Sony Playstation Portable
A description of the latest hack has been posted online

Gamers crack Sony PSP software again

Hunger for home-brew apps drives users to alter gaming device

Tom Sanders in California

Crackers claim to have found a new vulnerability in the software running Sony's Playstation Portable (PSP) that could allow them to run so-called home-brew applications on the device.

A user by the name of 'butterballer360' posted a description of the hack, as well as files that help users perform it, on the PSP3d.com enthusiast website. 

Advertisement

The vulnerability will allow users to modify the portable gaming device to allow the installation of a different version of the firmware.

The crackers are currently working on the software required to perform that task, according to postings on the PSP3d website.

Current models of the PSP ship with firmware version 2.5, but some users prefer to run the older version 1.5 because this allows them to run the home-brew applications.

Such applications allow users to add functionalities to the portable device, letting it display text files, for instance, or play streaming music from the internet. 

Starting with version 2.0 of the firmware, Sony has blocked users from installing custom applications. The move set off a game of cat and mouse where crackers hacked the software and downgraded it to the 1.5 version.

When Sony upgraded to version 2.5, it once again blocked the hack that was used to downgrade the application. Sony could not confirm the latest crack described on the PSP3d website.

"The demand and excitement for PSP has been very strong, and in turn consumers have already found many uses for PSP," a spokesman for Sony's gaming division told vnunet.com

"However, PSP contains robust technology and was designed to run specific applications via the Universal Media Disc or memory card.

"Consumers should be aware that any hacking or home-brew applications may cause damage to the PSP unit and may void the warranty."

Programming vandals have already tried to capitalise on the urge to crack the application. Several Trojans are floating around online that promise to change the firmware but in reality render the device unbootable.

  • Have your say
  • Send to a friend
  • Print
  • Digg
  • Reddit
  • Share

Tags:

Do you agree?

Further reading

Sony blocks PSP imports

The grey goose that lays the golden eggs

Sony unhappy over PSP porn

Electronics giant unable to stop 'undesirable' content

Sony plays for PSP sales boom

Latest games console sells 185,000 units in three days

First Sony PSP Trojan rears ugly head

Hacking tool will break portable gaming device

Related whitepapers

Related jobs

Most watched

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

Xperia X1

Video Review: Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

First Looks Editor Ian Williams gets hands on with the Sony Ericsson Xperia X1

IT white papers

Search white papers

Top categories

Poll

Poll: Summer smartphones

Poll: Summer smartphones

Which smartphone will you be taking to the beach this summer?

View poll results

Advertisement

Advertisement

Newsletter signup

Sign up for our range of FREE newsletters:

Existing User

Newsletter user login:

Enter email address to edit your newsletter preferences

Job of the week

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Hiring now on ComputingCareers:

Related IT jobs

Search thousands of IT jobs :

Search thousands of IT jobs:

Advanced search

Spotlight

iPhone

Video Review: iPhone 3GS

We put Apple's latest iPhone through its paces

old computer

Government honours veterans of Bletchley Park at last

Surviving veterans of the code-breaking facility to receive badge of...

Motorola MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant

Review: Motorola MC55 Enterprise Digital Assistant

A rugged Windows Mobile device for mobile workers

BT

BT promises 1.5m fibre connections by summer 2010

Telco begins major rollout in 69 locations across the UK

Primary Navigation