GeoHot Sounds Off on Sony's PSN Debacle

[Hatter]

This whole thing reminds me of the Quran burning. 14 people died but whose responsible? Terry Jones, or the Afghans that killed them in reaction? IMO they both are, TJ was warned of possible repercussions and the Afghans murdered people.
My opinion is the same for this whole debacle.

 

[Snow Fire]

Its sony's fault that the hackers were skilled?
That is the most stupid thing I have heard since the news that it was the fault of the victim that she got raped.

No one has claimed responsibility, a bit poor judgement to assume it was a group of hackers with skill sufficient enough to beat proper security. My opinion was that Sony used poor security procedures to defend private user information, this currently supported by Live not suffering a similar event of this scale. If this is the case, then this is all Sony's fault, it's their responsibility to safeguard this data at all costs. I can only go on what information is available, now please, don't be so quick to be rude.

 

[2xDouble]

Really, Hotz? You telling people not to be dicks? Really?

 

[dalek sec]

Every time I see a picture of Geohotz I want to kick a baby.

Every time I see a picture of Geohotz, I want to kick a dog

Every time I see a picture of Geohotz, I want to kick Geohotz.

You took the words right out of my mouth Sir Kinght!

OT: He's sounding rather smug for a guy who gave up his fight against Sony pretty damn fast. Honestly people, this is your champion in this fight? D:

He might have a point but his smug behavior really isn't helping me side with him and his idea's here.

 

[Baresark]

Interesting. I never cared for him as a human being (I think it was probably those horrible pictures he uses), but his views are quite in alignment with my own. Sony are a bunch of pricks, and they do get what comes to them. All things in life are earned, whether you wanted them or not. I do believe that it is Sony's ridiculous stance on the console they manufacture and sell (the biggest joke around SCEA executive offices, the way I understand it) that has earned them this attack.

The email they sent out has not stated a single thing about Credit card numbers being stolen though. Either this has been severely sensationalized, or Sony are a bunch of liars(as if we couldn't see that as a potential outcome). They do lie to us from moment one. They say, "hey, wanna buy this console?" (the original sin if you will).

 

[Spencer Petersen]

I'm actually wondering here, did they use hacked PS3's to steal the info (might have missed that post.)? If not, I'm not sure why Geohot's input is relevant.

It isn't. Just someone who doesn't want to let their 15 minutes end and is desperately attempting to remain relevant.

I didn't realize posting a comment about a massive event that will have massive repercussions is suddenly a shameful thing to do. I guess were all guilty here

OP:Sony is too busy removing features and pretending that its customers are criminals to really fix anything. I thought DRM on PC was annoying but expect the PS4 to require an internet sign in just to turn on.

 

[gyroscopeboy]

Shut up Meg, no one cares

 

[Green Bunny]

I don't like either side of this little "argument" and I'm a PS3 owner. I agree more with what one guy said on here. Feel free to play around with the hardware/software on the console that you own. Just don't use that console on the network that Sony owns.

Heck, if you're just dying to play your god-mode character online then create your own boring (who wants to watch people not kill each other all day?) online network or something silly like that.

But I digress. Sony shouldn't have been waving their nuts around and expecting them not to get punched. Isn't that the first rule of good business? See what everyone else is doing and put your own spin on it or improve upon it? Shouldn't that also include what they do to keep their networks secure? I think so. Sony seems to have a habit of burying their collective heads in the sand until it hurts them in the pocketbook. Remember the most recent Final Fantasy Online (XIV, I think?) situation? Soo... I wouldn't say Sony is exactly an innocent player in all this. I'm angry at them for dropping the ball... again.

But, I can't say that the hackers aren't a big pile of crap for compromising MY personal information (along with millions of others) for what seems to be a personal grudge. I am angry with the hacker responsible for this. GeoHotz seems to be saying the same thing. I have no problem with that. I hope they throw the book at this hacker when they find him/her.

No, I'm not a big fan of his... but he has a right to speak his bit of fluff that people keep reading (heck, here you all are) so let's not pretend like this isn't your fault, too, for reading this and keeping the hits coming for stuff involving him.

 

[Kakashi on crack]

graaaaaaaah STFU geohot

Sorry, that was uncalled for, but the case is over with, he turned at the first sign of danger, and am I the only one who has heard enough about this guy? Yes he hacked the root key but that doesn't make him any smarter than your average joe, just more determined.

 

[harvz]

im noticing that all the sony fanboys (and they are fanboys here, i dont think im going over the top) are constantly defending sony.

lets see, the 360 was hacked and piracy ensued, no problems here aside from the priates getting a free ride but their mostly banned for live anyway so honest people get a better gaming experience.

the ps3 was hacked, piracy ensued just like the 360 and thats where the similarity ends. sony sues hacker for hacking something he payed money for (I dont care what the agreement says, you should own anything you buy, he could have rented the console but he bought it), other hackers get angry including ones that are much more vicious, other hackers attack PSN, other hackers steal information (encrypted or not, its only a matter of time), sonys flawed system gets its ass kicked and sony is it the deep end because of this.

and after all this, the PSN being down, the card information possibly being taken, the fact that you cant modify what you, the consumer, payed a large sum of money for and will continue to do so, you defend sony with "its in their agreement".

all i know is im going to start developing a console with horrible 3rd party support, stiff people in the ToS and maybe ill have people praise me for it too...

 

[Outcast107]

im noticing that all the sony fanboys (and they are fanboys here, i dont think im going over the top) are constantly defending sony.

lets see, the 360 was hacked and piracy ensued, no problems here aside from the priates getting a free ride but their mostly banned for live anyway so honest people get a better gaming experience.

the ps3 was hacked, piracy ensued just like the 360 and thats where the similarity ends. sony sues hacker for hacking something he payed money for (I dont care what the agreement says, you should own anything you buy, he could have rented the console but he bought it), other hackers get angry including ones that are much more vicious, other hackers attack PSN, other hackers steal information (encrypted or not, its only a matter of time), sonys flawed system gets its ass kicked and sony is it the deep end because of this.

and after all this, the PSN being down, the card information possibly being taken, the fact that you cant modify what you, the consumer, payed a large sum of money for and will continue to do so, you defend sony with "its in their agreement".

all i know is im going to start developing a console with horrible 3rd party support, stiff people in the ToS and maybe ill have people praise me for it too...

You know if this happen to anyone else everyone would be up in arms. But not sony. They can do no wrong. (LOL yeah right.)

 

[odd function]

You're not wrong exactly. But security wouldn't be necessary *at all* if there wasn't some fuckwit willing to steal your personal data. How would you feel about a bank that didn't lock its vault and left a window open every night? If they were robbed and the contents of your safety deposit box were taken, would you reserve all of your ire for the thieves, or would there be a bit left over for the bank you trusted to keep your possessions safe?

You are absolutely correct and I wouldn't argue otherwise. If I knew that my bank had done that, I would be furious. The difference between that theoretical situation and the situation with Sony is that I don't know the specifics of how the data was compromised. If they told me it was because they left an incredibly simple, unlocked door for someone to wander through and steal my info, I'd be out for blood.

Let's change the situation a hair, shall we? Let's say my money is stolen from the bank because an extremely clever individual circumnavigated all of their security systems, broke into the vault with some sophisticated machinery, and made off with my money. Precision, timing, the works. It's a lot harder for me to be furious with the bank at that point because they tried to protect my money. They really did. Somebody else just...found a way through all of their efforts. They say "there's always someone better." Sadly, that person is out to get you sometimes.

I can't help but feel that this is a more likely analogy for what happened with Sony which is why I find it difficult to lay all of the blame at their feet. I'm more inclined to be angry with the thief, accordingly.

I think people are blaming Sony as pointedly as their because Sony has a name and face to point the finger at. Do you suppose the sentiment would change if they suddenly put forward the name of the culprit for all of us to see?

Well, here's hoping we get to see the answer to that one firsthand. =)

Unfortunately we know for certain that your alternate scenario is represented here. Your personal data (possibly including your password) was stored as plain text. Your password was stored in their database (instead of a hash, salted or not). These two pieces of info by themselves mean that Sony failed Security 101.

 

[Twilight_guy]

GeoHot calling someone arrogant... "kettle you are so black, its not even funny".

Actually I don't think its fair to say the problem is the executives. I don't think any executive is going to willing let there system fall apart for any reason and I know that no matter how high you build your wall some douche will find a way to hack it and will do so just to be a dick. No matter how diligent you may be, no security is perfect.

 

[jrcillian]

or...

"Let's eat, Gramma." vs. "Let's eat Gramma."

 

[The Sane]

Anyone can post their thoughts and feelings on an issue, the fact the Hotz has recently been in 'close contact' with Sony means he will naturally have a stronger opinion on the matter and that people looking for news stories will naturally look at him. You can hate him for his opinions, but getting pissy at him for being an attention seeker is stupid, blame the people who reposts it as news not him.

 

[The Sane]

double post.

 

[Arachon]

Granted, but serious or not, hackers are all the same, in it for the challenge. Sony attracted all-comers like a red flag to a bull

Just... No... There are serious criminal organisations out there that only employ hackers as a way to rip people off, in the form of phising attacks, identity theft, fraud etc. You should not equate these people with your average "hobby hacker", who subscribes to the hacker mindset of doing it for the challenge.

 

[Ultimatecalibur]

Unfortunately we know for certain that your alternate scenario is represented here. Your personal data (possibly including your password) was stored as plain text. Your password was stored in their database (instead of a hash, salted or not). These two pieces of info by themselves mean that Sony failed Security 101.

I know people are saying that this stuff was saved as plain text, but where is this "fact" coming from? Sony, a reliable second party (i.e. a major news organization), a gaming news site, or was it rumor from a thread on 4chan?