eFuse blown, 360 homebrew now possible

by Dustin Burg { Aug 24th 2007 at 1:45AM }

Microsoft seems to be losing the war against modders attacking their precious Xbox 360 hardware with news hitting the internet that a group of modders has successfully downgraded the 360's kernel. Since our last hack / mod update, modders have been diligently working to gain access to a vulnerable kernel by flashing an eFuse without relying on the nearly impossible CPU-key hack and they're happy to announce that they've been successful. Using some sort of "timing attack" a group of modders has flashed one of the CPU's eFuses and been able to revert back to a vulnerable kernel which could possibly allow homebrew apps in the near future. The specific details are quite techie, but if you're curious you can read about the blown eFuse news over at Xbox-Scene.

But before everyone gets all worked up and runs through the streets screaming "teh haxorz are modding my Halo 3s!" you should know that any consoles with old kernels which modders revert back to will not connect to Xbox Live or let them play games online. So, in effect, any kernel downgrading would prevent the console from making its way onto Xbox Live ... that is unless they figure out a way to use a dual kernel system. Just play nice online fellow Xbox 360 modders and if you don't ruin our games then we won't tell Microsoft you opened up your console. You rub our back, we'll rub yours.

Tags: hack, mod, xbox360

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

mike @ Aug 24th 2007 1:56AM

man. Those lame modders runied competitive halo 2 play. Good thing halo 3 is more non competitive freindly (more custom options, public game lists, co-op forge, etc etc).

I was always hoping that the modders would not be able to get their hacks in before halo 3 came out and was on market for at least a year. Hopefully, they wont figure out how to mod and go online within the next year or more.

Magic Whiskey @ Aug 24th 2007 2:03AM

Oh, they'll hack Halo 3 successfully for sure. I just hope Bungie really banhammers a TON of people.
I don't want to hear cussing children as I play, (which is something I can't do anything much about) and I especially don't want to play against modders, and THAT sort of thing can be rectified!

erivera3 @ Aug 24th 2007 2:03AM

As much as I hate modders, this sort of thing always fascinates me. How can people be that smart, and figure out how to hack things that million dollar corporations spend mass amounts of time/energy to try and prevent from the start. It just blows my mind that these sort of things, just like the iphone already being hacked, can happen so quickly.

I'd like to sit and watch the process sometime that a modder goes through to figure out that shit, it would be a great learning experience, but then I'd punch him for trying to ruin my gaming!

erivera3 @ Aug 24th 2007 2:05AM

@2

Actually, the "A-hole" button should do the trick with the cussing childrens. Halo 3 will rule, I hope it takes stupid modders years and years to figure out how to hack it only to be banhammer'd really hard by Bungie.

Wii60 @ Aug 24th 2007 2:16AM

Go ahead and be mad about modders on xbox live if you want, what does this mean to the real homebrewers? It means buying a core model and loading a new version of XMBC in a few years. A high def media center with the speed and power of a 360, and affordable to boot!

I think its highly unlikely that people will get online with these modded boxes. Sure, dual-booting will happen, but the hacked stuff will not get onto live easily.

This is fantastic news.

lordViN @ Aug 24th 2007 2:39AM

Ok, this is my point of view. In this era, there's a growing interest for technology, and several people are dedicating their lives to computer science, in this growing world, there's people smart enough to bypass the systems and live without paying for things that they consider that should be free, or just for fun.

I think almost everyone related to programing and computer sciences, dream about hacking. is the thirst of knowledge that every scientist have, to learn more and more and to find easy and convenient thinks for them. and who wants to pay if you could get it for free is not neccesary to be a genius to figure this.

on the other hand, there are people that have certain sense of value and appreciate more their investments and benefits, but what you prefer is very subjective and is pointless arguing and making critics about it. In the end is everyones needs what makes the decisions. For example my 360 is not modded and I don't plan modding it in the future because I value the benefits of not doing so. but for other people is different they act according to their needs. is not lame doing so maybe is lame not knowing so.

SRU Phil @ Aug 24th 2007 2:49AM

@6 Well said. I value playing on Xbox Live more than I value running homebrew on my 360

mike @ Aug 24th 2007 2:51AM

I didnt mod my 360 cause I feel a game has no value or fun if its free.

I bought a mod chip for my gamecube when they first came out cause I wanted to see how difficult it was to mod a system myself (It was quite easy). The problem is, after I did it, and downloaded basically the entire gamecube game library, I cared little to nothing for any of the games I played. I felt I had so many games, did nothing to earn them, and no point to even playing them.

I dont want to get that same feeling with the 360. I like to purchase a game, and I feel Its more fun knowing I cant just get ever single game (im not rich) and makes you play the game more in depth. Although I dont enjoy paying full price for a game, they should lower the prices :)

lordViN @ Aug 24th 2007 3:09AM

@8 that is true, I have access to a lot of games of ps2 and I don't play any of them. I have a stock to play.

Machiavelli @ Aug 24th 2007 6:41PM

But the thing about me is actually that my back is on my *ock =D

colin @ Aug 24th 2007 6:34AM

@erivera3,

though i do agree with you that it is fascinating, i don't think you would want to sit and watch. you would be sitting and watching for months and months before anything came into fruition.

on another note,

microsoft should track these guys down and HIRE them.

jkdoug @ Aug 24th 2007 7:42AM

Hackers and modders have their place in the world of legal hacks and mods, but doing things to violate the terms of use for a $400+ piece of hardware is just plain stupid. Not only is it illegal, it raises the cost of doing business for the legitimate customers because of the time and energy invested into securing the system. I, for one, hope Microsoft tracks these guys down and slaps them with some steep legal fees.

DjDATZ @ Aug 24th 2007 8:44AM

SRU Phil - Definetly. I'd rather play on live than mod and run homebrew. Frankly, I don't have the time, money or will to do it...so meh. I know I could if I put my mind to it...but I really have better things to do.

@ mike - i can see how having TONS of free games you don't feel inspired to play them. when you pay for a game, it makes you want to get all your money's worth out of it, but when they're free...you really have no motivation...

"microsoft should track these guys down and HIRE them." VERY VERY VERY true. Why do you think security companies have hacking sessions? They're like huge job interviews. If you the people that are trying to get into your system, PAY them to do it (basically motivate them even more), then they'll break in soon enough, which shows you how other people'll get in, and you can patch that up even BEFORE anyone else does it...

Now, onto my main point...

With saved films, it'll be really easy to stop modders that'll be cheating in Halo 3...that is...if they can.

See someone flying around shooting rockets out of an SMG? save the film of the game, report it, and post up on the Bungie.net forums and I can almost guarantee they'll get taken care of.

See cuz Bungie can download your saved film, and then take a look at the CODE of that saved film, and they'll see that there are actually being rockets launched out of an SMG. INSTANT BAN.

Bravo on Bungie.

Neeko @ Aug 24th 2007 9:03AM

Everyone is taking the stance that HALO 3 is the main reason anyone would want to mod the 360.

Iam sorry to break it to all you HALO fanboys (i love HALO also) but i doubt the majority of people who will mod there box even care about HALO 3.. I had a modded xbox1 and the main and only advantage i mostly used was puting XBMC on it. I was finally able to have a media center in my livingroom without the computer. being able to play any format i wanted was GREAT TO ME. The mod was simple and it made my XBOX the focal point of my entertainment center.

Recently my xbox1 died (may she rest in peace NOW and be resurrected SOON by ebay parts)So now iam left to use VLC PLAYER and convert all my videos to WMV so my 360 will finally play nice. The process is fast and simple but cmon i miss my XBOX1 juggernaut.

HACKING will never end. But its not ALL hackers that are bad. some just want to increase the productivity of the devices they buy. Since the manufacturer doesnt care to after youve bought it.

FASHIZZLE!

Mike show! @ Aug 24th 2007 9:21AM

Man, after hacking something Microsoft thought you could never bypass..well, that'd be so rewarding IMO

bigmac375 @ Aug 24th 2007 12:54PM

i just want xbmc 360,emulators, and a native solution to web access. Maybe then i could also play some xna games without paying a premuim every year. Oh yes, and a dualboot solution similar to the original xbox mods for live access.

flash2000 @ Aug 24th 2007 1:00PM

Well, the funny thing about my back, is it's on my co*k. Sorry, just watched Superbad.

zourskittles @ Aug 24th 2007 4:37PM

Damn, flash2000 beat me to it. That was one of the best lines from the movie.

Anyways, as long as they dont hack online games(at least not ranked games) all shall be fine.

johnathon @ Aug 24th 2007 5:02PM

@17 and its ok for player matches be overran by modders?

Anyway, I'm ONLY interested in running some sort of version of XBMC. ZOMG x264 hd without microsoft posturing about codecs. They can easily charge 10 bucks for a codec pack if they really wanted to and would end the bullshit "xvid support leads to piracy issues" by disclaiming the licenser (Microsoft) of any issues that might come up with piracy

Because really, who the hell doesnt just convert their pirated materials to Wmv and just be done with it?

For those who say that support of xvid/divx would kill the XBLVM are wrong. I think the Video Marketplace is a great tool for people who want things KISS'd and dont want to bother with converting or encoding...things most computer savvy videophiles would have down pact

Or better yet, with all this SKU mania that MS has been having lately, MAKE A MCE SKU. Just a 120gb hd, hdmi, and a prepackaged Xbox-native version of Media Center that allows you to put up your videos [xvid, divx, etc] and music with addons. On top of that, offer the software for about 40-60 bucks for those of us who dont wanna shell out for an MCE SKU

Yes, it would be a blantant rip on xbmc. But this way, you dont worry about people hacking xbox just for Media Center purposes therefore losing MS money in the long run and giving us the opinion of having our media center for a cheaper price.

But if you have read to the end of this post...
Congratulations!
But your princess is in another castle getting one-up'd by Luigi