14 DAY TRIAL // Sony could track down PlayStation 3 owners that installed jailbreak devices or custom firmware versions on their console, as the device goes online as soon as it starts up, according to a new report on the web.
The PlayStation 3 has been at the center of quite a lot of controversy lately, as hackers were able to find the system's main decryption key, effectively leaving the proverbial door wide open to homebrew developers and game pirates.
Now, as Sony is going after the hackers responsible for this, it has been revealed that the Japanese company could also pursue those that already installed the illegal jailbreak devices or the customized firmware versions.
According to a NeoGaf forum thread (via CVG), the PlayStation 3 automatically goes online, if it is connected to the Internet, and makes several checks with Sony servers for a variety of things, including system updates and security verifications.
"On boot the system contacts the server and uploads the play list etc. this list alone is enough to get anyone that goes online banned as it shows the bootmanger etc. has been running," read the thread.
The PlayStation 3 does these checks whether or not the user has a PlayStation Network account.
What's even trickier is that people can't just stop the PS3's online checks by blocking the ports through which it connects, as it will immediately use other methods to get in touch with Sony.
The only choice, as it seems, is to completely turn off the wireless connection or pull the Ethernet cable out of the device.
Sony, for its part, said that the recent array of so-called hacks would be looked into, and that future security updates would solve all of the vulnerabilities found.
The hackers themselves, however, don't believe Sony, as the discovery of the master decryption key can't be patched up, no matter what the Japanese company tries to implement.
As of yet, however, Sony hasn't taken any action against regular owners that used the illegal devices or firmware.