The PS3 is doomed: revealed the console's decryption keys

[O. Van Bruce]

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/digit ... final-hack

Well... this should make some people happy. Not that I have a PS3 but with this I'm starting to desire one...

[trap15]

lol sony

[KAI]

[Ji-L87]

*sigh* and now I will have to download another update, thanks guys!

Aside from Sony panicking and cranking out new fixes, I can't really see how this will negatively affect the the PS3 in any big way, since the current consoles are on their last legs and all that anyway

[Jonathan Ingram]

It`s completely worthless right now unless you have got a way to downgrade your PS3 to 3.55(which most people don`t). CFW on the PS3 is still not worth the hassle at this particular moment as far as I`m concerned. Let`s wait and see where this leak will take the PS3 hacking scene and whether it eventually becomes possible to install CFW on your PS3 with minimal efforts without resorting to flashing/downgrading bullshit.

[LtC]

I'd imagine there are more idiots buying new PS3s thinking they can install CFW on them than ones actually hacking them. A lot more.

[Friendly]

It's pretty funny how little the press seems to understand about this. Lv 0 is indeed hardcoded and can't be changed, but Sony created a new Lv 0.2 security level about 3 months after the first hack was discovered, which replaced Lv 0 in all console revisions released since firmware 3.60 (about 2 years ago). Due to security changes made by Sony after fw 3.55, no custom firmware can be installed if you have a higher firmware on your PS3. Downgrading a PS3 that was shipped with a base firmware of 3.60 or higher is impossible, even with a hardware flasher. Lv 0.2 has not been hacked (and who knows if it ever will be); chances are Sony's crypto experts didn't screw up again.
In short, not a whole lot of people are going to benefit from this. Only those who already have hacked PS3s will be able to install upcoming custom firmwares.

The realease of the Lv 0 keys will NOT lead to custom firmwares for new PS3s.

[Khan]

Yup pretty much pointless but if theres one thing I have learned is that where theres a will theres a way and indeed there are some really talented people out there so give it time and who knows what the modders/crackers and experts can pull out of the bag

[Obiwanshinobi]

Aside from Sony panicking and cranking out new fixes, I can't really see how this will negatively affect the the PS3 in any big way, since the current consoles are on their last legs and all that anyway

Are they? When Kutaragi told PS3 was going to be supported for a decade, many cool bros found it funny, but it made sense for me as I didn't have a PS2 yet (the one I finally bought in 2007 is still alive and kicking).
Everybody and their dog knows "next gen" won't be "next" in the last century's meaning. The only thing capable of retiring current gen consoles is their fragility.

[Ji-L87]

Aside from Sony panicking and cranking out new fixes, I can't really see how this will negatively affect the the PS3 in any big way, since the current consoles are on their last legs and all that anyway

Are they? When Kutaragi told PS3 was going to be supported for a decade, many cool bros found it funny, but it made sense for me as I didn't have a PS2 yet (the one I finally bought in 2007 is still alive and kicking).
Everybody and their dog knows "next gen" won't be "next" in the last century's meaning. The only thing capable of retiring current gen consoles is their fragility.

Well, I'm not sure if I understand your reply correctly but, I'm fairly sure the PS4 and Xbox 720/Durango will be along shortly. Especially since the Wii U is about to hit the scene. Can't imagine Sony & MS will allow Nintendo to be the only kid on the block with a "next gen" system for very long. I'm not having any high hopes for the next generation of consoles and I'm certainly not wishing for the current gen to go away just yet but, really, they've been out for quite some time now and the 360 & PS3 is starting to show their age.

Fragility is one thing, the inability to keep up with the PC is another, very important aspect. Consoles are once again started to get left behind in both the tech used (new versions of direct X, shaders etc) and in actual performance. Sure, competing against computers is fighting a loosing battle, we know that, but we're reaching a point where console games are starting to look bad compared to the same game running on a moderately equipped PC.

[shmuppyLove]

Can't imagine Sony & MS will allow Nintendo to be the only kid on the block with a "next gen" system for very long.

I lol'd.

The WiiU is really just Nintendo catching up to the current gen. I seriously doubt MS and Sony are in the least bit concerned that it's going to eclipse their systems in terms of technology.

It's always problematic comparing PCs and consoles. You'd need to spend a lot more than $300 on a PC to get the level of performance a 360 or PS3 will deliver. In fact even at twice that amount you'd still be hard pressed.

[Obiwanshinobi]

Sony's and Microsoft's console divisions may have pantsful of fear at the moment. I just can't imagine either imagining themselves doing the armaments race anymore. As Nintendo is about to unleash the SNES 2 (better GPU than competition's, more RAM, weaker CPU), for Sony and Microsoft it might be the right time to the 68000 heart on fire. Doom 3: BFG Edition is a hint (I doubt it'll run at 60 fps on the Wii U).

[Ji-L87]

The WiiU is really just Nintendo catching up to the current gen. I seriously doubt MS and Sony are in the least bit concerned that it's going to eclipse their systems in terms of technology.

Might eclipse them in popularity, if nothing else. I'm not sure they'd like that either...

It's always problematic comparing PCs and consoles. You'd need to spend a lot more than $300 on a PC to get the level of performance a 360 or PS3 will deliver. In fact even at twice that amount you'd still be hard pressed.

Maybe I exaggerated a bit, but the performance gap is certainly there. You are right however, the pricing for PCs is different and game consoles delivers great performance for the buck and a direct comparison might seem unfair, but it's certainly more fair now than ever. Consoles have come a long way.

[Jonathan Ingram]

It's always problematic comparing PCs and consoles. You'd need to spend a lot more than $300 on a PC to get the level of performance a 360 or PS3 will deliver. In fact even at twice that amount you'd still be hard pressed.

That`s quite an exaggeration. For $150(or even less) you can assemble a setup that will run circles around the PS3 and 360.

[shmuppyLove]

That`s quite an exaggeration. For $150(or even less) you can assemble a setup that will run circles around the PS3 and 360.

There's no way you could build a PC for $150 that would even come close to 60fps @ 1920x1080 on a modern title. At least not in this part of the world.

Heck if I was building even a mid-range gaming PC, I wouldn't spend less than $150 just for the video card. A good CPU and a good motherboard will cost about the same each, so there's $450 already.

[Ex-Cyber]

chances are Sony's crypto experts didn't screw up again.

Would those be any of the same "crypto experts" who repeatedly reused a nonce parameter when generating signatures (allowing their private key to be recovered), encrypted user-provided files with the same key as system files (allowing an oracle attack on the disk/filesystem encryption), and stored PSN customer account information in plaintext (allowing people to steal it)? Yeah, I'm sure those guys have everything buttoned up this time.

The realease of the Lv 0 keys will NOT lead to custom firmwares for new PS3s.

Certainly not immediately, but AFAIK it could lead to exploits being found in the new uber-lv0.

As for the low-end gaming box, I think it's possible to scrape together a complete E-350 system for $150 (think discounted Foxconn barebone + 4GB of cheap RAM + ~16GB of cheap flash media). That would probably at least run some modern games, albeit not very well.

[Friendly]

chances are Sony's crypto experts didn't screw up again.

Would those be any of the same "crypto experts" who repeatedly reused a nonce parameter when generating signatures (allowing their private key to be recovered), encrypted user-provided files with the same key as system files (allowing an oracle attack on the disk/filesystem encryption), and stored PSN customer account information in plaintext (allowing people to steal it)? Yeah, I'm sure those guys have everything buttoned up this time.

The realease of the Lv 0 keys will NOT lead to custom firmwares for new PS3s.

Certainly not immediately, but AFAIK it could lead to exploits being found in the new uber-lv0.

No offense, but you have no idea what you are talking about (on both counts, the re-securing of PS3 by altering the chain of trust and using a new bootldr (which was successful; PS3s built in the past 2 years are effectively unhackable) and Lv0 leading to a decryption of them (which it won't; Lv0 is one security layer BELOW bootldr)).

[Jonathan Ingram]

There's no way you could build a PC for $150 that would even come close to 60fps @ 1920x1080 on a modern title. At least not in this part of the world.

Who said anything about 60fps at 1920x1080? Most PS3 and Xbox 360 games struggle to produce 30fps at sub-HD resolutions with no AA. I would say any PC setup that can maintain stable 30fps at 720p with some AA thrown in can be regarded as "running circles" around PS3 and 360.

I`m typing this using Athlon II X3 2,7Ghz(OC`d to 3,4Ghz) with Radeon 4850 and 3 gigs of RAM which I bought in 2009 for about $600. With this setup I get around 53fps in Resident Evil 5`s benchmark at 1280x1024(I have a 19" CRT), 4xMSAA and all other settings maxed out. I doubt it would cost more than $150 to put together a setup like this these days.

[Eaglet]

Decryption ain't shit but a bunch of dicks.
Encryption's where it's at.

[Overkill]

I think Sony is allready used/accustomed to piracy. Since PS1 that mod chips and other workarounds are used to play backups. PSP and PS3 a few time after have been cracked too. I remember Sony stating that the PS2 was not officialy released in Brazil at the world launch because of the 99% PS1 piracy in the country. It's a big industry, but if developers/retailers don't the see money return, the companys will start to close down. In my side im a little sad with the PS3. Before the launch, PS3 was like a incredible machine capable of anything, but soon after the release people stated that the games were no better than its direct competitor xbox 360, launched a long time before. I remember the creator of Metal Gear solid series, Hideo Kojima saying at the Metal Gear solid 4 launch, that he have believed in a more powerfull machine and have to surrender to his limitations. Im sad because Sony just gived up on backwards compatibily for ps2 titles, im sad because majority of the games are 720p. I don't know if 150$ is enought to build a good PC for games, but i think any average gamer pc will have better AV results than PS3, or xbox 360. BUT GT4, Killzone, uncharted, god of war, etc are not in PC, and on the xbox 360 side: Forza, Gears of War, etc are not on PC either. So i will continue with my PS3, my xbox 360 and my PC On the piracy side... i think people who allways have buyed games will continue to do it, and people who never buyed will continue on the piracy.

PS: Sorry for my bad English

[Ex-Cyber]

the re-securing of PS3 by altering the chain of trust and using a new bootldr (which was successful; PS3s built in the past 2 years are effectively unhackable)

At the level of the per-unit stuff, yes, obviously. Of course, I never claimed that's what would be hacked.

and Lv0 leading to a decryption of them (which it won't; Lv0 is one security layer BELOW bootldr)).

And I never even came withing yodeling distance of claiming this; maybe you should stick to what I wrote instead of putting words in my mouth.