Enthusiasts have Turned the Nintendo Switch into a Functional Linux Tablet (theverge.com)

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Enthusiasts have Turned the Nintendo Switch into a Functional Linux Tablet (theverge.com)

Posted by msmash on Tuesday February 20, 2018 @02:40AM from the had-to-be-done dept.

An anonymous reader shares a report: A couple of weeks ago, the fail0verflow hacking collective showed a still image on Twitter of a Nintendo Switch booting Linux. They're one of a small handful of hacker teams who are teasing exploits of the Nvidia Tegra hardware inside the Switch. But now fail0verflow has video of a full-on Linux distro running on the hacked Switch, complete with touchscreen support, a fully operational web browser, and even a GPU-powered demo application. On Twitter, fail0verflow claims the bug they're exploiting to sidestep the Switch's security can't be patched on currently released hardware, and doesn't require a modchip. But as for now there aren't any details on how to do this yourself at home.

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Re:Ho-hum. by mark-t · 2018-02-20 02:49 · Score: 4, Insightful

Could *YOU* have done it?

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File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
The new Wii by Juju · 2018-02-20 02:55 · Score: 3, Insightful

This is going to be the new Wii in terms of homebrew and cracked games.
Remember the Homebrew channel? The way you could plug a hard disk and have the graphical interface to play all your "backup" games?
I am sure Nintendo are currently very worried about this and will try to get the hardware patched ASAP.

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Black holes occur when God divides by zero.
1. Re:The new Wii by Anubis+IV · 2018-02-20 03:03 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  According to earlier reports, they can’t patch it. The problem is in the SoC itself, meaning they’d need to a new hardware revision in order to issue a “patch”. Any existing Switches are, and will forever be, exploitable by this tactic.
2. Re:The new Wii by Juju · 2018-02-20 03:17 · Score: 1
  
  I know, this is going to turn down to be a major headache for Nintendo!
  I remember how they clamped down on the Zelda "Epona" bug, and were patching the OS to close all software attack vectors. They even modified the soldering of the chip to counter modchips... But they are not going to have it that easy this time.
  But if they don't do it, they risk selling a lot of consoles, but hardly any game. I am sure they are already trying to find a way to patch it. Maybe, keeping some online aspect that will check if the system was hacked will be part of the solution.
  
  --
  Black holes occur when God divides by zero.
3. Re:The new Wii by BlueStrat · 2018-02-20 03:18 · Score: 1
  
  I am sure Nintendo are currently very worried about this and will try to get the hardware patched ASAP.
  Well, they could tell current owners they must exchange their old Switch for a new hardware-patched version and after some amount of time push a 'bricking' update out to the older vulnerable Switch versions to disable them.
  Strat
  
  --
  Progressivism (aka US 'Liberalism'): Ideas so good they need a police/surveillance-state to enforce.
4. Re:The new Wii by ctilsie242 · 2018-02-20 03:35 · Score: 1
  
  I wonder why Nintendo doesn't embrace this functionality. It possibly will sell more tablets, and it doesn't aid piracy. I wish they had this built in from the get-go.
5. Re:The new Wii by HalAtWork · 2018-02-20 03:47 · Score: 1
  
  Personally I hope piracy does not ruin the platform, and cause developers to hesitate when they want to release unique games that are tuned well to the Switch. With pervasive piracy we may end up with just shovelware.
  
  --
  Twinstiq, game news
6. Re:The new Wii by Khyber · 2018-02-20 03:51 · Score: 2
  
  "after some amount of time push a 'bricking' update out to the older vulnerable Switch versions to disable them"
  That would be quite illegal and definitely actionable in court. Intentional destruction of property.
  
  --
  Still waiting on Serviscope_minor to wake up to fucking reality and realize that Jessica Price isn't going to fuck him.
7. Re:The new Wii by Anonymous Coward · 2018-02-20 04:00 · Score: 1
  
  I think you are confusing “Nintendo gains money” with you and seven or eight other folks who buy hackable consoles and pirate games. Honestly, even if there are 250,000 of you that would only consider buying it now (hint: there’s less than that), you aren’t really on their radar in terms of revenue projection. They’re content to try to stop guys like you, and sell tens of millions of units to regular folk. I’m not disparaging you (except for the piracy, of course, that’s wrong) - it’s just Slashdot hackers aren’t really as big an audience as we all wish we were.
8. Re:The new Wii by Scoth · 2018-02-20 04:20 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  Laws are pretty picky about destroying property. That would be a bad thing.
  The main options would be:
  1. Release a "New Switch" that all future games require. This would shut out a huge number of legitimate existing purchasers who have no interest in the hacking though, and Nintendo probably wouldn't want to institute a voluntary recall program. That'd be a mess.
  2. Release firmwares and games that don't necessarily prevent this, but detect/undo/refuse to run on modified systems. This would be a cat and mouse game, much as it was on the Wii with various attempts to remove Homebrew channel.
  3. Do little to nothing, knowing that the number of people who actually do this are going to be small.
  It'll mostly depend on the difficulty and danger of doing it. The 3DS mods are pretty tricky for a lot of the average users, and while it's easier and safer now for most of the system's life it took very specific firmware versions and a lot of tricky steps to do to enable piracy. Wii was fairly easy on the whole bit still took a few steps. On the other hand, Dreamcast piracy just took a cheap burned disc and was a much bigger problem. We'll just have to see how it goes.
9. Re:The new Wii by Mattcelt · 2018-02-20 06:01 · Score: 1
  
  (hint: there's less than that)
  Source, please. I have exactly the same mindset as the parent, and will now consider purchasing a Switch, which I would not have done otherwise.
  It wouldn't be a stretch to think that sales would be bolstered by 2.5% (1/40th the number of Switches that have already been sold) by this news, thanks to people like us.
  Just because you don't think the way we do doesn't mean there aren't many others who do.
10. Re:The new Wii by mamono · 2018-02-20 06:25 · Score: 1
  
  Because they make no money on the consoles, they are loss leaders. So if a bunch of people just ran out and bought the consoles with no intention of purchasing any games, Nintendo loses money. If they really wanted to monetize it they would have to do something similar to the Linksys WRT54G. Release a slightly higher-priced version with the ability to "hack" the OS.
11. Re:The new Wii by darkain · 2018-02-20 06:32 · Score: 1
  
  Don't worry, SCO is all over them lawsuits against Linux!
12. Re:The new Wii by tlhIngan · 2018-02-20 06:40 · Score: 2
  
  1. Release a "New Switch" that all future games require. This would shut out a huge number of legitimate existing purchasers who have no interest in the hacking though, and Nintendo probably wouldn't want to institute a voluntary recall program. That'd be a mess.
  No, you go and fix the SoC, and update the switch to use it for now. You leave the original 10M or whatever they sold alone - 90% of the users will be blissfully unaware, and the 5% you just leave it as the cost of doing business.
  It's too early for a "new switch", so that option is out. Maybe in 2020 Nintendo might release a New Switch.
  Nintendo is about to offer an online gaming thing, and if you do it right, you can actually detect modified systems. After all, the Xbox360 was modded to support pirated games, but you can never put that console online because Xbox Live would detect the modified system and ban you. This got to be a big problem because it meant a lot of used systems were unable to go online. So it's possible to have a compromised system that's still able to be secure.
  Of course, if Nintendo were better, they'd realize they are doing what Microsoft did on the original Xbox - by not cooperating with the Linux folks, the inadvertently caused a team effect - the Xbox Linux folks, the Homebrew folks, and the piracy folks all gathered together to figure out ways to break into the Xbox. Microsoft realized this, and realized the Homebrew folks are probably the most technically oriented of the lot (if they can code against something they have no documentation for, they will have the skills to break your security systems), which is why they did the whole XNA thing and now UWP. If you want to homebrew for Xbox, Microsoft is more than willing to let you do it and provide the official channels. And if it's good, Microsoft will let you officially sell it.
  Sony learned this the hard way when they closed off their PS3 Linux support - suddenly homebrewers were left out and quickly got to work breaking the new PS3 security systems. And now they're close to breaking the PS4 - they've already got an old firmware broken (and heavily exploited for piracy).
  If Nintendo was smart, they'd embrace the hacking, thank them for their work, and have a semi-official way to do that. If they were really good, they'd toss a way for people to write Switch games too. Doing this will basically sap all the knowledgeable people into doing their thing, leaving the piracy folks starved for talent.
13. Re:The new Wii by arth1 · 2018-02-20 06:53 · Score: 1
  
  It wouldn't be a stretch to think that sales would be bolstered by 2.5% (1/40th the number of Switches that have already been sold) by this news, thanks to people like us.
  Oh, that would be a HUGE stretch. People buy the Switch to easily play games. You and people like you aren't even a blip on the radar compared to all the parents who buy a Switch for their kids, or teens who buy it to play specific games.
  And if you think they'll still play games with Linux, consider that Steam, which has a client especially for Linux and more than 3000 games for Linux only has 0.41% users with Linux according to the latest survey. That's the market share when actively trying to get Linux users.
14. Re:The new Wii by MightyYar · 2018-02-20 08:29 · Score: 1
  
  They don't need to "brick" it, simply make new games incompatible with it. Or, you can trade it in for a brand new one which supports all games.
  
  --
  W..w..W - Willy Waterloo washes Warren Wiggins who is washing Waldo Woo.
15. Re:The new Wii by sconeu · 2018-02-20 08:47 · Score: 1
  
  "after some amount of time push a 'bricking' update out to the older vulnerable Switch versions to disable them"
  That would be quite illegal and definitely actionable in court. Intentional destruction of property.
  Unless your corporation's name is Sony.
  Rootkit (made it impossible to access CD-R)
  PS-3 Firmware Update (you can't boot linux any more)
  
  --
  General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
16. Re: The new Wii by MrPeach · 2018-02-20 21:27 · Score: 1
  
  Not if the can patch the metal layer.
17. Re:The new Wii by geminidomino · 2018-02-21 12:25 · Score: 1
  
  I bought one recently (a little late; it's on 3.0.1) and put it on top of my closet. Supposedly there's a TrustZone exploit that's effective up to that version (since I'm not holding my breath for F0's bootrom exploit to appear any time soon), and you can't hack downgraded firmware into the Switch like with the 3DS. It was a bit of a gamble, but I had a minor windfall and figured "why not?" Worst case scenario, it never gets hacked, and I give it to my brother's kids and become Uncle Hero.
No point by SmaryJerry · 2018-02-20 03:11 · Score: 2

Switch hardware is extremely overpriced. You could get or make similar tablet for under $100 easily. The only purpose of this would be to play the games also but it canâ(TM)t do that.
1. Re:No point by pots · 2018-02-21 11:11 · Score: 1
  
  The Shield Tablet uses the Tegra K1, the Switch uses the newer Tegra X1. Also, even though the Shield is now a few years old I still can't seem to find one for much less than $200, without a controller. The Switch looks like a steal by comparison.
Re:Ho-hum. by FatdogHaiku · 2018-02-20 03:19 · Score: 1

But think of the possibilities!
Now that it has a standard OS, you can run emulators on it, maybe even a Switch emulator!
OK, but only if it's written in Javascript...
Hey, it's not like there's no precedent!
https://github.com/fcambus/jsemu

--
You have the right to remain sentient. If you give up the right to remain sentient, you will be elected to public office
true hacking by ra66itman · 2018-02-20 03:25 · Score: 3, Insightful

this is what true hacking is, taking something and getting it to do something better or that it was not designed to do,Most likely, they will claim it is exploiting and do a hardware mod to stop this,I remember when someone found a way to put Linux on a Playstation. I know of at least one person/company who bought a dozen Play stations and used them as a array processor.
1. Re:true hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2018-02-20 05:32 · Score: 1
  
  I own the hardware, so I don't need your DRM'd software. No laws broke.
2. Re:true hacking by Anonymous Coward · 2018-02-20 05:47 · Score: 1
  
  Computers are not weapons any more than an electric tea pot is a weapon.
  Turning a childs toy into a tablet is as harmless as it gets.
  The real weapon are the gullible sheeple that follow the directions of the u.s. government and corporations.
  The real weapon are all the retarded masses reading information on a mobile phone, while being completely disconnected from reality.
  The real weapon is to foist censorship on people because you are too weak to handle hurt feelings.
  Real laws should be enforced. Laws created by the government or corporations which violates the rights of We The People should never be followed.
  If you pay for something, it is yours no matter what any person, place, or thing tells you.
3. Re:true hacking by ra66itman · 2018-02-20 08:17 · Score: 1
  
  well you have to be careful, some Items have a clause in them that you only get unlimited use of the item,but it remains the property of the company. so if they want to forbid you from doing self repairs/upgrades/etc they can.
4. Re:true hacking by ra66itman · 2018-02-20 08:22 · Score: 1
  
  my friend a hard time convincing the purchasing department that this was for research. I once had to buy a 1 oz bar of gold, we took it and dissolved in HCL to create gold chloride. which was use as a coating in laminated material.so we could xray the item and see the layers where the layers came apart
5. Re:true hacking by sconeu · 2018-02-20 08:44 · Score: 1
  
  I remember when someone found a way to put Linux on a Playstation
  You mean the US Air Force? https://phys.org/news/2010-12-air-playstation-3s-supercomputer.html
  
  --
  General Relativity: Space-time tells matter where to go; Matter tells space-time what shape to be.
6. Re:true hacking by Gojira+Shipi-Taro · 2018-02-20 13:42 · Score: 1
  
  Such a clause would be entirely illegal in the EU at the very least.
  It would also be suicide for Nintendo.
  
  --
  "Oh my God. This is terrible. This is the end of my Presidency. I'm fucked."; ~ Donald J. Trump
Imagine a Beowulf cluster of Switches by doggo1939 · 2018-02-20 03:32 · Score: 1

Imagine a Beowulf cluster of these.
This is stupid. by Anonymous Coward · 2018-02-20 03:40 · Score: 1

If these guys were really smart, they'd port Windows 10 to the Switch so we could play our entire Steam library on the go. But noooo, they're dumb and only want to use stupid command line Linux.
1. Re:This is stupid. by darkain · 2018-02-20 06:31 · Score: 1
  
  I was given an Intel Joule (SoC designed for high end drones), didn't have much use for it, so I put Ubuntu on it. Intalled Steam of Linux, and then Rocket League. So yeah, it may not be the full library, but Steam on Linux certainly does have its games! (Though the Joule is still x86 based, not ARM, so in reality there are probably 0 games that would work)
OH YES by GameboyRMH · 2018-02-20 03:40 · Score: 3, Funny

I might actually buy a Nintendo Switch now. If they get it to run "homebrew" games, that'll just be icing on the cake. I do want to try that new Zelda game.

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"When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
1. Re: OH YES by MrPeach · 2018-02-20 21:34 · Score: 1
  
  Cemu will run it just fine, if you have a decently powered PC.
2. Re: OH YES by GameboyRMH · 2018-02-21 06:35 · Score: 1
  
  Interesting, I'll have to give that a try!
  
  --
  "When information is power, privacy is freedom" - Jah-Wren Ryel
I've been looking for a good Linux tablet by HalAtWork · 2018-02-20 03:44 · Score: 2

This is nice, I have a Switch and would like to experiment with this, it has a powerful chipset.
I am looking for a good Linux tablet that is reasonably repairable and has a battery that isn't too hard to replace, but unfortunately a lot of common ARM Android tablets can't install Linux natively and seem to require a VM with VNC. There are also not many reviews of x86 tablets from a Linux perspective.
Maybe this will be with a look, it seems to perform well and support hardware features.

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Twinstiq, game news
1. Re:I've been looking for a good Linux tablet by ruir · 2018-02-20 05:31 · Score: 1
  
  Switch has a powerful chipset? Cannot understand if you are being dumb or ironic...
2. Re:I've been looking for a good Linux tablet by HalAtWork · 2018-02-20 06:08 · Score: 1
  
  That's ok
  
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  Twinstiq, game news
3. Re:I've been looking for a good Linux tablet by HalAtWork · 2018-02-21 00:24 · Score: 1
  
  Exactly, that's got my interest
  
  --
  Twinstiq, game news
Congrats Nintendo. Now I'll Buy a Switch! by Anonymous Coward · 2018-02-20 04:40 · Score: 1

I want to own the HW that I buy. It's not about pirating; it's about accessing third-party SW and maybe even writing my own programs. Just checking your weight on a Wii Balance Board is a lot faster with Homebrew than with Wii Sports.
Homebrew just did Nintendo a favor.
Nice by XSportSeeker · 2018-02-20 04:51 · Score: 1

The next million system seller.
If they can install a Linux distro in it with everything working, they probably can install Android on it too, which means replacing cheap-o Android tablets that a whole ton of kids want/have.
I was kinda hoping Nintendo would release a revised hardware soon-ish, but I don't think it'll happen... they are selling it enough already the way it is now.
Yet they are different by micahraleigh · 2018-02-20 06:02 · Score: 1

One is something people are using and buying.

The other is not.

Reminds me of the study where children were shown to have reached for organic food when it was inside McDonalds packaging and the media proclaimed, "Oh we just need to change the packaging!"
Re:Ho-hum. by darkain · 2018-02-20 06:28 · Score: 1

I'm not sure about the Switch, but on the DS, everything is encrypted, including the communication between the DS game cards and the CPU. Yes, Nintendo is absolutely all about security. They lock the hell out of their hardware. The only difference this time around is that they left it in the hands of nVidia rather than doing it themselves.
Re:No, and that's the point. by mark-t · 2018-02-20 08:49 · Score: 1

I think that it more showcases the technical skill of the people who pulled it off more than anything about Linux, specifically.,

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File under 'M' for 'Manic ranting'
Re:Ho-hum. by geminidomino · 2018-02-21 12:21 · Score: 1

Nah. They're serious about security, sure; they're just not terribly *good* at it. Every Ninty console since the Wii and/or DSi (not sure which came first, but applies to both) has had vulnerabilities that went deep enough to allow for custom firmware and homebrew to be developed. Every version of the 3DS up to and including the latest "New 2DS" has a bootrom bug baked right into the hardware (ostensibly, the Switch has one, too, according to Fail0verflow, but I won't be convinced until it's released). The big difference with the switch is that it was announced early in the lifespan, so a future hardware revision will probably address it.