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Considered the Mt Everest of hacking, the PlayStation 3 has reportedly been broken by a USB Jailbreak dongle produced in Australia.

We will find out for sure when we get our hands on one in a week or two, but supposedly, using a USB dongle as the delivery mechanism available from Australian company OzModChips.com, has broken into the PlayStation 3 operating system. All for AU$170!

The idea is to allow users to dump copies (or ‘back ups’ if you will) of PS3 games onto the hard drive and get them to run as if a legitimate Blu-ray version of the software was in the drive.

Known as PS Jailbreak, the software installs quickly off the USB dongle and according to the device’s website “disables forced software updates and will never brick your console.” This also means, Sony will find it hard to force a work around for the device directly.

Indirectly however, a system such as the one Nintendo uses on the Wii, may included a compulsory firmware upgrade on future game release discs.

PS Jailbreak only works for games – not Blu-ray or DVD movies - and reportedly opens the console up as a platform for homebrew applications – software not authorised by Sony for the PS3. A similar situation has dogged the PlayStation Portable hand-held system since its inception.

According to the creators: “PS Jailbreak is a USB plug and play solution that installs in seconds, keeping your valid warranty seal in tact.

Easy to use installer and GUI takes you step by step.

Compatible with all production models FAT and SLIM. Supports all regions: USA, JAP, PAL and KOREA”

http://www.ozmodchips.com/ps-jailbreak-worlds-first-ps3-modchip-plug-and-play-p-68.html

I was looking at this the other day. I saw the video from that bloke in Adelaide.

They're gonna charge the price of like 3 or 4 games for the dongle, and its not known for sure whether or not it will work after the next PS3 software update. So in other words, Sony could release an update next week that'll stop it from working.

I beleive it only costs $AU180. Thats the price of two games. From what I read the update can only stop the playing of games released from now on.

It'll be interesting to see how it goes anyway.

There was a hack before that was done through the "Install other OS" part, but Sony updated the software and just totally got rid of that option. If they can identify what the vulnerability is here, you can be guaranteed they'll have it updated within a week, and it'll probably be like the Wii, where the games come with the update on the disc that will force you to update or else the game wont play! Although in saying that, my Wii runs everything off a USB hard drive and the program to play them automatically blocks the disc updates!

I wonder is it possible for Sony to detect whos playing this online and ban them, like Microsoft do on the XBOX360?

Heres another article. It seems Sony Australia have managed to temporarily block the sale of these USB dongles until the end of the month.



Yesterday, Sony Computer Entertainment Australia was granted a temporary injunction by the nation's Federal Court to block the importation and sale of the new PS3 modchips.

The injunction means that until August 31, none of the modchip's Australian distributors will be able to import, sell or otherwise offload the devices. What's more, they have to take all the stock they already have and leave them with Sony's solicitors until the August 31 deadline passes.

Sony has from now until August 31 to convince the courts that the injunction becomes a more permanent arrangement (temporary injunctions are designed to maintain the "status quo" until a matter can be settled). If they succeed, it'll mean the end of legal sales of the device in Australia, but if they fail, then once September 1 rolls around the chips will be able to go on sale.

This is an interesting development, since a 2005 Supreme Court ruling determined that the sale of modchips was legal in Australia (though Nintendo was recently successful in banning the R4). We've contacted Sony to see how they managed to get around this, and will update if we hear back.

Illegal doesn't mean they are not readily available... I have got one for my DS. They are illegal to be sold with games. Pretty similar with like radar detectors, you can buy them legally but it is illegal to use.

It seems this is starting to take off. And with free open source software, not the illegal Sony copyrighted software!

The first one is for the Nokia N900:
http://downloads.exophase.com/689/psfreedom-for-n900/

and then a new one for the Palm Pre:
http://exophase.com/ps3/usb-based-psfre ... -18029.htm

Looks like its only a matter of time before this goes mainstream! maybe the iPhone is next??

Yup! The iPhone is now usable to hack the PS3!

This is interesting, what happens?

The editor notes that article was well written