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XBox (Games) Security

X-Box Hackers Trying to Blackmail Microsoft? 894

Posted by michael from the dumb-and-dumberer dept.
wumarkus420 writes "According to this article from CNet News, an anonymous X-Box security research team is threatening Microsoft: either release a digitally-signed official Linux bootloader or face the release of a new exploit that supposedly works without a modchip. While I doubt Microsoft 'negotiates with terrorists,' this should still turn out to be a good I-told-you-so if the exploit is verified." Sounds like a good way to end up in jail.
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X-Box Hackers Trying to Blackmail Microsoft? More

X-Box Hackers Trying to Blackmail Microsoft?

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  • Morons (Score:5, Funny)

    by mao che minh ( 611166 ) * on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:53PM (#6314024) Journal
    What a brilliant plan.

    "Reveal your trade secrets Gates, or we will set in motion a chain of events that will conclude with our incarcaration in a vile butt-slamming federal prison! We're warning you!"

    • Re:Morons (Score:3, Funny)

      by fobbman ( 131816 )
      There're not going to white color resort prison. No, no, no. There're going to Federal pound me in the ass prison.

      • Re:Morons (Score:3, Insightful)

        by flacco ( 324089 )
        There're not going to white color resort prison. No, no, no. There're going to Federal pound me in the ass prison.

        Actually the federal joints aren't all that bad in comparison to the state systems. that's where you find true mutant hell on earth.

        the abominable conditions found in prisons the world 'round plays a not insignificant role in my disillusionment with the human race. prisons are agents of the state, and to tacitly permit rape, murder, and assault on people under the control of the state is h

    • Re:Morons (Score:5, Funny)

      by k1llt1me ( 680945 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:05PM (#6314193)
      Their Australian... They already live in a penal colony. What do they have to lose...

    • Re:Morons (Score:3, Informative)

      by SQLz ( 564901 )
      Are you an idiot? All they have to do is sign a binary to run on the hardware. There is no source code or anything involved in that, no giving away of trade secrets. Hint: aquire clue before posting.

    • Re: (Score:3, Interesting)

      by account_deleted ( 4530225 )
      Comment removed based on user account deletion

      • Re:Morons (Score:4, Informative)

        by aardvarkjoe ( 156801 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:23PM (#6314395)
        It probably is a violation of the DMCA -- since the "exploit" certainly involves getting around some built-in protection, which could easily be argued to be useful in copy protection.

        I support standard copyright, but it's things like this that explain why the DMCA is a bad law.

      • Re:Morons (Score:3, Insightful)

        by bryanp ( 160522 )
        Err, did they do anything actually illegal?

        Well, yes. Blackmail is illegal. As an example, If I call you and say "I know you've been cheating on your spouse, and I want you to do X or I'll tell your spouse." that is blackmail. It wouldn't be illegal to just call her up and say "Joe is cheating on you.", but once I make demands of you in exchange for my silence then it becomes blackmail.

        It may or may not be illegal for them to release a no-mod-chip exploit for the X-Box, it is definitely illegal for the

    • Re:Morons (Score:5, Interesting)

      by iceT ( 68610 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:32PM (#6314490)
      "Reveal your trade secrets Gates"

      Well, they didn't REALLY ask for any trade secrets. All they want is a boot-loader that is digitally signed so it can run on the xbox WITHOUT A MOD CHIP. They didn't ask MS how to MAKE a bootloader.. There is no loss of trade secret... only loss of control for the XBOX...

      I wonder what would happen in Microsoft released a LINUX kit for the XBOX, including a distro, and the works (a la Sony and the PS/2)... The loader could still be proprietary...

      • Uh uh (Score:5, Insightful)

        by fm6 ( 162816 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @05:09PM (#6314866) Homepage Journal
        All they want is a boot-loader that is digitally signed so it can run on the xbox WITHOUT A MOD CHIP.
        Which Microsoft will never do. Once such a boot loader was out there, you could run any software on an XBox. If Microsoft is unable to control what software gets run on the XBox, they get no licensing fees from XBox developers. Since the XBox itself is sold at a loss, that'd be the end of the whole platform.

    • Why not? (Score:5, Funny)

      by fm6 ( 162816 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:46PM (#6314626) Homepage Journal
      It works in the movies!

    • Re:Morons (Score:5, Interesting)

      by TheLastUser ( 550621 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @05:09PM (#6314865)
      Remember the god ol days, when buying a product meant that you had some rights regarding how you used it?

      How come if I buy, say, a tennis raquet, and use it instead to play squash, nobody f**king cares. But if I take an Xbox and decide to use it play an open-source squash simulator, the gestapo will throw me into the aforementioned "vile butt-slamming federal prison".

      And for that matter, what's with all the "vile butt-slamming" in federal prisons? Can't we have some sort of 3 slaps law?

      • The Racket Racket (Score:5, Insightful)

        by fm6 ( 162816 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @05:24PM (#6314998) Homepage Journal
        Suppose tennis rackets were very expensive to make. No one can afford to buy them, until somebody gets the idea of selling them at a loss, and making a profit by selling tennis court time. They've patented tennis courts, of course, so you can't just build your own. Then people discover that squash is public domain, so they start playing squash instead. How soon would it be before it was illegal to play squash with a tennis racket?

        I hear you saying, "That's lame. You can't use regulate people's behavior to that level." I certainly agree. And eventually the big IP hoarders will figure this out. But in the meantime -- well, I was never any good at tennis.

  • Microsoft would never negotiate with terrorists (Score:5, Funny)

    by mikeophile ( 647318 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:53PM (#6314032)
    They hate the competition.

  • *slaps forehead and winces* (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Bame Flait ( 672982 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:54PM (#6314042)
    These morons are just going to make the case for tougher enforcement and DRM.

    It's not a war we want - because (and not to be trite) everyone will lose. Throw these criminals in jail and get on with it.
    • These morons are just going to make the case for tougher enforcement and DRM.

      Maybe the whole thing is a Redmond-sponsored false flag operation to provide Microsoft with an "example" in support its DRM lobbying efforts.

      Now, where did my roll of tinfoil go ...

    • Re:*slaps forehead and winces* (Score:5, Insightful)

      by OrenWolf ( 140914 ) * <ksnider@flar[ ]om ['n.c' in gap]> on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:02PM (#6314148) Homepage
      Except that they aren't doing anything criminal.

      *unless* they require some portion of Microsoft's own code to reflash the BIOS (or in the resultant BIOS that is flashed), adding a drop of solder to my XBOX is *not* illegal. Running any software on my XBOX is *not* illegal. I own it.

      Where they would be "criminals" is if, and only if, they've stolen some MS proprietary code.

      And thankfully, the DMCA doesn't apply in Australia.
      • Tell that to Dimitri....

      • Re:*slaps forehead and winces* (Score:5, Insightful)

        by Pieroxy ( 222434 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @05:11PM (#6314886) Homepage
        Well, it is obviously illegal to play a DVD on your linux box. Even through you own:
        * Linux
        * The hardware
        * The DVD

        It is still illegal to watch a DVD on your box because the MPAA guys didn't grant a license to any software vendor that release a software DVD player for Linux. What is illegal is actually to circumvent the CSS encoding of DVDs without paying for it.

    • Mod parent down (Score:5, Insightful)

      by acidrain69 ( 632468 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:22PM (#6314387) Journal
      If you had *read* the article, you'd realize that if MS releases an official bootloader, this will *avoid* piracy. The group says they will release the exploit if MS refuses, and the exploit, which allows Linux to boot, ALSO allows for piracy, while an official boot loader wouldn't.

      RTFA.

  • Pipedot. Geek news without the slant. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Speare ( 84249 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:54PM (#6314044) Homepage Journal

    You know, c|net did a pretty good job of covering the story without the scare-mongering, sensationalistic crap that this poster did. People could read the article and draw their own conclusions, rather than shepherding the flock to the appropriate anti-X rhetoric opinion.

  • Bluff. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Squidgee ( 565373 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:55PM (#6314052)
    They really think MS would release an official LINUX bootloader?! Of course not.

    THis is, plain and simple, a bluff. If they had a way to do it, they'd release it; why wouldn't they? Who needs an official bootloader if you can boot Linux without a modchip?

    It's a bluff to bully MS into allowing Linux on the Xbox. And it isn't going to work.

    • Re:Bluff. (Score:3, Interesting)

      by BiteMeFanboy ( 680905 )
      I'll bet they do. They're probably young kids. People who have the ability to learn the technical stuff, or who, as of yet, haven't developed a mature sense of how the world works. So they have the means, just no idea that it won't work.

    • Re: calling their bluff (Score:5, Informative)

      by mboots ( 652939 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:13PM (#6314283)
      RTFA, please. The "hackers" would prefer a legally signed bootloader, since it would not have the side effect of allowing pirated games to run on the Xbox. That's why they aren't releasing their mods right away - they're giving M$ the chance to do the right thing. And actually, you can already boot linux without a modchip; see here [xboxhacker.net] for details.
    • Did you ever think the plan makes no sense because it's just another brilliant piece of M$ PR? This story has the same stench that the Apple to M$ switcher did. As you noticed, any normal group would have just released the code and trick. No one wanting to play ball with M$ would pull a stunt like this. No, calling people who mod xboxes, "pirates" was not enough for M$. It seems they have decided to make them look like mad bombers, "Do what I say or the xbox gets it!" What bullshit.

      This way, they get

  • Legality (Score:5, Interesting)

    by phritz ( 623753 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:56PM (#6314066)
    This is obviously illegal under the DMCA ... but what real laws are they breaking?

    Does this legally qualify as blackmail? I can't think of any other laws that would apply here.

  • Howdy ho (Score:3, Insightful)

    by stratjakt ( 596332 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:56PM (#6314070) Journal
    Umm, there's already an exploit that needs no mod (the 007 gamesave thingy).

    So big freakin deal? These guys sound like idiots.

    Whatever they know will be found out by others anyways. I seriously doubt MS cares about the .05% of people who buy xboxes to modify them for linux.

    Hell for every guy who buys an xbox only for linux, theres a hundred like me who'll buy a dozen games or so.

    It's funny how much power nerds think they have. They have about as much pull as pee wee herman.

  • I remember... (Score:5, Funny)

    by Daimaou ( 97573 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:57PM (#6314080)
    I remember trying this back in the days of Windows 95. I said, "Microsoft, you either release Windows 95 for free, or I will give away a secret code, 111-1111111, which will render your 'key-code' security invalid and allow everyone to pirate your OS."

    They didn't listen, so I released it.

    • Shoot... (Score:3, Funny)

      by JoeLinux ( 20366 )
      I always used 0001235467.

      Yours is SO much simpler.

      Wow...even on piracy of unwanted/unused Operating systems, the linux community has found a more efficient method. I'm impressed.

      • Re:Shoot... (Score:3, Funny)

        by kalidasa ( 577403 )

        I always used 0001235467.
        Yours is SO much simpler.

        Obligatory Spaceballs quote:

        "1-2-3-4-5? That's the stupidest combination I've ever heard in my life. That's the kinda thing an idiot would have on his luggage."

  • I think I saw this on GI Joe once... (Score:5, Funny)

    by LordYUK ( 552359 ) <jeffwright821@gm a i l . com> on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:58PM (#6314087)
    Who do they think they are, Cobra?

    I mean, gee... This sounds like some corny Saturday morning cartoon plot...

    "reveal your secret or face my wrath!"

    Now all we need is for them to declare that they have an army of fanatical zealots devoted to the cause of bringing their plan to frutation, i.e., Linux on the X-box...

    oh, wait...

    hmm...

  • How to make linux look stupid (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 27, 2003 @03:59PM (#6314105)

    yeah really professional guys,thanks for that

    what happens when IT/CTO managers read antics like this ?, you think it furthers Linux adoption or sets it back ?, i know we would look rather stupid if this article came up at one of our board meetings,
    • RTFA. It explains if the XBox exploit is made public it would allow game piracy, which the finders of the exploit would like to avoid (DMCA blah blah blah). Microsoft just has to decide what they hate more--piracy or Linux.

  • Simply more direct than usual (Score:4, Insightful)

    by genomancer ( 588755 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:00PM (#6314107)
    Not saying I agree with them, but all they're doing is being more upfront than most anti-DRM/P2P/etc progressive technologies are. Half the topics on Slashdot these days of whether a corporation should support or fight a technology resolve to "If they don't support it, it'll get released anyway, so they might as well".. these guys are just coalescing that "vague threat" into a direct warning. Intelligent? No.. it's not a great way to fight a guerilla tech-war.. but in a way it's more honourable than the alternative.

    G

  • Linux terrorists (Score:5, Insightful)

    by The Bungi ( 221687 ) <thebungi@gmail.com> on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:00PM (#6314119) Homepage
    O yeah, it sucks to be your own worst enemy. Not "release the specs", not "allow other OSes to run", no. "Make Linux run on this thing or else". All Microsoft has to do is turn around and say See? This is what open source is all about! You've heard about al-Qaeda and Hamas, but you ain't seen nothing until you face the the Pensacola LUG!!

    Take gun, aim at foot, pull trigger. Repeat until death.

  • La Cosa Nostra (Score:4, Funny)

    by ohboy-sleep ( 601567 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:01PM (#6314128) Homepage
    Are they going to start forming gangs? Are they going to walk into a local shop and threaten to fdisk their customer data unless they get their protection money?

  • This is the wrong approach. (Score:5, Insightful)

    by csguy314 ( 559705 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:01PM (#6314133) Homepage
    Trying to twist Microsoft's arm into releasing an official Linux bootloader is definitely the wrong way to go. If people were able to convince MS that there was actually a market for that sort of thing then they might do it themselves, but that's doubtful. Nevertheless, trying to blackmail MS into doing it will only increase the already massive resentment MS suits feel towards the open source movement.
    And quite frankly it doesn't make the Linux crown look very nice. Not that MS has very moral business practices; but there's no need to lower ourselves to their level.

  • seems risky (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Tancred ( 3904 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:01PM (#6314138)
    Sounds like a good way to end up in jail.

    True. However, if the story is true, then the blackmailers are quite technologically savvy. If they also have the willpower (e.g. not bragging about it), it could be next to impossible to trace.

  • Stupidity and Pointlessness (Score:3, Insightful)

    by AvantLegion ( 595806 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:03PM (#6314169) Journal
    Why should Microsoft allow running Linux on their Xbox?

    Better question: why does anyone care??

    You want to run Linux on a $200 device? Buy an e-Machine and shut the fuck up. Linux on the Xbox serves no purpose except for "huh huh, Linux on a Microsoft machine, huh huh huhuhuhuh, I'm a super l33t geex0r!"

    Stuff like this is an embarrassment. I hope they get slapped silly with lawsuits.

    • agreed except for the point of it NOT being quite as powerful in the media department (tv-out, etc).

      I have been quite happy w/Linux on my E-machine 1.8Ghz. It's fast, it's stable, and it was cheap as hell.

    • Re:Stupidity and Pointlessness (Score:4, Interesting)

      by Xerithane ( 13482 ) <xerithane&nerdfarm,org> on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:19PM (#6314344) Homepage Journal
      Why should Microsoft allow running Linux on their Xbox?

      XBox == Hardware, which means it's mine. If I want to flash the BIOS, that's my thing. Microsoft should allow a signed Linux bootloader so they can control what it actually boots (instead of botting pirated games.)

      You want to run Linux on a $200 device? Buy an e-Machine and shut the fuck up. Linux on the Xbox serves no purpose except for "huh huh, Linux on a Microsoft machine, huh huh huhuhuhuh, I'm a super l33t geex0r!"

      I can understand your point, but you have to look at the differences here:
      XBox has a custom NV2X chip, designed for TV Output. It has a decent CPU, 64MB RAM, and a decent size hardware.

      It's an appliance box, not a full computer. I would love to have Linux (Or some other flexible operating system) running on there for Jukebox/graphics capabilities.

      Stuff like this is an embarrassment. I hope they get slapped silly with lawsuits.
      It's a shame you feel that way, because they are doing the same things that made Slashdot a possibility. (Remember the altair, and if you don't, go rent some real documentaries.)

    • I'll bite (Score:3, Interesting)

      by Gregoyle ( 122532 )
      Reasons for running Linux on an XBox rather than another platform? How about:

      1. Built in TV out.
      2. Built in *5.1* digital sound. Most digital soundcards do not offer this, the only stream sent over the optical cable is in stereo. The one exception I know of is the sound built in to NVidia's NForce.
      3. Built in ethernet.
      4. Built in DVD/CD-ROM (although it is kind of picky about some of the DVD-R's used)
      5. USB after a slight modification (not much harder than modchipping in the first place).
      6. Relatively lo

    • How dare MS released a closed system! (Score:4, Insightful)

      by AvantLegion ( 595806 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:54PM (#6314700) Journal
      Lots of replies about "it's my Xbox, I should be able to do what I want with it!"

      Or, in translated form, "how dare MS released a closed system!"

      On what grounds does Microsoft NOT have the right to release a closed piece of hardware?? Why should they HAVE to support all the geeks that want the hardware but do NOT want to buy the software that basically finances the hardware??

      Answer: they don't. They have every right to release a closed system. People talk about all the goodies that come in that $200 box. Those goodies are paid for by the game software purchases that are supposed to follow.

      If a not-insignificant amount of Xboxes sell without any of those game purchases following, the price point would be hard to maintain.

      But of course, none of that matters, because "MS is bad", "bomb Redmond", and other similar bullshit.

    • There are plenty of good reasons to want to be able to boot Linux on an unmodified Xbox.

      First, there are millions of them out there. For anybody who already has one, it's not $200, or $150, it's free (as in beer). Lots of kids get them as birthday, graduation, or Xmas presents. We have the opportunity to rescue all that hardware (and all those kids) from MS oblivion.

      Second, there are millions of Xboxes out there. Visiting friends or family, and want to check your e-mail? If they have an Xbox, just bo

    • Why should Microsoft allow running Linux on their Xbox?

      Microsoft should care because they are selling the xbox at a loss, based under the assumption that buying games will be profitable.

      While you may disagree with their business practices, it's their product and they have the right to choose how it is sold. While I think they are missing a bet, as they chould choose to sell the Xbox with a basic linux distro, one designed for basic web browsing and e-mail, it's their choice not to create such a product

  • Um... (Score:4, Funny)

    by r00k123 ( 588214 ) <(ude.ssamu.tneduts) (ta) (etsnerob)> on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:03PM (#6314170)
    This "secret" has been public for a while now.

    There was even a /. story about it: here [slashdot.org]

    Big threat...the info is already out there.

    "I demand MS give me a copy of WinXP signed by BILL GATES HIMSELF or I will REVEAL THAT THE SECRET DOS COMMAND TO LIST ALL FILES!"

    -Ben

  • It's a trap! (Score:5, Funny)

    by Rayonic ( 462789 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:03PM (#6314172) Homepage Journal
    This is all an elaborate ploy by Microsoft to get everyone to buy an Xbox. They want you to believe that either A) Linux bootloader will be released, or B) 37337 exploit will be released. Don't fall for it!

    Now, if you'll excuse me, I've got to fashion a tinfoil helmet to block the RFID chip the dentist put in my molar.

  • yea right! (Score:3, Insightful)

    by Flunitrazepam ( 664690 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:03PM (#6314173) Journal
    Even if M$ , why would anyone believe whoever has this exploit wouldn't leak it anyway?

    IF this exploit exists at all, it will either be leaked or duplicated by someone else.

  • WooHoo (Score:4, Funny)

    by notque ( 636838 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:05PM (#6314199) Homepage Journal
    Finally some good press for Linux!

  • Hardware less hack! (Score:4, Funny)

    by snoozerdss ( 303165 ) * on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:09PM (#6314232) Homepage
    up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, B, A, select, start! ;)

  • Sooooo.... (Score:5, Insightful)

    by Doomstalk ( 629173 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:15PM (#6314314)
    They're trying to force Microsoft to release a piece of software that turns the Xbox into a cheap PC that Microsoft sells at a significant loss. I'm sorry, but I don't see that as especially likely. The modification they propose still requires you to solder the mainboard of the Xbox, and to flash the BIOS. That's only moderately cheaper and easier than installing a modchiop, and a lot more prohibitive than popping a disc into the drive. Let's not also forget that flashing your BIOS in that fashion effectively bars you from playing Xbox Live, since it automatically scans the BIOS on load. Many mod chips, on the other hand, can be switched on and off making them a much more reasonable solution for many pirates.

  • This won't work (Score:5, Insightful)

    by recursiv ( 324497 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:19PM (#6314341) Homepage Journal
    Quite simply, Microsoft has not motivation to comply. How does the "research group" expect to keep their method from leaking? It will leak regardless. So Microsoft either makes an official linux bootloader for Xbox or not... Hmm.... tough choice.

  • Promoting vandalism (Score:4, Insightful)

    by ClosedSource ( 238333 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:31PM (#6314476)
    Another PR victory for the Linux community.

  • If I were Bill Gates.... (Score:5, Funny)

    by sllim ( 95682 ) <achance&earthlink,net> on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:39PM (#6314562)
    I would put these kids in jail first. I would push for terrorist charges. I would try to get one of those sentences where they are not allowed within 15 feet of a computer for like 15 years.

    Then (just to piss them off) I would release Linux for the xBox just as they asked.

    The icing on my cake? I would charge like $100 for it.

    Alas, Bill isn't that entertaining.
    He probably has better things to do with his life then screw with these two morons.

  • Maiman's laser was pointless too. (Score:5, Interesting)

    by SpeedBump0619 ( 324581 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:40PM (#6314569)
    *Sigh*

    Why is it that the first response of just about everyone is "who cares"? Are there really that few of you who just do things because they are challenging?

    There are a fairly wide variety of reasons to want to do this. The single most interesting reason for me is the ability to play *any* media using this single console. DVDs, VCDs, CDs, Streamed content, networked files, internet radio, flash, movie trailers...Anything I can play using a standard PC, *plus* i already have it connected into my system to play "Halo", "Brute Force", "Outlaw Golf", and a whole host of other games. Also, I can play all my old favorites, using various emulators...pacman, galaga, rastan, etc, etc...

    All of this in a console that I already own. Why the hell would I *not* want to do this? Particularly if all it takes is a one time investment of 10 minutes getting the $10 memory card setup. Crist, it's not even a *stretch* for me to make the choice.

    You know what's even better? I worked on the filesystem code for the xbox-linux project early on, before the prizes were offered. I *still* got $4500 for that work. That paid for my time and all the consoles I'll want to buy for the next 10 years. Never has a paycheck been so gratifying.

    So tell me how foolish I am, berate my hobby as pointless or shortsighted. Then you go buy an xbox *and* a pc, that's fine. I'll just sit back and laugh at you.

  • this just in!!! (Score:5, Funny)

    by macshune ( 628296 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @04:42PM (#6314592) Journal
    SYDNEY--Four teenage boys were found clinging to life today, after being thrown through 98 windows in a normally quiet suburban Sydney.

    "We don't know for sure who did it, but this looks like the work of the MSDS--the Microsoft Defenestration Squad," said a Syndey Police Department spokesperson

    The boys alledgedly had developed an easy way to circumvent the anti-piracy controls on Microsoft's game console, the X-Box. Reportedly, they tried to blackmail Microsoft with the information to try get a version of the Linux operating system to run on the X-Box. Microsoft never reponded to their blackmail.

    The MSDS is wanted in 56 countries for a wide range of crimes. Everything from extortion stemming from unreasonable licensing agreements, to the now familiar chucking-folks-out-the-windows routine used to discourage competitors.

    Sydney hospital officials say that the boys are making a good recovery and will be released by the end of the next week.

  • Signed Linux = Hacked Xbox (Score:5, Informative)

    by Gray ( 5042 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @05:28PM (#6315039)
    I'm somewhat impressed the author of the article got the skinny on the 007 trick, but he missed the real point.

    For non-Xbox nerds, it works like this.

    The XBox has internal flash for the BIOS.
    To enable flashing, all just need to jumper one point (referred to as the D0 point) to ground.

    The 007 trick is an buffer exploit that allows you to boot linux, once you've got linux running, assuming you jumpered D0, you can reflash your internal BIOS with a hacked version (which ignores keys). You'll never play Xbox Live, but you can now play pirate DVDs and copy games to your hard drive.

    With only the buffer exploit, it's at least a challenge, but if MS was to release a signed Linux distro, the process would be trivial. Jumper D0, boot MS-Xlinux, FTP to Xbox, upload bios burner app, pow. Hacked Xbox.

    It's *extreamly* unlikely MS would ever do this. These guys can release easier solutions for buffer overflow related methods, but nothing can have as much potential for evil as a signed linux distro.

  • RTFA (Score:3, Interesting)

    by Myuu ( 529245 ) <myuu@pojo.com> on Friday June 27, 2003 @05:34PM (#6315089) Homepage
    "A signed Linux boot loader will not allow users to load pirated games, they say. However, the release of new Xbox exploits that the researchers claim to have developed to run Linux on the console could have the side effect of allowing piracy without the need to install a mod chip, something the hackers say they would like to avoid"

    This is less terroristic than the replies and post would tend to make you believe.

  • what a coup (Score:4, Funny)

    by scrytch ( 9198 ) <chuck@myrealbox.com> on Friday June 27, 2003 @05:51PM (#6315201)
    wow, so all eight people who run linux on their xbox can put their soldering irons away. And still get blacklisted off XBox Live anyway.

    Microsoft must be quivering with fear, really and truly.

  • pointless (Score:5, Insightful)

    by geoff lane ( 93738 ) on Friday June 27, 2003 @05:54PM (#6315210)
    If they really have a mod-less hack to allow unsigned code to boot on the xbox the correct thing to do is release it.

    There is no way MS will allow Linux or any other OS to boot on xbox as that effectively makes the system open and then MS wouldn't make any money selling certificates.

    Besides, MS will now play the terrorist card and you _know_ how well that plays in Washington.

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