Sony Responds to Recent Hacks

Kovacs 58 Comments

Sony have spoken to UK magazine EDGE in connection to the recent targeted hack of the PlayStation 3’s security system. Responding to hacking group fail0verflow’s declaration that the PS3’s console was now “completely compromised,” Sony have stated that they are aware of the claim and will respond accordingly. They said:

We are aware of this, and are currently looking into it.

We will fix the issues through network updates, but because this is a security issue, we are not able to provide you with any more details.

The company statement apparently counters wide-spread claims that there was now no way back for their HD console – because the breach allows hackers to sign unauthorised software as genuine – other than the electronics giant releasing new hardware.

As always, piracy invariably damages the gaming industry. Don’t do it. Seriously.

Source: EDGE

Tags: ,

Related stories from TSA

Report: Major layoffs to hit Bungie and Destiny 3 is not in development
Bungie’s value keeps on dropping in latest Sony financials
Sony increases the price of PS5, PS5 Pro, and PlayStation Portal
The annual weird PlayStation Christmas adverts have arrived

58 Comments

  1. “We will fix the issues through network updates”

    Hopefully.

    • They can’t though. The only way to counteract this move by hackers is to release new hardware. The hackers aren’t doing it to pirate games though, they claim all they want to do is install homebrew and linux. They state they have no intentions to release the keys used to crack the ps3 and shot down GeoHotz for trying to do so. I think the PS3 getting hacked was inevitable and it’s really a credit to Sony’s engineers it’s taken 4/5 years to do.

      • Everyone always uses homebrew or Other OS as an excuse to hack their console. To be fair, I’m sure some will hack their PS3 without any intention to pirate games but the majority will just use that as a cheap excuse to get free games.

        The best Sony can do is to update the console so it requires certain firmware for a console to connect to the PlayStation Network. Take PSN away from hacked consoles and you’ve just crippled the advantages of piracy on PS3. So long as hacked consoles aren’t on PSN then I’m happy.

      • Indeed, as I understand it they have cracked the master key or something, and that is hard coded into the playstation so there is no way of fixing the issue through a soft/firmware update.

      • believe what you want Jaffa, but they are most certainly doing this for financial gain through piracy.

      • @MaD dOctoR 79

        fail0verflow? No chance in hell. If you actually spend the time to look into these guys and see what they have done in the past, you know they advocate against piracy strongly and even fight aginst piracy. Off course they know their work lead to piracy, it always does, when a console gets homebrew support, but they actually try to prevent it, as much as possible-

      • If I remember correctly the hackers only managed to brake into the system using leaked code from inside Sony and without it they would have never got in, I could be wrong though.

      • You are wrong :) The Jailbreak used leaked “code” fron Sony. The fail0verflow guys did not, they simply found weaknesses in security systems in the PS3.

    • i hope they do too.

  2. thanks, although another wait for a firmware with no function updates,
    The almost confirmed new/improved browser + cross game chat.
    How about HD remakes of the psp music graphic equaliserss?
    But PLEASE, not another photo or film application.

    • X Game Chat is a no, still want new browser.

      • SCEE blog guy (forgot his name) said ‘it’s coming but i can’t give you a date’

  3. I can only see us having more and more FW Updates in the future to combat piracy. Every game will have a minimum FW that it needs to run and Sony will keep releasing Updates to insure the PS3 stays relatively secure.

    • Well, this is an ongoing war that Microsoft and others have been fighting for ages – with no end in sight. It seems that if you invent something good and/or useful sooner or later some little reprobate will come along with something bad to destroy or ruin it for the rest of us.

  4. Pirates just ruin everything.

    • RRRRRRrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr

      sorry…couldn’t help it.

  5. I really do appreciate that this site takes a no nonsence approach to hacking. To many times, a site sits on the fence and doesn’t want to be seen siding with anyone, so well done.

  6. Can’t see them being able to resolve it.

    The best way to combat it now is tome out with new features & services, you can keep people on the straight & narrow by giving people what they want… Better music player/visualizers, better web browser because the web has changed enormously in the last 3 years or so, auto sync Trophies, cloud games saves all sorts of things, if they enable some sort of online verification into anything they add it will provide further disincentive for people to experiment.

    You can only wield the stick for so long, until the carrot needs to make an appearance. Firmware updates every time a hacker farts will only start to annoy genuine users – particularly if there is no value added for them

    • I’m hoping they can somehow detect hacks and flip a kill switch on their piratey arses…

    • I agree with you. The harsh truth is that PS3 wasn’t really a target until they took away the “other OS” facility. I’m not saying it wouldn’t have happened but it prob wouldn’t have come so soon.

      • You really think it’s because of Linux? I think it’s just an excuse really it took them 5yrs to hack so bravo sony

      • It accelerated it a smidge but the PS3 was very much under the hacker’s microscope (and has been for years). It’s proved bloody tricky to open-up and hackers have been thoroughly engrossed in trying to get a glimpse of it’s milk chocolate and praline centre. Don’t kid yourself about the Other OS debacle. It ramped things up a touch at best.

    • Only if they add the features through a series of FW updates. I’m assuming that is what you meant but couldn’t be sure.

      • Yes, and those features require online verification of some kind to work… so people running old firmware, hacked consoles or even CFW don’t get their benefits and they’re stuck playing games released in the first half of 2010 and previous

  7. Perhaps they mean stealth updates which don’t require you to be signed into PSN.

    • ? Is this sarcasm or am I missing something?

      • It means Sony send Ninjas round to their house and swipe their stuff.

      • I think the stealth updates are for real – not full firmware overhauls but i think they can change certain things.

      • @ TSBonyman, It’s 1984, Sony style, :) The only thing Sony updates without anyone knowing is the store, the what’s new boxes, and the ticker. Every time you update you also need to agree to the TOS again, or otherwise it’s a possible legal loophole for exploitation if they ever try to ban someone. Sony reserves the right to change it, but you have the right to see what they change, and you reserve the right not to E-sign it. Sony can’t force people to update.

      • I think (and might be wrong) that the “stealth” updates you mean are like when 4OD just appeared?! If so, then they were actually downloaded in the previous download, but a key was opened via the net when signed in to allow it to be seen.

        If you actually took the fw and had a rummage about you could find the coding.

        I think :S haha im not all clued up but was told be a source (maybe won’t go as far as saying friend) that he had found the coding before the update appeared, it was just masked.

        If you didn’t mean that then completely ignore everything I just said, it was a load of spag bol.

    • @ xdarkmagician: There was some mention of stealth updates in the past so i thought they were going ahead with that process after the hacking attempts. I’m pretty sure the TOS were updated to include something along that lines but i may have read it wrong.

  8. “We will fix the issues through network updates”

    LOL, only a PR person could say that and actually believe it is true. This so won’t be fixed. Name one piece of hardware ever in history that was hacked and then made secure again.

    • Like Sony are ever going to say that! They have to put a semi-positive spin on things to reassure people or look like they at least have things under control. :-)

  9. Go mighty warriors defeat the the evil hackers for cosmic justice!

  10. “We will fix the issues through network updates”
    Knowing Sony, this will cause more issues.

    • Maybeyou can call Nappa and Vegeta jus sayin…

      • … Does that have any significance to what I said?

      • Whoa, Arumir is a mature fellow, I can tell you that.

Comments are now closed for this post.