Homebrew developers have released a custom firmware that sees the OtherOS function restored to PlayStation 3 consoles, just over a year after Sony removed the feature.
A team of developers have released OtherOS++, describing it as “one small step for devs, one giant kick in the nuts for Sony.” The firmware allows a far greater level of control over the system than that originally allowed by Sony, with full access to the system’s innards. However, it can only be installed on consoles that are running older firmware versions.
PlayStation 3 hacker George “Geohot” Hotz has offered his own take on Sony’s loss of 77 million customers’ personal information, saying that it is those that make the decisions – not those who design the security – who are at fault.
Sony has confirmed that it has reached a settlement with George “Geohot” Hotz, against whom the firm was locked in a legal battle over his role in the hacking of PlayStation 3.
In a post on the PlayStation Blog, Sony’s senior director of corporate communications Patrick Seybold explained: “The parties reached an agreement in principle on March 31, 2011. As part of the settlement, Hotz consented to a permanent injunction. Both parties expressed satisfaction that litigation had been quickly resolved.
Noted hacking group Anonymous has lined up Sony in its crosshairs, saying the firm’s treatment of PS3 hackers George “Geohot” Hotz and Graf Chokolo has been “wholly unforgivable.”
In a post on its website the group says: “Congratulations, Sony. You have now received the undivided attention of Anonymous. Your recent legal action against our fellow hackers, Geohot and Graf Chokolo, has not only alarmed us, it has been deemed wholly unforgivable.”
PS3 hacker George “Geohot” Hotz has moved to correct erroneous reports that he has fled the country to escape Sony’s lawsuit, explaining he is in South America on vacation.
George “Geohot” Hotz, the hacker who is currently in a legal battle with Sony over his role in hacking the PlayStation 3, says he cannot turn over his computer hard drives, despite a court order to do so, because he is in South America.
A California court has granted Sony access to logs containing the IP addresses of every visitor to PS3 hacker George “Geohot” Hotz’s website.
Wired reports that Magistrate Joseph Spero gave the order last Thursday. It gives Sony not only the rights to the data pertaining to visitors of Hotz’s website, but also his Blogspot blog, everyone who watched his YouTube video showing off the jailbreak, and the full details of his Twitter account.
Sony is actively hiring to bolster its options in the ongoing fight against PlayStation 3 hackers and pirates.
Job listings on SCEA’s website – spotted by IGN - show the firm is beefing up its legal and security teams. First, the firm is advertising for a senior corporate counsel in anti-piracy and brand protection, with the successful candidate tasked with “developing and implementing an anti-piracy program... and collaborating with other anti-piracy organisations. The program to be developed will require a strong strategic online component.”
Sony is to block out would-be PlayStation 3 pirates at the manufacturing stage, with the release of a new, hack-proof SKU, according to reports.
Everything HQ cites an anonymous source who claims Sony is already “deep into plans” for an unhackable version of the PlayStation 3, caused mainly by the premature leak of Killzone 3 which has prompted concerns of PS3 piracy going truly mainstream.
George “Geohot” Hotz, the hacker who breached the PlayStation 3’s security, is now asking for donations to help in his legal fight against Sony.
Writing on his website, Hotz said he had already run up a $10,000 legal bill and that donations would be used to bolster his defences, claiming that Sony was using him as a scapegoat as part of a wider campaign to deter users from tampering with their systems.
