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New PS3 Firmware Contains Backdoor

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the i'm-your-backdoor-ram dept.

Vectormatic noted the rumor floating around that the most recent PS3 patch has a backdoor, and "Sony can now remotely execute code on the PS3 as soon as you connect. This can do whatever Sony wants it to do, such as verifying system files or searching for homebrew. Sony can change the code and add new detection methods without any firmware updates."

4 of 491 comments (clear)

  1. IRC by Ogive17 · · Score: 5, Informative

    Wow, the "source" for this speculation is an IRC conversation.

    Not that I respect Sony considering what they've done in the past but I think I'll hold off judgement for a bit longer on this one.

    --
    "Action without philosophy is a lethal weapon; philosophy without action is worthless."
    1. Re:IRC by ElectricTurtle · · Score: 4, Informative

      As many have alluded and will allude to in this discussion, they *are* that dumb, as evidenced by the fact that they did it before.

      --
      I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit
    2. Re:IRC by ElectricTurtle · · Score: 4, Informative

      Never did I say rootkit==backdoor. The parent I was replying to was saying that Sony wouldn't do a thing that opened the PS3 to malware writers, and the rootkit, by *your* own example "assisting some viruses in the process" did exactly ... what? The same thing. Before. Do you get it yet?

      --
      I support the Slashcott and will not be reading or commenting from 2/10/14 to 2/17/14. Beta is steaming pile of dog shit
  2. Not a rootkit by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 5, Informative

    The "article" calls this a rootkit. The summary calls it a backdoor. Neither is strictly true.

    Rootkits allow unauthorized users root level access and backdoors allow unauthorized remote users access. In this case, you're installing Sony software and this software allows Sony to autoupdate their software and remove cracks. This isn't much different from Chrome autoupdating or Firefox blacklisting certain extensions. The only real difference is that Sony might not have been all that forthcoming about the fact that this new firmware has this capability. My guess is that if you look at the EULA carefully, it does specify that they are allowed to do this.

    I would suggest that if you think they have trampled on your rights, then take them to court. Sony will just keep making their firmware more and more "evil" until a sizable number of users stands up and says "no more".