Sony faces increased PSP piracy threat after another exploit

July 8, 2005

Just shortly after Sony's PSP launch, hackers have figured out how to run software from a memory stick using an exploit that gets around the player's copyright protection. They also figured out how to rip the contents from the PSP's proprietary UMD discs, but not able to play them on the PSP at the time. Since then hackers have now figured out how to run actual games ripped from a UMD using another memory stick exploit.

Although Sony has already released a firmware update to plug the exploit, which is included in all new PSP releases, there are a lot of PSP's still in circulation in North America and Japan as well as many imported into the EU. So far the only games that cannot be played on a memory stick with the old firmware are those under 1GB. However that will not last long once Sony and SanDisk launch 2GB memory sticks, which are capable of holding the full UMD's 1.8GB capacity.

Sony plans to launch the PSP in Europe in September, but will make sure that this version has the latest firmware installed. Sony is also warning against hacking and the use of unofficial software on the PSP as this may damaged the PSP along with voiding its warranty.

Hackers have now figured out how to run PSP games downloaded from pirate websites on their PSP memory sticks. The exploit only works with the original 1.5 version firmware that the PSP shipped with in the U.S., but as larger capacity memory sticks begin to hit the market and more pirate sites pop up on the web, Sony could be in for the same kind of battle that Nintendo has had to deal with for its GBA.

When Sony announced that its PlayStation Portable would use the Universal Media Disc (UMD) format, the company was hopeful that the proprietary medium would make it much more difficult for hackers to pirate PSP software. Unfortunately for Sony, hackers are a smart and persistent bunch.

Hackers exploit PSP firmware

This past May a pirate group by the name of Paradox figured out how to crack the copyright protection on UMDs, allowing them to view PSP game data and even burn it onto CDs or DVDs. Obviously the PSP can't play CDs or DVDs, but what if hackers figured out a way to have the game data play via a PSP memory stick? That's precisely what's happened, according to Reuters.

The full article can be read here.

Although there are still a lot of PSP's running the older exploitable firmware, I cannot see this being much of a problem especially since only consumers with the current selection on the market now can use the exploit. This is of course unless one manages to figure out how to downgrade the PSP's firmware or worse still, find another exploit that would allow games to be played from a memory stick.

Source: Game Daily Biz