Sony Threatens to Ban PS3 Hackers Forever

[Logan Westbrook]

Sony Threatens to Ban PS3 Hackers Forever

The platform holder is stepping up its efforts to tackle PS3 piracy by kicking hackers off its networks.

All choices have their consequences, and hacking a PS3 is no different. But Sony is now starting to pile on the repercussions, annnouncing that it will permanently ban the PSN and Qriocity accounts of anyone it detects using pirated or hacked software.

In a statement, Sony said that using unauthorized circumvention devices on the PS3 was a violation of the terms and conditions of the "System Software License Agreement for the PlayStation 3 System," the "Terms of Services and User Agreement," and the "Community Code of Conduct." This, in turn, invalidated the consumer guarantee for the console. In addition, it said that using pirated software was a breach of international copyright laws. It made it quite clear that using custom firmware or playing pirated games would earn the perpetrator a permanent ban.

Exactly how much of an incentive this will be for hackers and pirates to mend their ways is unclear. It will certainly deter some of them, but not all of them by any stretch of the imagination. Of course, this is just one weapon in Sony's battle with the hackers, not a magic wand that will fix the problem in a single stroke. Sony doesn't say when it will start banning people, so anyone who's concerned would be well advised to get their PS3 back on the official line as soon as possible.

Source: Game Informer [http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/02/16/psn-bans.aspx]


Permalink

 

[MercurySteam]

And while Sony threatens pirates, Microsoft has already banned a million [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96037-Microsoft-Bans-up-to-One-Million-Xbox-Live-Accounts] in one go.

Pick up the pace Sony, PSN needs cleaning.

 

[Sampler]

hahaha. Funny. Anyone that has a PS3 ain't playing it online anyway sooooo <_<.

Fixed that for you..

(btw, bit of fun, I own a PS3 and a 360 and play neither online )

 

[Cherry Cola]

Why wouldn't you give hackers a life-time ban? Why is this even a threat and not just obvious statements? Just do it. Nao.

 

[HyenaThePirate]

Well here's a suggestion.

How about, anyone who doesn't like being told what they are allowed to do with their $300 product they purchased in good faith with expectations of being able to do with it what they want simply not BUY your system Sony?

Seems to me Sony forgets how much money they were losing not TWO YEARS AGO when their platform was wallowing in last place and they were hemorraging cash.

I mean, for frak's sake, why can't I change the bloody color of the FONT yet on the dashboard? Is there a way to pirate games using that feature?! What about my ability to use any harddrive I want? What about my preference to use Linux? What about being able to better organize my music folders?

Instead of bitching about what people are trying to work around your draconian rules for a product they PURCHASED from you willingly, you concentrate on making the product more efficient and appealing? Like I don't know, making more GAMES? Because as an RPG player, I can literally count the decent RPG's on the PS3 on ONE hand, and all the rest of the RPG's with the other.

The way things stand right now, if my 60 gig PS3 ever gives up the ghost, I won't be buying a new one to replace it.

 

[RadiusXd]

oh Sony, you are just TOO nice.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

It'll be interesting as soon as they get their first false-positive.

 

[DTWolfwood]

sure y not. It doesn't affect anyone with a legitimate PS3. Feel free to Ban away SONY.

 

[Macgyvercas]

Why wouldn't you give hackers a life-time ban? Why is this even a threat and not just obvious statements? Just do it. Nao.

Here here, my good man.

*raises glass*

Good to have you back, btw.

 

[katsabas]

Fuck's sake, they better get on with it. Kind of sick of seeing myself get stuck on the leaderboards just cause some punk decides to do it the easy way.

 

[Hugga_Bear]

sure y not. It doesn't affect anyone with a legitimate PS3. Feel free to Ban away SONY.

This. Seriously the only people bitching about the affair are those who want to hack the thing. I love the argument of "I bought it so I can do whatever the hell I want with it even if it means undercutting the rest of Sony's income". Yeah. They're a company, they want to make money, if they just go "herp derp hack all you want lol!" people are just going to use pirated games ad infinitum, sony will make no money and their problems will deepen.

I do agree that it's a bit of a null threat, I mean it was kinda assumed they'd do it...but at least it will go some ways to getting it through the thick skulls of the people using the hacks and if it doesn't then at least we don't have to deal with their crap anymore.

 

[008Zulu_v1legacy]

Or, just let them play hacked games or custom firmware but spam them with unturnoffable popup ads.

 

[DonTsetsi]

SO anyone who wants to use it as a linux box can't use it to play games online as well... I thought Sony would reintroduce the other operating system feature once they stopped selling PS3s at a loss, but I guess not.

 

[Iglock]

Well here's a suggestion.

How about, anyone who doesn't like being told what they are allowed to do with their $300 product they purchased in good faith with expectations of being able to do with it what they want simply not BUY your system Sony?

Seems to me Sony forgets how much money they were losing not TWO YEARS AGO when their platform was wallowing in last place and they were hemorraging cash.

I mean, for frak's sake, why can't I change the bloody color of the FONT yet on the dashboard? Is there a way to pirate games using that feature?! What about my ability to use any harddrive I want? What about my preference to use Linux? What about being able to better organize my music folders?

Instead of bitching about what people are trying to work around your draconian rules for a product they PURCHASED from you willingly, you concentrate on making the product more efficient and appealing? Like I don't know, making more GAMES? Because as an RPG player, I can literally count the decent RPG's on the PS3 on ONE hand, and all the rest of the RPG's with the other.

The way things stand right now, if my 60 gig PS3 ever gives up the ghost, I won't be buying a new one to replace it.

This.

This is the reason I have CFW on my PSP- not because I pirate games and want to "steal" Sony's monies. Simply because without it, the PSP sucks. CFW allows me to totally customise my PSP, play ripped copies of my legally bought and owned ps1 games and use loads of other awesome software (pdf readers etc etc).

If Sony (although it's not just Sony, other companies too) actually spent their time making their official software better than it's custom counterpart instead of hunting down and punishing those who use custom software etc- maybe more people would feel inclined to actually use the official software and services...

Just a thought.

 

[Giantpanda602]

And while Sony threatens pirates, Microsoft has already banned a million [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/96037-Microsoft-Bans-up-to-One-Million-Xbox-Live-Accounts] in one go.

Pick up the pace Sony, PSN needs cleaning.

The only reason Microsoft has already had to ban a million people is because a million people have hacked there crap system.

 

[Ldude893]

Take one hacker out and five more will take his place. Just like Anonymous.