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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."

3 of 491 comments (clear)

  1. Re:I'm not so sure this is wrong anymore by Lord+Byron+II · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Yeah, I think the only thing that Sony has done wrong is remove the "Other OS" option. They probably should not have included it in the first place. But other than that, Sony has basically sold you:

    -A black box capable of playing games
    -You have to pay $60 per new game
    -If you want to play online, you can't cheat

    This firmware doesn't change any of this, so why get upset? If you wanted a general purpose computer that you control the software stack on, then buy a PC and roll your own Linux kernel.

  2. Re:Not a rootkit by Svartalf · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Actually, that sort of verbiage can negate a contract or agreement. It has to have a definitive nature at the time of agreement and it needs notice for the change so you can either negotiate new terms or end the same if you don't agree with the new changes. Any verbiage that allows the contract to change so much on a whim as you're implying renders the contract null and void as there's no way to be able to be in compliance with the terms at any given time.

    --
    I am not merely a "consumer" or a "taxpayer". I am a Citizen of the State of Texas
  3. Re:AGAIN, Sony? by Eivind+Eklund · · Score: 4, Interesting

    Well, I personally don't accept Sony stealing from their customers *even though this time that customer wasn't me*.

    Sony first advertised OtherOS (combined with the ability to play new games and the ability to get on PSN) and then removed this.

    Theft.

    I don't voluntarily give money to thieves, even if they so far haven't stolen from me.

    So I've boycotted Sony, and they can say bye bye to the $1000+ per year I used to spend with them.

    Whether "lots of people" are happy with them is immaterial - I was happy with what they delivered, until they started stealing from people.

    --
    Doubting the existence of evolution is like doubting the existence of China: It just shows that you're uninformed.