PlayStation Home hacked, the search for backup exploits begins

Hackers, like life, will find a way. Sony knows that all too well thanks to the PSP, but so far the PlayStation 3 has stood strong in the face of legions of nerds trying to find a way to exploit it. A potentially major breakthrough may have been made, though, as well-known PS3 hacker StreetskaterFU (we've no idea what he's going for with that name -- really) has managed to decrypt the beta client for Sony's PlayStation Home service. Curious devs can now poke around in the files looking for a way to exploit the newish in-game XMB functionality, potentially allowing homebrew apps and game backups without hard drive swapping. There's no guarantee it will lead anywhere in the end, but you don't care either way, right? Our upstanding readership would never participate in such heinously illegal activities.

[Thanks, James]

[digitallysick @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:15PM]

+1 for ps3 users i can't wait

[SOOPERGOOMAN @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:46PM]

Now they will delay HOME again you assholes. Sure it must be nice for your "street Cred" to be a hacker and all but do ya think you could have waited till they released the damn thing to the masses before coming out with an announcement like this. It's fuckin morons like SSFU that have no clue about timing. What a fucking moron. I have a PS3 and every time a sort of hack comes out for the ps3 they delay HOME. Thanks dude, thanks alot. Also if you can afford a $500 console. BUY THE FUCKING GAMES! Sheesh.

p.s. get a fuckin headset while you're there.

[digitallysick @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:00PM]

@ SOOPERGOOMAN

Lots of people want homebrew, its not about pirating games. Maybe you would like to backup games to keep them from being scratched or destroyed , etc

Also i bought a headset , i plugged it in and put it in a drawer so i don't have to mute everyone all the time =)

[phanbouy @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:57PM]

more spoogman rantings FTL

[Poom @ Oct 24th 2008 12:00AM]

@phanbouy: SOOPERGOOMAN has a point... The timing is very bad. Now they'd have to fix the hole that allows the hack, which will probably delay Home as well as forcing hackers to find a new way in the final release.

[Temple @ Oct 24th 2008 12:09AM]

@digitallysick

The PS3 already allows you to very easily install Linux on the PS3 out of the box. You can create any homebrew application that would run on linux, besides that the PS3 supports BD-J which supports a standard java client, and there are NES, SNES emulators that can run simply off a USB thumbdrive without a hack directly from the XMB.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lbdgxsBk3bI&feature=related

There are many ways to run homebrew apps and Linux on the PS3. The PS3 already supports Divx and DLNA media servers for streaming movies, music, netflix, etc from your PC. Sony has done absolutely nothing to thwart or prevent these 'homebrews' as long as its not used to copy games. These hacking attempts have nothing to do with playing homebrews and more to do with playing copied games.

Let's be honest with ourselves, 99% of 'homebrew' in this context is about piracy.

[kornation @ Oct 24th 2008 1:37AM]

Indeed you can install Linux on the PS3, but they lock out the graphics chip from that system, so you cant use games that are ported (or made to work by followers) on a PS3.

I used to run Ubuntu and was able to play steam games on it, might be possible but bloody hard to do this on a PS3

[Jamesology @ Oct 24th 2008 4:47AM]

I agree with SOOPERGOOMAN too! More delays b/c of stupid loners hackers. I swear, if I was like these hackers, who have never seen a real p*ssy before, I would hack other hackers just to irritate them as they irritate normal people.

[Pepsipoint @ Oct 24th 2008 9:22AM]

Honestly, do you really need home to come out this week? Is like that bad that you need your virtual world to show off your ps3 goodies, play virtual games and hang out with virtual friends? Sheesh. If you're jonesing that bag, get the sims and be done with it already.

[LameDuck @ Oct 24th 2008 1:27PM]

@Temple
While BD-J is a Java ME for Blu-ray, that does not mean that Java apps will run natively from a USB drive, the PS3 HD, or from a burnt Blu-ray disk. It's main use is for menus and simple games. As far as Linux on PS3 goes, it's a load of crap. You can't use the graphics chip and the Cell isn't the easiest thing to program for. Java, flash, or 99.9% of Linux based games and engines won't make use of the Cell.

Sony bragged about an "open system", then gave us a locked down box with Tux the penguin painted it. You can't do anything you want with PS3-Linux, you can't connect any bluetooth device, you can't even pay a small price for the chance to dev for it. Sony needs to loosen the reigns a little bit on homebrew.

[Anthony @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:15PM]

its only a matter of time... till i can steal you furniture muahahah


;]

[KarlW @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:32PM]

Let's hope it's tasteful. The only thing worse than getting your furniture taken is getting some of it returned.

(shameless steal from Dilbert)

[Dave Chappelle @ Oct 24th 2008 1:28AM]

AND GROW A HUGE D....


and no lol not trying to make up for anything in the real world.

[l3it3r @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:18PM]

Damn.. thought you had mentioned either Warhawk or Little Big Planet...

Home? yawn... Homebrew is cool, but the SECOND that sony releases and update thats worth a damn, you'll be back to having to use a new HDD and linux.

[iEye @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:17PM]

"heinously illegal activities" ?

I thought is was general consensus that if you bought it, you have the right to;

-Unlock it
-Jailbreak it
-Mod it
-HACK IT
-smash it
-Blend it
-Microwave it
-restore it

[Cody @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:19PM]

I think the homebrew itself isn't illegal (Sony just doesn't like it). Although homebrew will eventually lead to the ability to backup games which can be illegal if you don't own the game.

[Poom @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:24PM]

wow... an iEye post without "Apple" in it and is also not stupid.

[Will H. @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:50PM]

I don't think that this kind of activity is illegal, and I don't think it's productive that Engadget, though sarcastically, is perpetuating the notion that the end to this kind of activity is illegal piracy.

[tom @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:12PM]

tipping my hat to iEye.

[iLive @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:28PM]

i believe you also have the right to blend it...?

[Pudge @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:42PM]

This will be useful, if Home ever comes out...

BTW, The NXE comes out Nov. 19. I'm just sayin.

[Cody @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:18PM]

I don't have a ps3 yet so i can't exactly use homebrew at the moment anyways. I refuse to pledge my allegiance to any console. I just buy whichever I personally think has the best games. Which at the moment imho is the 360. With that being said i can't wait to see what ps3 homebrew will look like. If the PSP homebrew shows anything, it's that the homebrewers have topped Sony's every move with better features, once again imo.

On a side note it's kinda ironic that Home was hacked for homebrew, if you catch the horrible pun. :)

[waiownsyou @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:20PM]

Then why do you bother posting?

Oh look at me, I can't afford something or don't want something because of my belief of brand loyalty, therefore, I shall state my reasons to the world why I didn't get it! HAHA, I WAS RIGHT AFTER ALL! WEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!

[Cody @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:28PM]

Ok waiownsyou no offense but your comment doesn't make any sense, to me anyways. I never said anything about "brand loyalty" I have every intention of getting a PS3. It's just that I wanted to get a 360 and a Wii first, which I have both now. The reason why i don't get it is I only like a couple of games, one of which is Resistance. So no you weren't right.

BTW no I personally cannot afford it (or any other console or game) since I'm only 16 and I don't have a job yet. All my money comes from my parents and doing things like mowing the yard. So yeah I can't afford it...doesn't mean i won't get it though.

[fanthem @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:30PM]

@ waiownsyou.

It's called having an opinion. What's worse is when someone replies to complain about someone else's post.

Tool.

[Cody @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:30PM]

Correction to my previous comment, I meant to say "The reason why i haven't got it" not "The reason why i don't get it" sorry about that. :-)

[phanbouy @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:00PM]

engadgetownswai

[Arizen @ Jan 3rd 2009 12:04PM]

Hack, home-brew, whatever your bag might be- it's your hard-earned money and precious time on the line, times however many replicas of the system are spat out of the assembly line, minus the cost of the gears and gadgets that go into them. I guarantee you these executives and pet-genius wonder-boy's lives are better now. Improve on an existing concept if you can and don't starve. Fuck authority, and fuck the majority. I'm sorry, but there's no other way to say it. The issue is no bigger than bread and cheese, money means nothing since you can't eat it. Everything else is a luxury, and you should be happy if you are safe and warm. Sit there and hack. Every time you come up with something better than Sony, you give them a reason to improve their basic product and reconsider if the lowest common denominator is a significant enough prime. Justice is getting what you deserve. When you are being shorted or cheated by ignorance, violence, apathy or any other byproduct of corporate greed, it is your right and obligation to follow suit. Be the better person. The institution is in place to take greatest advantage. Sure, these programmers have to eat- but their passion is games, and so is yours. The only difference is that they come from privilege and strive to maintain an unfair status quo. Power to the people. I thought this was a democracy. Don't be fooled.

[Steve @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:18PM]

Only till they realize that Home doesn't have in-game XMB.

[Cody @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:21PM]

I'd much rather see some backstreet black market type place in Home than I would just another icon on the XMB. I can see it now Home people with trench coats on hiding in alleys trying to avoid the Home police. Maybe I've just watched too much tv...

[Ayle @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:19PM]

I think you put way too much faith in your readership...

[Skyride @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:29PM]

Sony = Proprietry = FAIL

Sony, FYI, your idiots. The more proprietry you make something, the more people you have trying to crack it :)

I have a PS3 but it will soon be hitting that electronic garage sale. Ive seen the light and it involves a shiny new card in that big PC tower of mines (preferably one with a green logo and GTX 260 written on it). :)

Hats off to StreetskaterFU for giving sony some of their own medicine.

[Technex @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:40PM]

+1

[Neebs @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:50PM]

>your idiots
>your
>idiots

[BJ is Gooder @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:54PM]

I think you meant to correct him with YOU'RE...

So your both idiots.

[AutumnBringer @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:57PM]

I know it's real popular to hate on Sony these days, but how is a PS3 more proprietary than any other console? Theme creation and hard drive swapping can be done without any money going to them. Is it proprietary because they don't let you play "backup copies" (yeah ... backup ... sure) of games?

[o29 @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:59PM]

I always find great irony in phrases like "your idiots."

[o29 @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:01PM]

I guess I need to reply faster in the future so I don't end up beating a dead horse.

[MrNuclear @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:03PM]

BJ, now you're the idiot.

A tip for people who don't know the difference between 'your' and 'you're'. When you're typing and you come to a point where you have to type 'your/you're', type 'you are'. If the sentence doesn't make sense, change it to 'your'.

You are readers will thank you.

[gonintendo @ Oct 23rd 2008 9:14PM]

@o29
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5wHl6Xb7jw
Guns N' Roses - Dead Horse

[Charles @ Oct 23rd 2008 10:07PM]

The PS3 is a very open platform, especially when you compare it to the Xbox 360.

Controller Interface
PS3: Bluetooth – anyone can make peripherals licence free
Xbox 360: Proprietary – peripheral makers must pay a licence fee to MS

Hard disk
PS3: Standard 2.5inch drive – use any hard disk you want
Xbox 360: Proprietary – only Microsoft’s obscenely priced drives can be used

Online Network:
PS3: Open – developers can implement the network code as they wish allowing things like cross platform play and game mods
Xbox 360: Proprietary – no cross platform play possible and mods must be released through Xbox Live hence the lack of Unreal Tournament mods

USB
PS3: Open, plug in any keyboard or mouse and it will work fine
Xbox 360: Standard USB keyboards and mice won’t work so you have to buy the controller keypad add on

WiFi
PS3: Built in
Xbox 360: Proprietary add on – Microsoft have made sure only the official USB WiFi adapter can be used allowing them to charge ten times the price of a standard WiFi adapter.

Operating System
PS3: Option to install Linux and use the PS3 as a computer
Xbox 360: Installation of operating systems not allowed

[ipubs bastard child @ Oct 24th 2008 7:09AM]

@Charles

Good post but one error i'm aware of. You can plug in a standard USB keyboard into a 360. I've been using it for MSN for sometime. You can also navigate with it. What is infuriating though, is that the media center keyboard doesnt work with the 360 when it uses the same IR interface as the remote. I believe you can use certain wireless keyboards too but you only get 1 usb port.. what you gonna do?

[Nomi @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:32PM]

You know...even though I have hacked my PSP to shit and torrented a bajillion game, I don't have the guts to put my PS3 through all that. Hate it when hax come out that let you run backup games...I just can't justify buying them anymore.

[KAIKAI @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:37PM]

u 2 huh ?

[ethana2 @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:33PM]

weed37 came into the #ubuntu-ps3 channel all excited about this. I hope it gives us a way to get into the RSX.

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:43PM]

Please take your IRC back to 1996, from whence you came.

[ethana2 @ Oct 23rd 2008 8:02PM]

..and replace it with what? Forums? Pssh, no.
IRC FTW

[Ethan @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:39PM]

Seriously, if all I was seeing was the title I'd just think it was a rubbish computer model for a new block of flats.

[Ethan @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:39PM]

And by title I mean... image?

[Lowest Ranked @ Oct 23rd 2008 7:44PM]

People who live in glass Homes...