With all the news about breached security, homebrew and Sony taking hackers to court, the underlying allure of installing custom firmware on the PS3 is still something a lot of people are interested in. Whether they simply want to return OtherOS to their machines, mess around with emulators or pirate games is beside the point. We here at TheSixthAxis do not recommend dabbling about in the custom pond for one simple reason: you could irreparably damage your console.
Case in point, the recently released CFW 3.55 which, according to the very community that are driving custom firmware development, appears to have bricked a number of consoles. Hacker Waninkoko (hackinblack on Twitter) announced today:
Yay! It’s coming! Custom Firmware v3.55 for PS3 released!
Only to be followed 19 minutes later with:
Do NOT install in Slim consoles! Looks like users are reporting bricking issues. That’s weird as the CFW was tested on both models. Well… I don’t know if those problems are real or just jokes. As I said, some testers tried this and worked in both models.
Brickage was confirmed a few minutes later when an apology was also issued:
I’m sorry for all the consoles that have died, this was unexpected :S
The coding elite over at NeoGaf, watching from the sidelines as the nightmare of PS3s dying around the hacking world unfolded, have chimed in, warning interested parties of the inherent perils of going rogue.
Apparently the guy who made this messed with lvl2 to make it accept a bigger payload, this is why random consoles are killing themselves. lesson = let the guinea pigs go first.
Sure, it’s early days yet and, who knows, it’s very likely the hacking community will iron out these issues and create a safe, robust custom firmware. Then all you have to worry about is Uncle Sony nuking your PS3 from orbit. Seriously, there will always be those who get a kick out of circumventing security measures; the challenge of cracking what is perceived as the uncrackable sublimely attractive.
For the rest of us, be aware that you not only risk losing your PS3 altogether (either now or in the future when your CFW may be detected) but will likely spend more time updating and tweaking your console rather than what it’s actually intended for: playing games.
TheSixthAxis does not condone piracy and does not recommend the modification of your console – doing so is against the Terms of Use of the console and is possibly illegal.
jayjay119
This makes me happy!
beeje13
Same they deserve it!
Auntphil
I agree. This is good to hear. How can people be so dumb and blind. If Sony is taking people to court and is seeking ways to ban/kick consoles, why bother trying it. Nothing is good enough to gain if it risks the console itself.
ElGuason
i agree hammer them hard! or hit them in the head with a brick!
Tanzil
HAHA OHWOW! serves em right I guess.
TheUgandanGamer
More like – It serves those right who wishes to use their console for the WRONG reasons.
They have paid the price for trying to be able to play Backups – The ‘dark side’ of hacking. These people can rot in hell, for all I care as they give hacking and custom firmware a bad name.
I’m all for custom firmware, homebrew and the Open-Source software movement, but I firmly disagree with playing or viewing illegal content (games, films, etc).
For all of you out there who are curious about the world of PS3 hacking but don’t want the risk of creating a brick/playing ‘backups’, Use GeoHots CFW.
Whilst I don’t wish to endorse hacking or breaking the PSN’s Code of Conduct to anyone, I will say that it’s interesting to have a real insight as to what’s actually over the other side of the fence; instead of relying on someone else’s words or comments who may not agree or those of which prefer things to remain ‘untouched’.
Without these modifications, there would be no competition for these companies to improve their security… There would be no real advancement(s) in the tech.
Maybe now, Sony will not only start working on a different software/hardware structure, but also improve upon older features whilst adding new ones (Indie Game/Application Development, much?).
TheUgandanGamer
Referring back to what I said about adding new security and features, a fine example is the Nintendo DS.
Without those ‘hacks’, Nintendo probably wouldn’t have advanced the DS so fast. Movie Playback and a whole load more features wouldn’t have hit the hand held until much later.
teflon
All I can do is laugh at this. I also hope that Sony has issued a blanket warning to all retailers that they may see a sudden influx of returned consoles and possibly even hand out some diagnostic tools to determine whether the issue is a genuine hardware issue, so that they can refuse a refund or replacement.
Online retailers are sitting pretty here, as they will have names and addresses on hand, and they would be able to go after people that try and swindle them.
MegaBonez
If your gonna break the law, you deserve bad things to happen to you!
jayjay119
They sould build a prison entirely out of bricked PS3’s and lock them away in it!
Kovacs
Pretty dark prison. Shiny, though. And warm!
:)
kjkg
Nah thats a stupid idea, it would never get the “green” light, only the “yellow”!!
Ahahahah….. hmmm nobody?
TheUgandanGamer
@kjkg
Heheheh.. Oh you xD
td_rules
believing all law is fair and just is a bit naive dontcha think?
*goes back to business law assignment*
Maggot666PL
Agreed. I don’t support the irrational way the so called “intelectual property” is treated today. There is simply no such thing.
On the other hand I am glad so many people condemn piracy because it’s wrong for the developer and they want to buy games and support them. That’s why I’m on PS3 for 2 years now, gathering a small (games are expensive here, you know), but solid collection of games. Although all those dreaming on absolute invigilation and putting more power into copyvio-fighters hands – shame on you. DRM sucks and you know it.
Bladesteel
If you read the text below the article you’ll notice the words “possibly illegal”
Your laws do not apply everywhere.
OTOH people installing software from these sources on their one and only games console deserve a brick. Not for breaking any law (or eula) but for being stupid.
Once my PS3 is no longer useful as a games machine (BR drive dead, replaced by slim or replaced by ps4) I’ll hack it to pieces without breaking any laws (I will not pirate so no laws to break for me). But once I do that I won’t expect it to ever play games again. (but hopefully i can make it work as a small media server)
Uhyve
I was planning to do something similar on my original 60GB launch console but it died on it’s own about a week ago. It’s like Sony could sense what I was planning…
And honestly, I don’t pirate anything, not even music. Well, I sometimes stream TV programs that aren’t on Sky.
bigdon23
what i dont get is that it probably cost just as much as buying the games would (short term at leased)
MrSpeedyGonzales
Ha! what losers! :D
commuterzombie
Here’s hoping that the twats ruining COD6’s online mode by using CFW to remove other players perks etc. got rewarded with a bricked PS3!
jcor
Its not just the perks, stats etc that are getting ruined. They twats are also ruining the game for legitimate players as they have aimbots, unlimited ammo and can call in constant airstrikes etc.
Mentality
It can be fixed, but you need an external nand/nor programmer. Not something that is easy to do.
More so than piracy it is curiosity. If you don’t know what you are doing, then you should stay well clear of it. I accept that piracy is the underlying issue here with you guys, but not everyone using these tools are doing it for that.
TSBonyman
I’ve just read that it’s also bricking a lot of 60Gb models so it’s not just the slim PS3 being affected.
I must say i’m finding it hard not to chuckle at their misfortune. Unsigned code for the purpose of Homebrew is one thing but this CFW 3.55 apparently allows playing back-ups which would most likely be used for piracy, and also it allows PSN access for the Trophy cheats.
3shirts
Yet another tirade of insults for people who are trying this. Please people, get a clue. They know what they are doing, they accept the risks and they are NOT ALL pirates.
Seriously, if one person buys a knife to mug people, it doesn’t mean we should make all knives illegal!
kjkg
True, people are quick to really hammer out the abuse BUT (its a big but) they are still breaking the T&C agreement with Sony.
So yes, people are too quick to judge, but its really just the lesser of two evils with non piraters.
Klart
Like the guy before me said: Breaking into your PS3 is ALWAYS ILLEGAL, pirate or no pirate.
xdarkmagician
Breaking a TOS or user agreement isn’t illegal. A TOS isn’t law, it’s enforceable only by Sony. There’s no law on any books that I know about that site breaching a TOS is a crime. TOS are just what they stand for, terms of service. If you want sony service you need to follow sony rules, not laws. If you don’t want Sony service you can do whatever you want to YOUR PS3, and even if you use your hacked PS3 to pirate,(I’m not supporting piracy) it’s still not illegal to use a hacked PS3. Theres NO sticker on the bottom of your PS3 saying removing this screw is a crime, but there is one that says you’ll loose your warranty, or Sony “service”. So it’s not AWAYS ILLEGAL, cause it’s not even illegal. US supreme court has already ruled that jailbreaking IS LEGAL, and I understand not everyone lives under US copyright law, but US copyright law does seem to be part of the foundation for international copyright law.