Xbox Linux Made Possible Without a Modchip 996
An anonymous reader writes "Free-X have released an exploit for the Xbox that will let you get Linux on the machine without any hardware mods at all... Microsoft is already threatening them with legal action. Here's the Free-X statement. Free-X say they had been trying to contact MS for a month but were ignored, which is why they've released the exploit. Should be interesting to watch this one."
Woops, too late (Score:5, Insightful)
Lindows on Xbox (Score:5, Funny)
In a few days Michael Robertson will announce Lindows Xbox Edition.
New features? The ability to completely hiijack a competitors hardware technology.
Re:Lindows on Xbox (Score:5, Insightful)
>The ability to completely hiijack a competitors hardware technology.
Funny, I don't recall leasing an XBox from Microsoft. When I put that money down, as far as I'm aware, I bought it. It became my property.
I wonder, what goods or services am I stealing from Microsoft by running lunix on my XBox?
Their attitude seems to be that after you buy an XBox, you owe them more money in games sales.
Re:Lindows on Xbox (Score:5, Insightful)
Are you an MS employee? Your post is so full of blatant lies I don't see any other possibility.
Re:Woops, too late (Score:5, Funny)
Perhaps you should exercise your "rite", then.
Re:Woops, too late (Score:5, Interesting)
But you DONT own the firmware (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:But you DONT own the firmware (Score:5, Insightful)
Fine then, I don't accept the terms of the license. I guess I gotta delete the software. Hmm, now what am I going to do with my XBOX? I know! I'll run Linux on it!
Re:Woops, too late (Score:5, Interesting)
"Give us what we want that's not in your own best interests or we'll tell people how to break your machine and potentially lose more money by having people buy XBOXes for uses other than buying the games that make them money."
It's a little more like:
"You know that problem you wouldn't help us with? Well, we figured it out, but we don't think you'll like the solution. Can you help us with an alternative solution which is in your best interest? No? Ok, then we'll just do it our own way."
Re:Woops, too late (Score:5, Informative)
They did not "blackmail", as the last Slashdot article ad-libbed in its summary, Microsoft but gave them every opportunity to cooperate in creating a signed Linux loader.
As well the released code by X-Free does not allow you to pirate games. (Although by modifying their release and using their same technique it could be.)
As well it must be remembered that there is no EULA for hardware, we are freely able to use hardware we bought anyway we choose to. As well, people are legally able to reverse engineer the hardware, much the same way that other game consoles (NES, SNES, N64, PSX) were reverse engineered to create emulators like BLEEM.
P.S. Remember that it is likely the computer you are using now (IBM-CLONE) would not be here without the work of people reverse engineering the original IBM desktop computers.
Closed Platform as Mixed Blessing (Score:5, Interesting)
For better or worse, the concept of selling a closed platform is legal. This is especially true if the buyer has adequate information to know that it is a closed platform. I would prefer a mandatory big red WARNING label to be affixed to all closed platforms saying "The retail price of this unit reflects a subsidy from the manufacturer. This subsidy is provided in anticipation of future revenues. Therefore this unit will only work with software lisenced by the manufacturer."
There are benefits to a closed platform to consumers.
The down side is simple. The consumer is being mislead by an artificially low up-front price into being locked into continued payments of a monopoly tax on each piece of software they purchase.
I believe the only solution is for the FTC to require platform vendors to offer their product in an unbundled format. You can buy an XBOX that will run third party software, but it might cost you $150 more.
Re:Closed Platform as Mixed Blessing (Score:5, Insightful)
If MS can say that you can't open it or run software on it, does that also mean that MS can keep you from reselling it or smashing it with a sledgehammer or just tossing the whole thing in the garbage?
If someone wants to maintain control of a device after they give it to the consumer, their only choice is to rent it to the consumer and maintain the ownership themselves.
No right to making a profit. (Score:5, Interesting)
It seems to me that this group gave Microsoft a fair offer, to let them run Linux on what they have legally purchased, without having to play dirty. Since Microsoft didn't even try to make a counter offer I guess they shouldn't complain. They probably will use the DMCA to attack this group but IMO that just proves what a shitty bit of law the DMCA is.
Re:Woops, too late (Score:5, Insightful)
/* Beginning of quote */
Since our attempts to contact Microsoft have become public knowledge our team has been accused of attempting to extort or blackmail Microsoft, this is not true as we have made every attempt possible to make contact with Microsoft to offer the following:
- A complete summary of all hacking technologies (many of these technologies have not been released).
- Source Codes.
- All attacks which have been developed but not yet released.
- To sign a Non-disclosure Agreement regarding our discoveries.
- Further research on exploits, which would be exclusive to Microsoft.
- Full names of all hackers involved upon agreement of legal protection from Microsoft.
- Assistance in the development of future security for the XBox by working with Microsoft.
For the exchange, we were requesting but not demanding the following:
- Complete access to all documentation (chipsets, video etc.) to assist in developing a better Linux for the XBox.
- A signed Linux loader.
- Protection from Microsoft or support if any organisation/government attempted to prosecute members of our team.
- Refunding of the cost occured during the agreement period.
/* End of Quote */
I think the threat went more like You listen to us tell you about the security vulerability that would probably tick off content creators or we'll tell everyone else in hopes to get you to fix the code.
Do you get mad when someone discovers a flaw in Internet Explorer? Oh, but this is different, they're blackmailing Microsoft...
Once again quoting - "For the exchange, we were requesting but not demanding the following:... A signed Linux loader.
From Parent - Frankly, I don't see how Free-X would have felt that they were approaching MS in a reasonable way. They offered to give microsoft all the code and to sign a non-disclosure agreement. They requested in exchange a linux boot loader. They asked. They didn't say "Give us what we want that's not in your own best interests or we'll tell people how to break your machine and potentially lose more money by having people buy XBOXes for uses other than buying the games that make them money." The bootloader was optional. They would give Microsoft the code either way. Microsoft wouldn't even listen. So what part was unreasonable? Disclosing the code, because Microsoft wouldn't listen? People do that all the time. Asking for something in exchange for work? Oh yeah, that unreasonable. Especially when you relize they were just asking.
Re:Woops, too late (Score:5, Insightful)
What are the odds of the courts saying the following to Microsoft?
"You sell your systems at a loss... that is a bad business decision, and it is not the court's responsibility to protect you from the consequences of your mistakes. Its a business gamble to rely on sale of an accessory to a product to make that business unit profitable. The consumer owns the product when purchased and has the right to decide how they use it, you are infringing on their rights but limiting that choice. We will not protect your poor business model."
In other words, "suck it up, princess".
Re:Woops, too late? This is what MS wants.... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Woops, too late (Score:5, Insightful)
Well the information age has become the age of the consumer, by default, is a criminal. So really the wild west analogy makes some sense here. If this current trend keeps up of "protecting" big business from all of their paranoid delusions there wont be anyone but 'criminals' left. We know full well that the RIAA/MPAA would ban what we know as 'fair use' in a heartbeat if it meant more sales. They wish to control sales, distribution and methods of consumption. Don't consume your music in fashion they want? You are a criminal.
Comment removed (Score:5, Interesting)
Integer Underflow: (Score:5, Informative)
Underflow is the same, but opposite, making it so you wrap from near zero to a very big number... You say the font size is 0x0003, and the X-Box subtracts 0x0004, and ends up thinking it needs to read in 0xffff more data from the font file...
Both just involved wrapping around the maximum/minimum values a variable can hold.
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:4, Insightful)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Informative)
It's too bad they probably won't get the 100k. In order to get the files onto the xbox, you need to use a prior exploit that DOES require something(007 save, swapping HDD etc)
Not at all. You do not need to make any modifications to the hardware to use the 007 hack. If you have a memory card with the savegame on it, then you can simply copy that to the HD and load the game. This boots linux with an ftp server. You do NOT need to open the box or solder the pins; you only need to do that if you want to flash the TSOP and effectively mod the bios. Once you use the 007 trick you have temporary ftp access to the box - you can ftp over and replace the font files. Now the box is as good as modded and no one will know the difference. In addition this is safer than flashing the TSOP because the BIOS is simply intercepted in hardware.
So in short - you can have a completley modded xbox without ever opening the cover.
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Informative)
It looks at the file. The first four bytes are how big the file is, including its own size. So if the file is 16 bytes long, that is 4 bytes of the header and 12 bytes of data. That first four bytes reads 16.
So the XBox reads in the first four bytes (16), takes 4 away and then knows to look for 12 more bytes (16-4).
Apparently it uses those first four bytes (16) to allocate the memory. It then takes 4 away from that value (4 from 16 is 12) and reads those bytes (next 12) into memory.
Well, if you feed it 0..3 instead of 16 in that example, you get an underflow. It sees those first 0..3, takes away 4, and gets a very large number (whatever the maximum is, assume 8^4). So it then writes large amounts of YOUR data to memory even when only 0..3 bytes are allocated (or it is smart and will only do 4). So now you have YOUR own code/data in memory that isn't for that file.
I think. Fuck if I really know.
-Eyston
INTEGER UNDERFLOW for dummies (Score:5, Informative)
Here's a completely non-technical explanation:
Think of it like a clock. The XBOX loads a number expecting it to be something like 10 minutes. It then subtracts 5 minutes and uses the number. But instead of giving it a number like 10 minutes you give it a number like 2 minutes. Then when the XBOX subtracts 5 from 2 it gets an underflow. It doesn't know about negative numbers. So what is does is it wraps around like a clock. If you look at the 2 minute mark on a clock, then count backwards 5 minutes where do you end up? You end up 3 minuts before the 12. That's 11 hours and 57 minutes. So XBOX thinks that 2 minus 5 equals 11 hours and 57 minutes.
So by giving the XBOX a smaller number than it expects, and letting the XBOX make the number even smaller, it underflows - wraps around - to a really big number. That really big number tells the XBOX to load a HUGE amount of information. More than it's supposed to load. That means you can feed the XBOX any program you want and the XBOX will suck it up and run it.
-
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Informative)
No DMCA in Austria (Score:5, Informative)
If the DMCA continues to be used to shut down what used to be considered fair use, we'll see more and more open source endeavors moving out of the US. Here's to fervently hoping the MPAA/RIAA doesn't manage to implement DMCA clones in all countries on this planet. They seem to be doing a pretty good job at it in Europe.
Re:No DMCA in Austria (Score:5, Funny)
So you're saying they post on Slashdot? ;)
Re:No DMCA in Austria (Score:5, Insightful)
The european version of the DMCA, the EUCD came into force in Austria on July 1st. [wiki.ael.be] (I even think the directive could be used against them before that, though it hasn't been transcribed into austrian law). The mailing list message was sent on July 4th. (quite symbolically...)
On the other hand, the picture's pretty murky anyway. The EUCD doesn't change the status for computer programs, and that's what we're really talking about here. It's also important that this exploit has several effects. It may be used for playing pirated games, (nono) but it is also a tool for using the X-box for quite legitimate purposes, like building a home media system etc. Also, the exploit is not done on the programs themselves, but on the platform. Then there is the issue of changing the font files. I don't quite get whether they used changed MS font files or rolled their own. If they use changed MS files, MS might be able to go after them on their "artistic rights".
I recommend finding an austrian lawyer. (And a sympathetic judge...)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Informative)
(f) Reverse Engineering. -
(1)
Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a)(1)(A), a person who has lawfully obtained the right to use a copy of a computer program may circumvent a technological measure that effectively controls access to a particular portion of that program for the sole purpose of identifying and analyzing those elements of the program that are necessary to achieve interoperability of an independently created computer program with other programs, and that have not previously been readily available to the person engaging in the circumvention, to the extent any such acts of identification and analysis do not constitute infringement under this title.
Please stop trying to use common sense (Score:5, Funny)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Insightful)
Quite simple really.
For instance, if I was to make a CD that doesn't play, I will call it copy protected, meaning it works (because I say so) and you don't get your money back. Then, when someone figures out how to make it work, I sue them into submission.
It has other purposes as well. For instance, it can be very useful in extorting money, and bending people to your will.
You see, what you do is invent a copy protection scheme (we'll call it CSSS) and make it standard on some multimedia format (that we'll call DVDDs). Unfortunately, no copy protected device has ever gotten popular, so to make sure yours gets popular, you make CSSS so crappy that a 5-year old could break it. Now, your DVDD format will get popular, because people can all copy the DVDD discs.
Then, when anyone want's to make a DVDD player, they can't, unless they get permission to use CSSS from you. Before you allow them to use CSSS, you simply require a huge ammount of money, and force them to sign a contract saying they will do everything you tell them to, and include nothing extra on their CSSS players that you don't like.
Now, you are raking in the money, and you control the entire DVDDs player market, because the DMCA doesn't allow anyone to get around your crappy CSSS without your permission.
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Funny)
Austria != Australia
One is in Europe the others somwhere way the hell on the other side of the globe.
One has kangaroos, the other has... what the hell does Austria have, except apparently good hackers?
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Insightful)
"You should never challenge a powerful company like this."
Nope. I gotta disagree with that.
I for one do NOT believe "powerful" aka rich companies shoudn't be challenged. Having money should not mean carte-blanch authority to steamroll customers over trivialities and the greater business community should be wary of any organisation that grows unchecked. It may be difficult (especially if the court is swayed by financial contributions) but powerful companies should ALWAYS be challenged.
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Funny)
You're not from the US, are you ?
"You should never challenge a powerful company..." (Score:5, Interesting)
Right, you mean like these two did [mcspotlight.org]?
Terrible waste of time, eh?
.02
cLive ;-)
Re:After reading the articles... (Score:5, Funny)
Can't pass this one up. Emphasis mine.
I would have been interested in your opinion, but your spelling error made you sound like an out of control and destructive teenager. Okay, maybe one error means you could be in your twenties, posibly with some slight degree of control, but the destructive tendencies are undeniable. Could you submit a longer writing sample for analysis?
Enough said.
Watch out for the secret weapon. (Score:5, Funny)
Mr. Bush Announces .... (Score:5, Funny)
What the.. ? (Score:5, Funny)
Dear Public,
Today is a very said day for Microsoft.
Especially if you're using their spelling / grammar software.
Re:What the.. ? (Score:4, Funny)
Re:What the.. ? (Score:4, Funny)
These guys seem european, however, as there's no references to shrimps on barbies, or Fosters.
Re:What the.. ? (Score:4, Informative)
Three minor problems:
1) What the US calls a shrimp, Australians call a prawn.
2) Australians, on the whole, don't put prawns on a barbie. Barbies are Snaggers and Chop territory.
3) Nobody - and I mean Nobody - drinks Fosters. Seriously. An Australian psycopath wanting to perform torture wouldn't force his victim to drink Fosters.
So, the only role played by the phrase "Pass the fosters, throw a shrimp on the barbie" is to identify an american who wants to sound Aw-stralian.
Russ %-)
Geography anyone? (Score:4, Informative)
Austria [austria.gv.at]
Australia [australia.com]
honestly... (Score:5, Insightful)
Congrats to the guys for the hard hacking work, but get a little business sense and in the meantime, better get a lawyer. This ain't gonna make the boyz in Redmond none too happy.
Chris
Re:honestly... (Score:4, Interesting)
To sell more xboxes?
Think about it, even if MS lost money on every one sold they would have bragging rights. They could go araound saying that the Xbox is most popular game system and spread FUD around like peanut butter on rye toast.
They have 40 billion in the bank and can afford to lose tens (if not hundreds) of millions dollars to gain a monoply on the game console market.
Also with each passing day the cost of a Xbox goes down and eventually they will actually make money on the thing.
Re:honestly... (Score:5, Insightful)
A significant number (to Microsoft) of people are not going to rush out and buy X-Boxes to install Linux on it. Maybe a few thousand worldwide, MAYBE. That's not going to put them over the top against Sony.
Chris
Re:honestly... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:honestly... (Score:5, Insightful)
If I can make the firmware do what I want, then how could that be illegal? Once I pay for it, MS no longer has a say in how I use it.
If I hollow out the case and use it as a planter, is that an illegal modification? Can Microsoft sue me because they're not making their royalty money on the plants I'm growing in my XBOX?
Re:honestly... (Score:5, Insightful)
This is NOT the same as gaining access to / duplicating copyright works.
Re:honestly... (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:honestly... (Score:5, Insightful)
Suppose I decided that I really, really liked using Xboxes as boat anchors. Is it your belief that such use would be against some license and that I would be technically in violation of it? Wrongo.
And the floodgates open.. (Score:5, Insightful)
Q1: How do I get the files onto the harddisk?
A1: There are several ways. You could f.e. install the files with the Mechassault or 007 hacks. This requires one of the games and the files on a memorycard. The other way is to open the box and do the harddisk swap trick which is described all over the net.
So if you need to use an existing hack to do this, and those hacks didn't qualify for the prize, how could this one? Any Xbox experts care to comment?
Additionally, isn't it nice to see that companies are now suing on a regular basis for exploit publication. Good that they only want black hats posessing this sort of information.
Blackmail (Score:5, Insightful)
From the article, seems that is exactly what they tried to do:
For the exchange, we were requesting but not demanding the following:
- Complete access to all documentation (chipsets, video etc.) to assist in developing a better Linux for the XBox.
- A signed Linux loader.
- Protection from Microsoft or support if any organisation/government attempted to prosecute members of our team.
- Refunding of the cost occured during the agreement period.
Not demanding? Why would Microsoft politely offer any of those things?
Re:Blackmail (Score:5, Funny)
I am requesting that my post be moderated up to +5 or I will release pictures of Slashdot moderators in compromising positions with various farm animals.
Please note this is just a request, not a demand.
Re:Blackmail (Score:5, Funny)
Too Late for Microsoft (Score:5, Interesting)
Too late. Just ask AOL at trying to stop WASTE when it came out. Up for a day, and mirrored more times then they will ever be able to count.
Microsoft lost right at the point they decided to not talk to them beforehand. They can shut these people down, but it's out there now, game over.
Increasing weirdness (Score:5, Interesting)
Since our attempts to contact Microsoft have become public knowledge our team has been accused of attempting to extort or blackmail Microsoft, this is not true as we have made every attempt possible to make contact with Microsoft to offer the following:
- A complete summary of all hacking technologies (many of these technologies have not been released).
- Source Codes.
- All attacks which have been developed but not yet released.
- To sign a Non-disclosure Agreement regarding our discoveries.
- Further research on exploits, which would be exclusive to Microsoft.
- Full names of all hackers involved upon agreement of legal protection from Microsoft.
- Assistance in the development of future security for the XBox by working with Microsoft.
For the exchange, we were requesting but not demanding the following:
- Complete access to all documentation (chipsets, video etc.) to assist in developing a better Linux for the XBox.
- A signed Linux loader.
- Protection from Microsoft or support if any organisation/government attempted to prosecute members of our team.
- Refunding of the cost occured during the agreement period.
Disclaimer, until a few weeks ago I was very active in Xbox Linux.
This just seems to me to be a cheap attempt to chisel money and personal advantage under the cover of pretending to be doing it for the benefit of Xbox Linux. "Assistance in the development of future security for the XBox by working with Microsoft" indeed!!!!
Anyone who has spent any time with the Xbox Linux project will immediately recognize the author of the "statement" by its novel spelling and tone. It'll be interesting to see just how what goes around is going to come around.
Looks like they weren't bluffing (Score:5, Interesting)
Looks like a different situation now that they've laid their cards on the table.
Good work guys.
Its now linuXBox !! (Score:4, Funny)
Free-X: Err... yes we did just that. We played on it a bit and voila!... its now linuXBox!! *grin*
MS: @#!**@###***
Re:Its now linuXBox !! (Score:4, Funny)
ahem. that is GNU/linuxXBox, please.
Base 64 encoding (Score:4, Funny)
Microsoft Dumping X-Box (Score:4, Insightful)
Dumping things undervalue as a monopoly is unethical and illegal in many places. I'd like to see that in some news stories, instead of no explanation why microsoft would care at all what someone did with their own bought hardware.
Download this while you can. (Score:5, Informative)
You don't know when someone will laywer their way into taking this thing offline. Make it as available as you can.
Re:Download this while you can. (Score:4, Informative)
Opera gives blacked-out page (Score:5, Interesting)
(me. [livejournal.com])
Thoughts (Score:5, Interesting)
Patchable? :: Furthermore, Microsoft cannot permanently patch this hack through an Xbox Live update. Version 1, v1.2, & v1.3 Xboxes will always execute the current vulnerable code. Should they remotely update the dash; one would simply open the Xbox, write an old image to the hard drive, and reboot. In the process it would be trivial to add bert and ernie (the modified fonts). Xbox Live BIOS updates are not possible due to M$ imposed hardware limitations. Of course, third party BIOS updates are not a problem for those willing to open the case and get crazy with a little solder.
Availability? :: Legal or not, at this point it's not an issue for the end user. The base-64 posted by Mr. Esser isn't going away. Proof? Try this... [google.com]
X-Prize? :: Probably not. This cannot be executed or copied from a third party memory card ala 007. So opening the box is required. Partial payment maybe.
Well, the damage is done.. (Score:5, Interesting)
Might I suggest a DivX based media server that can rip DVDs? I know that seems to fly in the face of what I just said about MAME, however, its a good use for the XBOX, plus you'd only be ripping DVDs you own and with good reason. "I just wanted to have easy access to my library." Another suggestion would be to set up an XBOX as a TV based info center. It stays on-line all the time on Input 2 (or whatever channel your XBOX is on), when a commercial pops up, flip the channels and get your messages. Heck, set up a browser so that it cycles through your favorite news sites every 30 seconds and scrolls them or something.
At least with something like that, something that the XBOX is better at than a cheap-o PC, the case can be made for wanting to make these mods to the unit. That'll weaken MS's case (they'll probably try to say that copy protection is bypassed or something), plus it'll take a few pokes at the DMCA as well.
I hope are people listening. MS has got an army of lawyers.
Re:Well, the damage is done.. (Score:5, Interesting)
Tivo / media server
MAME/Console emulator
Region Free DVD player
highly portable internet game server
video phone (with a USB camera and broadband)
digital camera / MP3 player software (so you don't need a PC)
Bush: We will not bend to these terrorist demands. (Score:5, Interesting)
"For the exchange, we were requesting but not demanding the following:
- Complete access to all documentation (chipsets, video etc.) to assist in developing a better Linux for the XBox.
- A signed Linux loader.
- Protection from Microsoft or support if any organisation/government attempted to prosecute members of our team.
- Refunding of the cost occured during the agreement period."
Since they requested the following, they were turned down on all accounts. I sincerely hope their lawyers are good enough to stave off microsoft's (who will be working on july 4th all day i'm sure). I also hope this is a first step to sticking in and loading a bootable Suse or Mandrake install CD.
"not negotiating with terrorists" (Score:5, Informative)
Too easy... (Score:5, Interesting)
good luck everybody! (and you'll need it)
linux on xbox? (Score:5, Insightful)
- Oisin
Sounds typical (Score:5, Insightful)
"There's a flaw in your code."
"There's no flaw in our code."
"I'm telling people there's a flaw in your code."
"Alright, there is a flaw, but we're not fixing it."
"I'm telling people how to exploit this flaw in your code."
"Ok! Ok, we'll fix the bug."
These guys have been telling Microsoft that they can run Linux on an Xbox without a mod chip for months. Microsoft has ignored their warnings about the "flaw" in their "code," so we've now arrived at "I'm telling people how to exploit it." Unfortunately, because the majority of people on capital hill are mildly retarded and/or (emphasis on the "and") corporate bitches, Microsoft will NOT be forced to fix the error, but will simply sue the people who publicize the flaw because it involves encryption.
For those to whom it is NOT already patently obvious, THIS is the danger of the DMCA: Companies that provide defective products involving encryption are NOT forced to repair the error or lose business, they now have the option of silencing the white-hats who try to warn them, and trying to ignore the hordes of black-hats who are now working to duplicate the exploit.
Naturally, when involving open-source software, the DMCA becomes irrelevant, because anyone can see and fix the code: We do not have to wait in the hallowed corporate halls waiting for a magic trinket, and that is what they (in reference to greedy CEO's and their ilk, for whom the pursuit of money has become a late-stage cancer) fear.
Ok, I am done rambling. You may now resume your regularly scheduled indoctrination.
Comment removed (Score:5, Funny)
Summary of MS's attitude (Score:5, Insightful)
You only leased that XBox. It still belongs to us, in principle, if not (yet) legally in fact because we chose to sell it at a loss. You're not allowed to do anything to it that we don't want you to, nor to tell anyone how to do anything to such things. Ever. Running Linux on it is stealing from us. You owe us more money in games sales, you thief.
Next week: Gilette to sue people who buy one of their razors and then figure out or tell anyone how to remove and resharpen the blades rather than buying more.
Next month: Coca Cola Enterprises Ltd to sue people who buy a bottle of Dr Pepper, drink it, then use it to fetch water from the office water cooler. Damn, that's me busted.
Let's face it, we're only valued customers as long as we're meeting our implicit obligation to continue consuming. The instant we try and (ab/re)use a product without paying more money to the manufacturer, we bcome heartless thieves, possibly communists, maybe even terrorists.
Linux user, why do you hate America so much?
And we are not suprised (Score:5, Insightful)
If current copyright and IP laws and the interretation thereof were in affect in the mid - 80's what could we expect?
1. PC's would still cost thousands of dollars
2. The only companies to produce BIOS codes would be IBM, and people that paid IBM royalties
3. The Internet would only be available to people in colleges and government - and the content would be heavily censored
4. The only PC manufacture would be IBM and all others would be "illegal copies".
5. All operating systems that ran on PC's would have to be liscenced from Microsoft
6. 20" Rims would have to be liscenced from GM as the own the IP for "the oversized sport tire package"
7. Performance exhaust systems are a Ford product exclusively.
8. CD-R's would have been outlawed and require a liscence to buy or own
9. There would only be 1 word processing program
10."Reverse Engineering" would be a legal term used at your prosecution.
You think it's crazy? Saying that you can buy a game/toy and are not allowed to open it up under penalty of jail - THAT is crazy. Why doesn't MS tell the truth, you didn't BUY anything except the right to use your toy. In actuality, according to their liscence (or my interpretation) that box that you plunked down 200 bucks for isn't even yours. Get used to it, unless there is a revolt, it is the way of the future. You will own nothing - but you will be allowed to use things, provided you pay enough $$$.
Re:And we are not suprised (Score:5, Interesting)
Compaq secretly agreed to pay IBM royalties on each PC they sold, so IBM would drop the suit. The agreement's existance was a secret until recently.
8. CD-R's would have been outlawed and require a liscence to buy or own
Some countries charge a "tax" on each CD-R sold that goes to the RIAA, because that CD "might" be used to pirate their music. I think Canada and Sweden do this, among others. If they get money on each CD-R, that should constitute a licence to fill it with downloaded music. But I think a lot of crazy things.
5. All operating systems that ran on PC's would have to be liscenced from Microsoft
Refer to the "Microsoft Tax" on most PC's made by the big companies, no matter what OS is on them.
You're dead on though... It's scary to see how much of that is actually going on today.
Xbox-Linux Team confirms the exploit (Score:5, Informative)
Re:what a "habibi exploit"? (Score:5, Informative)
This can be used, for example, to boot Linux, or flash the BIOS.
The reason that this didn't win Mike Robertson's 100 large is because you still need to rip the lid off the box and solder a pair of jumpers (or use conductive pen) in order to enable 'write' on the flash rom.
Re:what a "habibi exploit"? (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Just wondering... (Score:5, Informative)
Re:Full text of article in case of /. effect (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Full text of article in case of /. effect (Score:5, Interesting)
This is not a step forward for the Linux community. It is an embarassing set back that could further strengthen arguments against using Linux and supporting the Linux community. It's just damn irresponsible of them.
I don't understand (Score:4, Interesting)
These guys discovered a flaw in the XBOX that Microsoft was unaware of. They contacted Microsoft and informed them of the flaw. Microsoft was not interested. MS refused to discuss the flaw. It's clear from the statement that they tried to talk to MS. MS could have said "We want the information and we want you to sign an NDA and we wont even give you a thank you." But they didn't. Informed of the issue, they ignored it.
The information about the flaw is not Microsoft's property. Nor did Microsoft ever suggest otherwise. The people who discovered it can do whatever they like with the information. In this case, they released it to the public over the web. I don't see how this is blackmail as it is common practice to report bugs (and their exploits) publicly.
Re:I don't understand (Score:5, Insightful)
The fact that when they were ignored, they carried out the implicit threat of releasing the information (implicit in their suggestion that they'd sign an NDA in exchange for money), makes it look like blackmail to me.
It's the demand for personal gain that makes the threat of disclosure into blackmail.
Re:I don't understand (Score:5, Interesting)
For example, I uncovered a very significant security flaw in the online banking system of a local bank.
It took me some time to determine the scope, cause and effect of the problem -- and my time is money.
I then contacted the bank I advised them that they had a problem which, if not fixed, would almost certainly be picked up by others -- some of who might not be so benign.
I offered to hand over the results of all my work in return for payment for the time I'd spent (at my normal hourly rate).
They agreed and were most satisfied with the transaction -- since it most likely saved them a small (or large) fortune.
Was I blackmailing the bank?
After all, I wasn't about to hand over the results of my investigation without payment.
No, of course it wasn't blackmail. It was just the same as a plumber saying "I won't fix your toilet unless you pay me."
Of course there was no "threat" involved in my offer -- although if they'd chosen not to pay and fix the problem I may have informed the media that there was *a* problem (customers surely had a right to know if it wasn't going to be fixed)
In the Xbox case, Microsoft were offered a business transaction. The price would have been a signed version of Linux for the Xbox in return for the chance to close off the vulnerability and delay public awareness that it existed.
Clearly Microsoft decided that the price was too high -- after all, they've got to pay that building full of lawyers whether they're actually suing people or not so why not just resort to legal action instead?
Re:Full text of article in case of /. effect (Score:5, Interesting)
It is perfectly legal for you to "tamper" and "break in" if it's a lock on YOUR OWN DOOR. It doesn't matter if Microsoft built the lock, you bought the house.
The people using the exploit are using in on a machine THEY OWN. They can do anything they like with it. They can smash it with a sledgehammer or toss it in a blast furnace and vaporize the sucker. Of COURSE they can "pick the lock".
-
in case MS makes /. remove this (Score:5, Informative)
As seen before [slashdot.org] microsoft does not like people who publish exploits. So I have made an off-US mirror [deck.dk] in a country where releasing exploits to the public is still legal [slashdot.org]...
Re:Same as this exploit? (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:isn't this already possible? (Score:4, Informative)
The ability to write to the bios is a physical restriction which is very unlikley to ever be overcome without some solder. The compononents simply _can't_ write to the bios without the wired connection.
how Bill could force a "fix" down your throat (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I think this will make Xboxen much more popular (Score:5, Interesting)
It seems that eventually the modded exploit will become available as well. So you'll have Linux plus the ability to play Xbox titles.
As far as cheaters go, yes they suck.
Wouldn't you rather be able to run your own Xbox Live server though?
For free?
Dude, they're in AUSTRIA ..Where the hell is that? (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Typical (Score:4, Interesting)
Then they go and do this whole threaten/blackmail/extortion thing... doesn't really paint them in a good light. They'd be able to really champion this cause, if they didn't have to go and act like a bunch of script kiddies. Getting Linux on the X-Box without any hardware hacks is an amazing accomplishment, worthy praise and acknowledgement. Unfortunately, anyone who reports on this is gonna focus on the offensive stance they took and paint them as menaces.
And before I complain about them having egos anymore, I should digress and say that if I was good enough to hack an x-box with just software, I'd be pretty self-assured, too.
Re:Why don't they fix the exploit? (Score:5, Interesting)
Any attempt to update the XBOX is merely a request from an outside source for the XBOX to update itself. But once you have control of the XBOX you can program it to ignore that request to update itself.
When you connect to XBOX Live they check to see what version you are running, but all they can find out is what the XBOX tells them. If you control the XBOX you can have it tell them anything you like.
They are going to run into the exact same problem with Palladium and TCPA. Once someone digs the key out of the hardware, or finds any other vulnerability, then they own their system. They can run an undetectable virtualized system. They'll have "god mode" over it and af far as the rest of the world can tell they are running a secure and "trusted" system. Hell, the security situation could wind up being worse because they are pretty much going to force you to "trust" other people running the system. It just means you're going to get screwed over worse when a computer you were forced to "trust" isn't in fact secure.
-