MIT grad student hacks into Xbox security system

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Soybomb

Diamond Member
Jun 30, 2000
9,506
2
81
Did I hear talk about breaking encryption? Don't make me bring the all sorts of DMCA stuff in here!! This could just lead to evil revese engineering of the X-Box. Its a shame poor IBM didn't have protection for their BIOS when Phoenix reverse engineered it........
 

Passions

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2000
6,855
3
0
I am sure MS lawyers are all over this way long ago. He could be in alot of trouble, if he releases that hack.
 

rbhawcroft

Senior member
May 16, 2002
897
0
0
siliconvalley.com wrote:

Microsoft to MIT grad student: You've made me angry, very angry indeed:
An MIT grad student claims to have cracked the security systems tha
t prevent Microsoft's Xbox gaming console from running unauthorized
software. In a recently published white paper, MIT student Andrew Huang
described how anyone with $50 and some free time can circumvent the
Xbox's security precautions and run original code on the console. As one
would expect, Microsoft was a bit displeased with Huang's efforts. "We
completely support pursuits worthy of both Ph.D. candidacy and academic
publication," the company said in a statement. "And while reverse
engineering
of game consoles is not a new phenomenon, neither is the fact that we will
vigorously prosecute to the fullest extent of the law anyone who tries to
modify
their system for the purpose of violating our partners' intellectual
property
or that of Microsoft's."
http://www.siliconvalley.com/mld/siliconvalley/business/special_packages/sec
urity/3392662.htm
http://web.mit.edu/bunnie/www/proj/anatak/AIM-2002-008.pdf
http://web.mit.edu/bunnie/www/proj/anatak/xboxmod.html
http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/3/25568.html
http://news.com.com/2100-1040-931296.html?tag=fd_top

 

etalns

Diamond Member
Dec 20, 2001
6,513
1
0
I hope it never does personally, it could create a negative visible effect on the end-consumer PC market.
 

rbhawcroft

Senior member
May 16, 2002
897
0
0
if you could boot linux onto it, then surely couldnt you use it as a cheap web server or lan server/ media server, via the ethernet connecton?
 

milagro

Golden Member
Jun 19, 2001
1,459
0
0
Originally posted by: Qosis
I hope it never does personally, it could create a negative visible effect on the end-consumer PC market.

Care to explain how? I can't see this being negative to the end-consumer in any way possible...unless cheaper/open source is perceived as bad...am I missing something?
 

rbhawcroft

Senior member
May 16, 2002
897
0
0
Originally posted by: Soybomb
Did I hear talk about breaking encryption? Don't make me bring the all sorts of DMCA stuff in here!! This could just lead to evil revese engineering of the X-Box. Its a shame poor IBM didn't have protection for their BIOS when Phoenix reverse engineered it........

whats the problem with adding your own hardware to the xbox? and with using 'non-intended' legally held code and software?
 

BD2003

Lifer
Oct 9, 1999
16,815
1
81
I guess he's assuming that everyone will go out and buy xboxes instead of PCs.

I doubt it, because 99% of people wont know how to do this, nor would they care. Only for us geeks.
 

dude

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 1999
3,192
0
71
I wouldn't mind if the Xbox was the hub between my living room and my bedroom computer. Imagine, cheaply streaming MP3s to your living room, playing divx movies, gaming, pc gaming (solitare anyone?), and some minor web browsing. It's a great idea. :D
 

gregor7777

Platinum Member
Nov 16, 2001
2,758
0
71
Originally posted by: BD2003
I guess he's assuming that everyone will go out and buy xboxes instead of PCs.

I doubt it, because 99% of people wont know how to do this, nor would they care. Only for us geeks.

Yeah, but there is a lot of us "geeks" out there. Hell, I can think of a sh!tload of products that wouldn't exist if it weren't for us geeks.

 

Skyclad1uhm1

Lifer
Aug 10, 2001
11,383
87
91
Originally posted by: gregor7777
Originally posted by: BD2003
I guess he's assuming that everyone will go out and buy xboxes instead of PCs.

I doubt it, because 99% of people wont know how to do this, nor would they care. Only for us geeks.

Yeah, but there is a lot of us "geeks" out there. Hell, I can think of a sh!tload of products that wouldn't exist if it weren't for us geeks.
Besides, we mod away for all our family as well. Half the people here would try that as a pickup line: 'Shall I put my modchip in your X-Box?'