Why Can't You Hack Your PS3?

Share

The PlayStation 3 (a.k.a. PS3) console was launched by Sony Computer Entertainment in November 2006 as a successor to PS2 as a part of their PlayStation series. Today it’s one of the best consoles available, and competes with Xbox 360 (Microsoft), Wii (Nitendo) etc.

Being a part of the “7th Gen” console device, PS3 has some excellent features. Along with those features, they provide a ‘PlayStation Store’ which has latest digital content such as game add-ons, trailers, themes and game demos. While providing game demos, Sony also made sure that hackers would stay away from this console. That means you cannot just burn a DVD or Blu-ray illegally and play it like an original game disk. Along with the piracy, Sony’s protection cannot be cracked to run backup disks, homebrew content or your own software. Below are the reasons why you can’t do all this:

1) Boot-up protection:
While a PS3 boots up, it goes through such a security check which hasn’t been seen ever on any console. Sony is intelligent enough to encrypt it’s hard disk. Every hard disk is coded to work with a specific PS3 only. When it verifies that the hard disk is genuine, it looks around for boot-up files. These files are hidden in the PS3’s encrypted file system, which is not accessible from outside. Only when these files are verified, the PS3 will start to boot. Even while it boots up, the boot and DRM files are checked for any intentional changes. After the PS3 boots up, the filesystem is closed and cannot be accessed from anywhere on/away from the console.
Even if you mess around with those files in the filesystem of PS3, it will simply tell the console that the files are “corrupt” and the console needs a restore. Hence there is no way to change/play around with those files which it uses to boot up. Also its extremely difficult to find out which files exactly are checked. Hence it is very very hard to get your own code to run beyond the boot up itself.

2) The 7th Cell:
One might think if this has something got to do with PS3 being the 7th Gen console. Coincidence, it might be, but this has a huge effect on the overall security. PS3 boasts a 7-cell technology that runs inside the beautiful black plastic body of it. But strangely, one can access only the 6 cells, and the 7th cell denies access to everyone. Even the game developers are not allowed to access this cell.
This cell is used entirely for protection purposes during the boot up when it passes the encryptions, when it verifies the Hard disk and when PS3’s OS actually runs. All sorts of security encryptions are locked and only this 7th cell has a key. You can’t access it means you can’t break the security.



3) Blu-ray encryption:
Even if some hacker, with all his modding and coding capabilities, bypasses the boot, HDD and safely encrypted filesystem by the 7th cell, its still not possible for him to crack an even harder protection… The Blu-ray disk encryption.
Since you are reading Techyyz, you must be aware what a Blu-ray disk is. A Blu-ray disk or BD-ROM has an excellent 128-bit encryption hidden within the disk itself. This encryption can only be cracked and read by a special Blu-ray lens. Even if the encryption is broken and code is bypassed by a hacker, you won’t be able to load the BD-ROM because it still has an internal set of files which make sure the disk is legitimate.
Now see from the viewpoint of a hacker- a Blu-ray disk is very costly, and retries cannot be done. Even if the code is bypassed, the BD-R filesystem has its own encryption to crack. Hence it is virtually impossible to load a non-legit Blu-ray game or movie disk in PS3.

4) PSN registration:
Sony has released PSN (PlayStation Network) for 2 reasons. One, to enable users to play multiplayer games online. Two, to facilitate the registration of each and every PS3 which logs into the PS Network. Hence, as soon as you register your device with PSN, your firmware, device ID, IP address and other information is logged with Sony. Having a hacked or custom firmware can ban you permanently from PSN. Imagine a PS3 without its online multiplayer capabilities, or without the PlayStation Store. Lastly, the 7th cell might have a trigger system that, if some hacks are found, could disable your console itself from being used unless you remove the hacks. Remember what happened to the chipped Xbox users on the Xbox Live? Same could happen if at all someone bypasses everything above.

5) Removal of OtherOS:

Sony had given a feature called OtherOS, which enabled consumers to load Linux system on your console and use it, similar to a Linux PC. But Linux means a terminal, and terminal means commands for a hacker. Linux was a possibility to enter into the PS3’s filesystem according to some well-known hackers. Even then, Sony had kept the GameOS (The XMB menu) and OtherOS filesystems entirely different and inaccessible from each other. Means when you’re in GameOS, you can’t access Linux filesystem, and vice-versa. This eliminated the possibility to run loaders and .iso backups of BD-R games. Also any remote possibility

to run homebrew content and code was eliminated.Even if it was so much encrypted, Sony feared that someone might crack a way between the 2 filesystems. Hence, they removed this feature later in latest models and newer software upgrades.

6) Warranty Status:
If anytime they find out any tempering with hardware of PS3, being opened or rigged with anything or even the software being non-genuine (the firmware or the OS), they will void your warranty. This means no more service from Sony, like repairs or upgrades. This is a major step Sony took to keep itty-bitty modders away from PS3 hacking.


7) Software Upgrade:
Last and most important step Sony took to curb any hacker cracking all the systems and encryptions is software upgrades. As soon as Sony finds out about anything bypassed on their console(s), they immediately issue a software upgrade to patch that loophole, making it impossible to breach it again in the same place. They have made it compulsory to upgrade the software if you haven’t, before you enter into PSN or login to PlayStation Store or install/play certain games released after that upgrade. Hence, to retain any loophole, you must keep your PS3 away from internet. Also, even if you crack the encryptions, you won’t be able to run anything unless you upgrade, and if you upgrade, all your hacks are gone!

All the above summed up means that you can’t decrypt: the boot-up process, the Hard disk, 7th cell, or PSN. Also you can’t use Linux anymore to try to hack into it. Finally, Software upgrades make it sure your hacks won’t stay on the device. This is what it makes PS3 almost impossible to hack.




Now comes a further question: Would we be seeing someone successfully hacking the PS3 one day? And the answer is in the hands of some of the most brilliant crackers out there, and of course, it’d depend upon how Sony defends them.
Sony, thus wants to suggest people not to try hacking it, and enjoy using the PS3 with it’s amazing built-in features. And yeah, the PlayStation 3 is so great, that anyone affording to spend it would enjoy it to the fullest. Free software upgrades promise more is coming to you, the legal way.
Why hack? Stay Legal. Enjoy the Game.

--Author: Hrushikesh Ghatpande.

--About the author: a complete gadget freak, loves to research and write on various technology-oriented chapters regarding gadgets, devices and operating systems. Likes to hack devices and operating systems ethically.

Note: The same post may appear on one more blog called "Techyyz". Author reserves the right for the reproduction, posting and linking of material from this blog post on any other website except mentioned. Take permission of author before re-posting this article.