cracking the ps3

January 24, 2010 5:36 AM

George Hotz started a blog chronicling his journey to a software-only PS3 crack. Despite tackling a platform that has held strong for three years, Hotz claimed to have gained read/write access to all system memory after five weeks. Although the PS3 actually ships with Linux support, these cracks circumvent the hypervisor that place strict restrictions on low-level hardware access. You may know Hotz as the geohot who released first hardware iPhone jailbreak, added a software-only jailbreak for all iPhones and iPod Touches, and won multiple awards (pdf) at ISEF 2007 for building a working holographic display system while a senior in high school.

And if I may offer the hive mind a discussion question without making MeFi a personal soapbox, let me explain that I wrote this because I think the discussion of piracy is some combination of "screwing the devs and the artists, IP theft, you have no right!" and "crippling DRM, Big Music stealing my money, fight the man!". Neither camp is particularly persuasive, and even the commentaries that strike a reasonable middle ground omit what I consider an important and fascinating aspect of cracking: the fact that it challenges some of our brightest minds to do great things in a wonderfully (if often dysfunctionally) meritocratic environment, and often results in de facto collaborations that surpass what either OEM or cracker could achieve alone. Thoughts?

Oh, and disclosure: I met George Hotz. He might even remember I exist. I promise this does not violate jessamyn's smell test.

posted by d. z. wang (13 comments total)

There's an interesting video about cracking the hardware security on the Xbox 360. The level of security, and the holes they found and exploited are pretty insane. One thing that they said was that the main motivation to install crack the hardware is to get Linux running on it. Since the PS3 ran Linux out of the box, hackers were less interested in trying to get it running on the platform, and that people interested in pirating games weren't as motivated, or skillful to find their own hacks.

On the other hand, if something is left un-cracked for three years it's got to be a tempting target.
posted by delmoi at 5:45 AM on January 24, 2010

As a PS3 owner, as long as this doesn't end up with cheat codes and mods spread throughout the PSN (the double shotguns are bad enough), this doesn't move me one way or the other. If, say, it improved functionality (.mkv playback and improved codec support), I'd be thrilled. Then again, Sony could enable that, too.

^{Or people could pick a couple decent codecs that have widespread support and use those. I'd appreciate it.}
posted by Ghidorah at 5:56 AM on January 24, 2010

Thoughts?

Next time leave out the [more inside]. Is this FPP about Hotz or your random musings? Note that you spent more words on the latter.
posted by ryanrs at 6:10 AM on January 24, 2010 [3 favorites]

Next time leave out the [more inside]. Is this FPP about Hotz or your random musings? Note that you spent more words on the latter.

Flag. Move on.
posted by delmoi at 6:16 AM on January 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

Hey, he asked.
posted by ryanrs at 6:19 AM on January 24, 2010

ryanrs: "3Next time leave out the [more inside]. Is this FPP about Hotz or your random musings? Note that you spent more words on the latter."

I included the random musings because the mods have just had to deal with a bunch of people asking on the green for help pirating software, and I wanted to be clear that, even though Hotz's success will certainly enable piracy, this was not written to glorify piracy. (Or to get myself banned once some diligent Mefite figures out that I know the guy.)

Also, I would argue that my verbosity after the jump indicates that I put more effort into the front-page part.

ryanrs: "Hey, he asked."

Yeah, I did, and I actually appreciate that ryanrs wrote what he did. This is my first FPP, and I will remember what he said for next time.
posted by d. z. wang at 6:24 AM on January 24, 2010

hopefully this will eventually make Linux on the PS3 halfway useful.
posted by TrialByMedia at 6:49 AM on January 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

If, say, it improved functionality (.mkv playback and improved codec support), I'd be thrilled.

TVersity and/or PS3 Media Server? I realize this isn't native support but I've yet to find a media file that one or the other program can't handle. The latter seems better suited to HD content than the former. YMMV.
posted by WolfDaddy at 6:54 AM on January 24, 2010 [1 favorite]

This is an interesting topic. Problem is he didn't actually say how he hacked it :) It will be interesting to see how the hack works when he eventually tells everyone. Assuming he doesn't wake up assassinated by the Yakuza in the interim.
posted by delmoi at 7:16 AM on January 24, 2010

Totally GYOB territory. Discuss amongst yourselves.
posted by fourcheesemac at 7:25 AM on January 24, 2010

Wolfdaddy, thanks. I'd heard about PS3 Media Server from a friend, hadn't heard about TVersity. Will look into it.

Actually, fourcheese, I'm pretty happy to discuss the PS3 here. Just like I'm thrilled if there's a post about cooking, movies, or some of the many things you and I both think are interesting and worthwhile topics for a FPP. Mayhap this isn't one of them for you, but, y'know, there are other posts on the front page. Or, y'know, flag it, and move on.
posted by Ghidorah at 7:34 AM on January 24, 2010

delmoi: Assuming he doesn't wake up assassinated

Now that would be a real hack..
posted by Gyan at 7:36 AM on January 24, 2010

I don't know about you all, but I think this is exciting news.
posted by tybeet at 7:40 AM on January 24, 2010