RSSMicrosoft Fights Against Xbox Hacks
By the Betanews Staff | Published March 6, 2007, 1:15 PM
Microsoft has fired back against hackers who had broke into the Xbox 360 console to run their own code by masking a patch to disable such activity within a system update billed as a fix to the console's online systems. As with most fixes, a user is signed out of Xbox Live and prevented from signing back in until the update is applied, making its installation almost mandatory.
The patch comes after it was discovered in late February the console had a vulnerability that allowed privilege escalation into hypervisor mode. Such an issue would allow attackers -- or creative users -- to run arbitrary code or alternative operating systems. Although no one has yet been successful in running anything of consequence, a "hello world" script program was posted on the Xbox Scene Web site late last week.
Warning: bobthegoat2001 doesn't recommend, endorse or encourage Xbox hacking. Read my comment at your own risk!
If you really wanted to hack your Xbox, you probably shouldn't connect it to online. But if you really wanted to still have the online you should get two Xbox's. One for online and one for hacking.
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|I have no problem with this. Running home brew also opens the door to piracy. Pricay is flat out wrong. How many people and companies did Sony sue to stop theft!
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|Which is why the clever solution is the Sony solution, allow other OS, (linux or other operating systems), but restrict the level of access. Just enough to for Homebrew (emulators runs fine), but not enough to allow piracy or professional homebrew.
I would suspect that the hypervisior restrictions on the RSX will eventually be lifted, or someon will write OpenGL API that runs on the Cell SPE, that updates the RTX frambuffer, allowing software 3D.
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|If you want to play homebrew, just get a PS3, does homebrew perfectly, without the need to resort to hacks or backdoors that get blocked..
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|hacks are not illegal just immoral.
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|Hacking your own XBox is not illegal if you are not stealing online time or hacking into other peoples accounts or consoles. Nor is it immoral. It just voids your warranty. :)
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|Cant stop the bum rush MS, so why try? You are just pissing off your end users...
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|lmao..
People will steal, so why try to stop them.
People will kill, so why try to stop them.
Go jump off a bridge.
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|well really, whats wrong if someone wants to run linux on their xbox 360? i dont see why ms gets their panties in a twist, its not like they could steal xbox live usage without authentication anyway so they arent going to do much.
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|well really, whats wrong if someone wants to run linux on their xbox 360?
Well, nothing, IMO. I'm sure someone will figure it out and disable the live update.
I've no problem with this. My response was in regards to his "special" use of logic, not the act of hacking an Xbox.
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|You know, the thing I like most about consoles is the inability to cheat, relative to PC games. Hopefully this stays true.
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|it's such a niche group that is doing this, why bother with them??? M$ has the other 9 million 900 thousands sheeple that they can count on for not hacking their consoles. M$, just give it up. Your Vista has been hacked with someone releasing a OEM BIOS hack that permanently activates Vista to look like a OEM version.. Hacking community wins again.. so pissoff M$...
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|Are you the lawyer who tried to ban MS from releasing software unless it's perfect? It software, it will will get hack. The matter is when. And this OEM hack does not works with every computer.
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|This OEM hack has worked on every computer I have vista installed. Hackers will always prevail against M$
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|oh? tell that to the hackers in prison or broke from fines.....
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|Hackers, crackers, and reverse engineers are a huge part of the software development community. There is a difference between people that are doing it for malicious reasons, and people who try to uncover holes for fun or to let the developers know there's a loophole in their software.
Most zero-day exploits that are found are immediately posted in public forums and on public sites. A lot of good "hackers" will even post how they could fix the problem(s).
MS isn't worried about people that hack their XBoxes, they are worried about people that are modifying it to the point where it makes it unfair for other people that are playing online.
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|Maybe they (MS) needs to stand back and try to recognize the reasons for which these "hackers" are hacking their product. That might lead to some "real" fixes.
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|Na. they know how it works. its called competitions and also provides learning from each end. its kinda light light vs dark. good and evil. you know it even works the other way around. when you make something say, idiot proof. they just come out with a better idiot right?
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|Maybe they (MS) needs to stand back and try to recognize the reasons for which these "hackers" are hacking their product.
Oh thats an easy one it's so that people don't hack them and sell them for slightly higher but more profitable price because the harddrive is full of ripped games.
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|i would like you to know, here in america, we produce a superior grade of idiot. exapmle of said idiots in action is matrix up there, being the 733t hacker he is, seeing how i bet he doesnt even come up with, or understand how the hacks he is using. Hell i bet he can't even program vb.
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