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[Mama Robotnik]

Sony didn't "take away" anything. I keep reading that over and over. They didn't force anything. You were still able to play all the old games you already purchased. You had a choice.

Of course they took away something, you just had a choice of what they took away. It was either:

(a) OtherOS, thereby allowing a company to neuter your product with every benefit to them. You are giving them license to remove any advertised functionality, in your privately-owned property, at their whim.

or (b) They remove the ability to play any and all future games, and use the consoles network functions.

By upgrading you lose a significant advertised function of the hardware for Sony's corporate benefit. By not upgrading you have to deny obligatory firmware that comes in all future games, therby taking away your ability to run them.

You had a choice.

Would I rather have my arms or legs taken away? Oh its okay, I have a choice.

 

[Afrikan]

PS3s are supposed to play PS3 games. Trying to act like removal of playing future PS3 games is no big deal because you can play your old games is stupid. The console was sold to have media capabilities, OtherOS and play PS3 games. You shouldn't have to pick one or the other.

I love how forced obsolescence is now considered by some to be a completely acceptable tactic. Consumer rights are so fucked in this country.

I don't get this. You want an open PS3? Fine. Sony invests alot of money on these "future games". Obviously Sony felt OtherOS had became a threat to their current and future investments. Why shouldn't they be expected/allowed to protect that? That is the only thing they can control right? These future games and services.That is the only thing that is still theirs and not yours.

If you kept OtherOS, your system still played games, media, etc....heck it can even play old nes games now. If you want to use Sony's upcoming software and services, which they are spending money on creating and maintaining for people who want to use them. Then you have a couple of choices. Nothing is forced.

 

[kamorra]

I don't get this. You want an open PS3 fine.

No, he want's the same PS3 with all features it had at the moment he bought it. I know that many people are incapable to accept that OtherOS was important to some because they have no interest in. But hey, it's not rocket science.
Would you accept if they remove Blu-ray playback? Don't tell me that the thought that they remove Blu-ray playback is ridiculous just try to think about it. Wouldn't you have a problem if they a remove a feature you like and you paid for?

If you kept OtherOS, your system still played games, media, etc....heck it can even play old nes games now. If you want to use Sony's upcoming software and services, which they are spending money on creating and maintaining for people who want to use them. Then you have a couple of choices. Nothing is forced.

Yeah, old games. Sure they force me to choose. I didn't had to choose from the beginning.

 

[vpance]

The slippery slope argument about how letting Sony get away with removing OtherOS will turn into giving them the power to strip away core gaming or other media functionality is a bit absurd. Until that happens it most likely won't, since if it did you can be sure that would turn off alot of people from buying their console.

They gauged the value of getting rid of a security hole via OtherOS vs pissing off the small amount of users that used it and got rid of it. A useless and hornets nest-stirring move for them in hindsight, but I don't see the whole connection between that and these predicted futures of Sony recklessly removing core features of their system at will.

 

[Jobiensis]

Nothing is forced.

You are forced to make a decision you shouldn't have to.

The slippery slope argument about how letting Sony get away with removing OtherOS will turn into giving them the power to strip away core gaming or other media functionality is a bit absurd.

No, what people are saying is they did remove a core advertised feature, perhaps it wasn't popular or it's not important to you, but it is disingenuous to say it wasn't a core feature. Sony stated that they felt it(PS3) was a computer and not a console.

As far as the bolded part goes, that is one of the choices Afrikan is going on about.

 

[Inanna]

Ttruth be told, I never knew PS3 had OtherOS or knew what it was for until Sony removed it. I know TONS of people in my family, my friends, friend's friends.. who have a PS3 and none of them know what it was for or knew PS3's had it to begin with before it was removed. Core feature = something that's integral, something that everyone knows about. You could say the web browser is one of the features that isn't gaming related but everybody knows about and uses it to some extent. It would make more sense for people to get mad at Sony and wish death upon them if they remove a feature like that. OtherOS? I dunno. Only a handful of people used it, and it had become a security threat for Sony, so I get why they had to do it.

 

[kamorra]

Ttruth be told, I never knew PS3 had OtherOS or knew what it was for until Sony removed it. I know TONS of people in my family, my friends, friend's friends.. who have a PS3 and none of them know what it was for or knew PS3's had it to begin with before it was removed. Core feature = something that's integral, something that everyone knows about. You could say the web browser is one of the features that isn't gaming related but everybody knows about and uses it to some extent. It would make more sense for people to get mad at Sony and wish death upon them if they remove a feature like that. OtherOS? I dunno. Only a handful of people used it, and it had become a security threat for Sony, so I get why they had to do it.

I'm sure you would argue that region free gaming was a advertised core feature and everyone in your family, your friends and friend's friend's know about it.

 

[Inanna]

I'm sure you would argue that region free gaming was a advertised core feature and everyone in your family, your friends and friend's friend's know about it.

I said non-gaming related features...

Yes, region free gaming is a huge deal, but they haven't taken that out yet, have they?

 

[kamorra]

I said non-gaming related features...

Yes, region free gaming is a huge deal, but they haven't taken that out yet, have they?

That's not the point. You would be pissed if they remove it. It's a important feature for you. I can't understand why you guys have to be so stubborn. A feature isn't automatically useless just because you or everyone in your bubble doesn't care for it.

 

[KtSlime]

Ttruth be told, I never knew PS3 had OtherOS or knew what it was for until Sony removed it. I know TONS of people in my family, my friends, friend's friends.. who have a PS3 and none of them know what it was for or knew PS3's had it to begin with before it was removed. Core feature = something that's integral, something that everyone knows about. You could say the web browser is one of the features that isn't gaming related but everybody knows about and uses it to some extent. It would make more sense for people to get mad at Sony and wish death upon them if they remove a feature like that. OtherOS? I dunno. Only a handful of people used it, and it had become a security threat for Sony, so I get why they had to do it.

You can't have them taking away features because they are using an arbitrary number to determine the value. Say 10% used this feature, that's either a small number of people or a really large number of people depending on how many people have the device. Now what's the difference between 10% and 20% how are they able to determine what is a small amount of people to affect? Do they even have data on this? Where did Sony get the percentage of people they might be effecting, or did they simply not care because regardless if this even effected everyone not doing it would affect Sony, which is all they care about.

So who gets to determine a core feature at the time of purchase, is it Sony or is it the customer? Sony advertised it as a feature. I was well aware of it as a feature MONTHS before I even bought the thing.

Sure, you can go on about how a removal of a feature or two doesn't bother you, but what if something did? Here is a feature not used by many - downscaling to SD. Boohoo, now you have to buy an HDTV because they decided to update the firmware and stop support for the SD cable. If they did that it'd still be wrong.

No one can take away features to something you bought no matter how trivial the feature is.

Afrikan: false choices are great aren't they?

So, my question now is - now that these keys are out, and now that the private keys are closed - and they have the ability to upload code to your system to run specialized checks to make sure you aren't doing anything naughty - now that they have all of these security features in place -

Why don't they add back OtherOS? Or better yet, why didn't they add these security features and never remove OtherOS to begin with?

 

[Afrikan]

That's not the point. You would be pissed if they remove it. It's a important feature for you. I can't understand why you guys have to be so stubborn. A feature isn't automatically useless just because you or everyone in your bubble doesn't care for it.

no I think OtherOS was a great feature...and I was eventually going to come around and mess with it myself.

to me, it doesn't matter if I liked a feature, be it the Browser, video playback, music playback, netflix, PS Home.......at the end of the day, it is about the reasoning.

If Sony felt they had to go in a different direction with certain features, to protect the system, then I'm for that. I enjoy Sony's 1st party offerings, and if that means I have to sacrifice alittle so that future games/jobs are not affected, then I'm rolling with the Company on this one.

I'm not a person who stands behind big corporations. But who I do stand behind are all the developers. If not allowing me to be able to use the PSN AND OTHEROS at the same time, saves a job down the road anywhere in the industry, I'm for that.

again, Sony has spent ALOT of money for just these titles releasing this year. Its like they have an exclusive game coming out each month. If they sat back and did nothing with OtherOS or what ever, and piracy was rampant...what incentive do they have to put that type of effort/investment in having a similar year down the road, like the one we are about to have?

The PS3 you bought is yours....you have control of it. Games that you bought in the past are yours, and you have control of them. What Sony does have control is the games they are working on and the service they maintain. That is what is STILL THEIRS. That is what little control they have left.

some look at is as just Sony vs consumer rights.

I look at it like Gamers, developers, investors, Sony vs Piracy. With Genuine Homebrew folks stuck in the middle of it.

 

[KtSlime]

The PS3 you bought is yours....you have control of it. Games that you bought in the past are yours, and you have control of them. What Sony does have control is the games they are working on and the service they maintain. That is what is STILL THEIRS. That is what little control they have left.

So, just now I did a little experiment - I grabbed 5 PS3 games off my shelf, and looked at the back - not on a single one of them did it say anything about a minimum firmware version.

How does Sony expect you to know if the game is compatible with your PS3?

Will they take the disc back if someone pops it in and it says the firmware needs to be updated? And if not, how do *you* think Sony should deal with such a situation?

 

[-Amon-]

That's not the point. You would be pissed if they remove it. It's a important feature for you. I can't understand why you guys have to be so stubborn. A feature isn't automatically useless just because you or everyone in your bubble doesn't care for it.

It's the same exact thing when the cfw defenders did not give a shit about cheating in multiplayer. It's an aspectof the problem they're not interested in so they downplay it.

 

[PetriP-TNT]

I got no reason to worry about this as long as they keep on banning the cheaters

 

[spwolf]

Will they take the disc back if someone pops it in and it says the firmware needs to be updated? And if not, how do *you* think Sony should deal with such a situation?

your store will certainly take return...

 

[Ploid 3.0]

So, just now I did a little experiment - I grabbed 5 PS3 games off my shelf, and looked at the back - not on a single one of them did it say anything about a minimum firmware version.

How does Sony expect you to know if the game is compatible with your PS3?

Will they take the disc back if someone pops it in and it says the firmware needs to be updated? And if not, how do *you* think Sony should deal with such a situation?

If you're computer savy enough to choose otheros over normal PS3 you know enough to realize what games are out of your firmware version. I bet you know what firmware GT5, and Black Ops (although it was less secure) required.

 

[KtSlime]

your store will certainly take return...

I don't know what country you are from, but here stateside I have yet to find a store that takes back open digital media.

Ploid 3.0: Why ain't it on the back of the box? Sony has 40 other bullet points and messages on the back, what's one more?

 

[Lonewolf_92]

It's the same exact thing when the cfw defenders did not give a shit about cheating in multiplayer. It's an aspect of online gaming they're not interested in so they downplay it.

Fixed that for you. Now seriously, fuck off with that lame ass shit. People have been cheating in online games since BBS door games, nothing new there, and you've yet to prove that CFW has caused any sort of long term harm to online play in the dozens of posts you've made whinging about the subject.

 

[Afrikan]

Afrikan: false choices are great aren't they?

So, my question now is - now that these keys are out, and now that the private keys are closed - and they have the ability to upload code to your system to run specialized checks to make sure you aren't doing anything naughty - now that they have all of these security features in place -

Why don't they add back OtherOS? Or better yet, why didn't they add these security features and never remove OtherOS to begin with?

just because the keys are out doesn't mean their fight with piracy is over. They are still taking steps in trying to keep the PSN safe. Why would bringing back OtherOS to legit firmwares be a smart thing? Or better yet, what benefits does it have for Sony?

Like it or not, OtherOS is most likely gone forever... I don't see the PS4 having that option or any other console company ever doing that again.

as far as your second question. I think it was answered many times before. Sony is known for making paranoid decisions when something goes wrong. They go all out. Just like these recent BLOPS permana console bannings. Poor kids didn't understand what was coming their way, didn't even understand the meaning of words "permanent banning".

 

[Ploid 3.0]

I don't know what country you are from, but here stateside I have yet to find a store that takes back open digital media.

Ploid 3.0: Why ain't it on the back of the box? Sony has 40 other bullet points and messages on the back, what's one more?

So, just now I did a little experiment - I grabbed 5 PS3 games off my shelf, and looked at the back - not on a single one of them did it say anything about a minimum firmware version.

What digital games do you store on your shelf, and have physical cases?

Anyway, you seem to be trying to pick out worst case scenarios much like people with CFW hacking people with OFW's credit card info.

 

[kamorra]

It's the same exact thing when the cfw defenders did not give a shit about cheating in multiplayer. It's an aspectof the problem they're not interested in so they downplay it.

Give it up already. I don't care what ignorant people are trying to defend you shouldn't too. There is no excuse for both, removing features and cheating in online games.
I have no problem to see the pros and contras on both sides. What about you?

cfw defenders :lol

 

[Cruzader]

Ttruth be told, I never knew PS3 had OtherOS or knew what it was for until Sony removed it. I know TONS of people in my family, my friends, friend's friends.. who have a PS3 and none of them know what it was for or knew PS3's had it to begin with before it was removed. Core feature = something that's integral, something that everyone knows about. You could say the web browser is one of the features that isn't gaming related but everybody knows about and uses it to some extent. It would make more sense for people to get mad at Sony and wish death upon them if they remove a feature like that. OtherOS? I dunno. Only a handful of people used it, and it had become a security threat for Sony, so I get why they had to do it.

Exactly. Only a few used Linux. And face it when ps3 came out, Linux os is pretty irrelevant and still us today. Only nerdy ppl really use it. Majority of owners didn't touch it or knew about it.

If the minority didnt try to hack the ps3 in the first place, we wouldn't be in this situation. Any blame goes ultimately to the hackers.

 

[KtSlime]

What digital games do you store on your shelf, and have physical cases?

Anyway, you seem to be trying to pick out worst case scenarios much like people with CFW hacking people with OFW's credit card info.

Maybe I worded it wrong - Anything on a CD/DVD/BD/Cartridge/Flash-based-device that can be copied digitally is a digital media.

Now I have seen stores offer to replace it for another disc of the same title - incase the one you got was bad, but I haven't seen any take it back just because.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

Some stores let you take it back within a week. Walmart probably don't let you ta.. oh wait I remember taking something back to walmart too, kmart as well. As long as you have the receipt and it's like within a day or hours (from my experience) they have to take it, especially if the game don't work.

If they don't take it back (I'm not talking about after weeks) just complain and if they still don't they don't care about your customer rights.

 

[kamorra]

Exactly. Only a few used Linux. And face it when ps3 came out, Linux os is pretty irrelevant and still us today. Only nerdy ppl really use it. Majority of owners didn't touch it or knew about it.

If the minority didnt try to hack the ps3 in the first place, we wouldn't be in this situation. Any blame goes ultimately to the hackers.

Damn nerdy Linux hackers!

 

[KtSlime]

Some stores let you take it back within a week. Walmart probably don't let you ta.. oh wait I remember taking something back to walmart too, kmart as well. As long as you have the receipt and it's like within a day or hours (from my experience) they have to take it, especially if the game don't work.

If they don't take it back (I'm not talking about after weeks) just complain and if they still don't they don't care about your customer rights.

Ah, well thanks for the info, I didn't know that. I don't go to Walmart, and we don't have kmart. I guess I've been going to the wrong shops. =)

 

[Raist]

That's not the point. You would be pissed if they remove it. It's a important feature for you. I can't understand why you guys have to be so stubborn. A feature isn't automatically useless just because you or everyone in your bubble doesn't care for it.

Yeah, a shitload of people on GAF are very concerned about Linux. Which is why the official thread had 5 pages in 3 years, I guess.

 

[kamorra]

Yeah, a shitload of people on GAF are very concerned about Linux. Which is why the official thread had 5 pages in 3 years, I guess.

Yeah, you know what you are right. No one cared. You, your friends, everyone in this thread who agrees and the official OtherOS GAF thread are the perfect measurement. There really is no way to discuss this matter because no matter how ridiculous the argument is someone will use it. You guys don't want to discuss you just want to tell everyone how only your point of view is valid.

 

[Zeal]

Exactly. Only a few used Linux. And face it when ps3 came out, Linux os is pretty irrelevant and still us today. Only nerdy ppl really use it. Majority of owners didn't touch it or knew about it.

If the minority didnt try to hack the ps3 in the first place, we wouldn't be in this situation. Any blame goes ultimately to the hackers.

i'm sorry but this type of thinking screams ignorance, stupidity and failed logic.

 

[Ploid 3.0]

Do it even matter anymore though? Sony should never include linix anymore, and they already took it out. It also seems like they are capable of fighting the hackers from getting on PSN. So normal players have defense of easy hacks, and people that love linux and homebrew have the option. Everyone win until you buy a PS4 expecting easy homebrew. Why buy a PS4 though, sony don't care about customers right to distribute hacks over the internet.

 

[Raist]

Yeah, you know what you are right. No one cared. You, your friends, everyone in this thread who agrees and the official OtherOS GAF thread are the perfect measurement. There really is no way to discuss this matter because no matter how ridiculous the argument is someone will use it. You guys don't want to discuss you just want to tell everyone how only your point of view is valid.

It's no different than people swearing that it's a huge deal from them on this very forum when no one gave shit.

Now, if geohot hadn't fucked around OtherOS this would have never happened. Whatever reason they had to remove OOS from the Slim, it was perfectly fair. They stated it long before it was released. Then geohot started to mess around, on an original PS3, not a slim (weird isn't it?), trying to hack the HV and get lv1/lv2 access.
Then Sony saw that as a threat and decided to pull the plug on fat systems as well. And then geohot decided to stop trying to crack the PS3 open and just put OOS back on the PS3. His motivations were dodgy, and initially had nothing to do with linux. Maybe you guys should blame him.

It's exactly the same issue with people freaking out about that "rootkit" with firmware 3.56. If f0f and geohot hadn't kept fucking around, that wouldn't have happened either.

 

[KtSlime]

It's no different than people swearing that it's a huge deal from them on this very forum when no one gave shit.

Now, if geohot hadn't fucked around OtherOS this would have never happened. Whatever reason they had to remove OOS from the Slim, it was perfectly fair. They stated it long before it was released. Then geohot started to mess around, on an original PS3, not a slim (weird isn't it?), trying to hack the HV and get lv1/lv2 access.
Then Sony saw that as a threat and decided to pull the plug on fat systems as well. And then geohot decided to stop trying to crack the PS3 open and just put OOS back on the PS3. His motivations were dodgy, and initially had nothing to do with linux. Maybe you guys should blame him.

It's exactly the same issue with people freaking out about that "rootkit" with firmware 3.56. If f0f and geohot hadn't kept fucking around, that wouldn't have happened either.

If we all got punished for other peoples 'crimes' there'd be no one left. =)

 

[Slavik81]

I'm confused. If you control the operating system and the firmware, why would you need a root kit? You could build anything right in.

 

[KtSlime]

I'm confused. If you control the operating system and the firmware, why would you need a root kit? You could build anything right in.

Easy, it's so others can't see what you are trying to have executed...

 

[Zeal]

because they are trying to be sneaky and catch people with their pants down.

 

[gcubed]

because they are trying to be sneaky and catch people with their pants down.

hmmm, so i shouldnt have my eye plugged in when my pants are down cause sony can see me now?

 

[Majima Everywhere System]

The biggest thing I use my PS3 for, Netflix, wasn't in there on day one. I had no notion that the device could be used for such a service, and now it is the primary function. The lord giveth and the lord taketh away.

 

[KtSlime]

hmmm, so i shouldnt have my eye plugged in when my pants are down cause sony can see me now?

Unplug your eyetoy *every*time*, or use something to cover it.

Class_A_Ninja: I don't believe in false profets. LOL.

 

[Slavik81]

Easy, it's so others can't see what you are trying to have executed...

How would they see what the OS is executing in the first place?

 

[Gattsu25]

hmmm, so i shouldnt have my eye plugged in when my pants are down cause sony can see me now?

This is why I hate sony. First they put rootkit viruses on everyone's PS3 and now they allow eyetoys to be hijacked for malicious purposes.

They have no culpability and are morally bankrupt.

The hackers should develop anti-virus software for the system that will clean the damage sony has done.

I want to say I am greatly exaggerating some of the previous arguments in this thread but I sadly am not. The FUD in this thread is strong.

Stay tuned!

I will!!!

 

[BritBloke916]

If we all got punished for other peoples 'crimes' there'd be no one left. =)

We do all get "punished" for other peoples crimes. You have to put up with up with the queue for airport security whether or not you've actually blown up an aeroplane.

 

[Dambrosi]

I see all you people are being idiots again.

Anti-homebrewers: You guys NEVER had a right to cheat-free online play - EVER. Nerds have been cheating online since the very first bulletin board games, and there have always been cheaters in every online game (though the number of cheaters is dependent, of course, on the popularity of the game), and there will continue to be in the future, whether CFW'd machines are banned from PSN or not.

About the only thing that can be done to stem the flow is what Treyarch are doing for Black Ops - detecting cheats as they happen and banning them from their servers. It's up to each developer and their publishers to police their own games, and Sony should only be held responsible for their own games, too (which is why the continued, apparently consequence-free cheating in Uncharted 2's multi astounds me).

There's no other way to punish them, either. You can't throw online cheaters in butt-fuck prison, nor can you sue them, and you certainly can't go around to their house and rough them up. Fact is, you don't have and have never had the "right" to cheat-free online, so stop being disingenuous by pretending you have. In the end, it's just a game.

Bear this in mind - Sony are NOT doing this to protect YOU. They're doing it to appease their shareholders, mollify their development and publishing partners, and safeguard their industrial and electronic copyrights. That's it. They have already shown their abject lack of respect for their consumers by removing OtherOS without compensation, even if the feature was underused. They have shown by their recent actions that they don't give a damn about looking like idiots in front of the whole world, as long as they get their way.

They've already shown that they don't respect YOU. So, why should you respect them? Please remember that I'm talking about the overarching corporate structure here, not the hard-working guys and gals who work for Insomniac, Naughty Dog, Santa Monica, Studio Liverpool *salute* and all their other great studios. They, I'm sure we all agree, deserve all our adulation and respect.

The actual company itself, however, doesn't give a damn about anything other than its own profit. If it has to look after its workforce in order to maximize its profit (and it does, otherwise they'd outsource everything to third-world sweatshops), so be it. If it has to remove an advertised feature without any recompense merely to protect its potential future profits, it has shown that it will not hesitate to do it. It's built that way, like every other huge company, who also don't really care what you think, even though they pretend they do so you'll keep giving them money.

So why are you defending them, when they wouldn't do the same for you? A misplaced sense of loyalty, perhaps? A conscious (or unconscious) desire to defend your financial and time investment in your hobby, which manifests itself as corporate fanaticism? A need to lash out at others for no defensible reason? Nerd rage? Whatever. Just remember this - Sony are not your friends. And that goes for the other companies, too.

I'll start slapping the pro-homebrewers about in my next post. Stay tuned!

 

[kitch9]

I'm confused. If you control the operating system and the firmware, why would you need a root kit? You could build anything right in.

They don't..... Fuck knows where this retarded rootkit shit has come from, its just a new fucking security feature.

The hackers can see it, they know what it does and they can do fuck all about it. Simple as.

 

[KtSlime]

How would they see what the OS is executing in the first place?

Well, you see, since 3.55 hackers have had the decryption keys for firmware - so it is possible to decrypt the firmware, and look at the instructions line by line to see what the PS3 does, why it does it, and when it should do it.

It is proposed that this 'rootkit' gets some instructions from Sony that the PS3 is able to execute. We nor the PS3 knows what these instructions are before they are downloaded - and due to the nature of the firmware and specifically level 2 we are unable to peak into the 3.56 ram and are unable to determine the instructions.

In theory Sony can do anything from give the PS3 a math problem to solve, to transferring files on our system back to Sony to - even writing software to load up the camera and take photos - this last one is very unlikely that they would do it - but completely within their power if this is in fact how the new firmware works. And they can change these instructions at any time and no one will be the wiser.

 

[KtSlime]

We do all get "punished" for other peoples crimes. You have to put up with up with the queue for airport security whether or not you've actually blown up an aeroplane.

Haha, right, but at least that is done by the super friendly TSA. 'Have you been felt up today?'

Anyway, I don't agree with what they are doing either - it's just not right.

 

[Foffy]

Well, you see, since 3.55 hackers have had the decryption keys for firmware - so it is possible to decrypt the firmware, and look at the instructions line by line to see what the PS3 does, why it does it, and when it should do it.

It is proposed that this 'rootkit' gets some instructions from Sony that the PS3 is able to execute. We nor the PS3 knows what these instructions are before they are downloaded - and due to the nature of the firmware and specifically level 2 we are unable to peak into the 3.56 ram and are unable to determine the instructions.

In theory Sony can do anything from give the PS3 a math problem to solve, to transferring files on our system back to Sony to - even writing software to load up the camera and take photos - this last one is very unlikely that they would do it - but completely within their power if this is in fact how the new firmware works. And they can change these instructions at any time and no one will be the wiser.

And couldn't all of that pervasive stuff be circumvented by...disabling all internet access to device after you update?

I mean, if some of you guys are so worried, why not just not update or disable the online features for your privacy? I think it's fair to just sit this out and wait till someone finds out what exactly it does, or has a very likely assumption. For all we know it could log your overall game time for a game and create some service in an update to show what games are played the most and by whom. Or am I totally missing what this could possibly do beyond assuming bad things?

 

[spwolf]

Well, you see, since 3.55 hackers have had the decryption keys for firmware - so it is possible to decrypt the firmware, and look at the instructions line by line to see what the PS3 does, why it does it, and when it should do it.

It is proposed that this 'rootkit' gets some instructions from Sony that the PS3 is able to execute. We nor the PS3 knows what these instructions are before they are downloaded - and due to the nature of the firmware and specifically level 2 we are unable to peak into the 3.56 ram and are unable to determine the instructions.

In theory Sony can do anything from give the PS3 a math problem to solve, to transferring files on our system back to Sony to - even writing software to load up the camera and take photos - this last one is very unlikely that they would do it - but completely within their power if this is in fact how the new firmware works. And they can change these instructions at any time and no one will be the wiser.

sony could always do whatever they wanted... I think it is quite silly that you are saying that Sony cant be trusted, but anonymous PS3 homebrew hackers can.

if some anonymous dude steals your credit card keys with fake homebrew or warez (and it will happen for sure), sony has to protect their network and their data.

if sony steals something, you can sue them and get some money.

 

[AkIRA_22]

OH DAMN YOU SONY FOR RUNNING YOUR CODE ON YOUR CONSOLE!
>8(

It's not 'THEIR' console... It's the person who's living room it's sitting in who owns it. You are not breaking the law putting CFW on your PS3.

 

[Raist]

I see all you people are being idiots again.

Anti-homebrewers: You guys NEVER had a right to cheat-free online play - EVER. Nerds have been cheating online since the very first bulletin board games, and there have always been cheaters in every online game (though the number of cheaters is dependent, of course, on the popularity of the game), and there will continue to be in the future, whether CFW'd machines are banned from PSN or not.

So feeling like you should have the right to run a snes emulator on a PS3 (not its intended use at all. Do you guys complain because your washing machine doesn't make cofee too? ) is A-OK, but feeling like you should have the right to not be bothered by hackers online is stupid?

wtf.

 

[KtSlime]

sony could always do whatever they wanted... I think it is quite silly that you are saying that Sony cant be trusted, but anonymous PS3 homebrew hackers can.

if some anonymous dude steals your credit card keys with fake homebrew or warez (and it will happen for sure), sony has to protect their network and their data.

if sony steals something, you can sue them and get some money.

First off I'm not saying Sony will do anything terribly wrong with the 'rootkit' I'm just saying that this is why people don't like this new security feature. I was just answering the guy's question.

Second who is to say Sony can be trusted? Sony has one god, the all mighty dollar(LOL); if Sony thinks they can get away with something and it will make them a buck - it is legally their responsibility to their board and shareholders to do it. They have removed features - that's pretty un-trustworthy.

Third All the homebrew I have installed has their sourcecode freely available on the net. If so inclined I can read it and make sure it doesn't do anything I dont' want it to do.

Forth I doubt any of us could win a case against Sony if they stole something they would just keep us in court until our resources are exhausted. It's like advising a toddler to punch a guy that just took the kid's candy. Try as he might, the toddler will lose, the guy wouldn't have to do anything, just take a couple of slaps till the toddler gave up.