, but still just a Trojan.

  5. Re:Social Engineering by SpottedKuh · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Not sure what that program's supposed to do that's so bad.

    Bloody hell, I must have mistyped something in my example program. Let me try running it and see what happe...
    [CARRIER LOST]

  6. Re:Another prime example... by TetryonX · · Score: 3, Funny

    Since "Annoying Emo" isn't a valid moderation, the modder had no choice but to choose their closest relative, the common Troll.

    Both are annoying and unwanted, it is however uncommon for the average Annoying Emo to live under bridges and attack children as they try to cross the bridge.

    --
    [!] No, I can't see my comments. They are not worthy of +3 moderation.