Warning from xbox-hacker.net/possible homebrew for xbox 360.

[fumanchu]

heres the main info taken from xbox scene.

 

We received this news from Felix Domke and Michael Steil at the Free60 Project:

On Tuesday, Microsoft has released an Xbox 360 software update that overwrites the first stage bootloader of the system. Although there have been numerous software updates for Microsoft's gaming console in the past, this is the first one to overwrite the vital boot block. Any failure while updating this will break the Xbox 360 beyond repair. Statistics from other systems have shown that about one in a thousand bootloader updates goes wrong, and unless Microsoft has a novel solution to this problem, this puts tens of thousands of Xboxes at risk.

 

It seems that this update is being done to fix a vulnerability already known to the Free60 Project. This vulnerability has been successfully exploited to run arbitrary code, and a complete end user compatible hack has been in development for some time and is planned to be released on free60.org shortly. It will allow users to take back control of their Xboxes and run arbitrary code like homebrew applications or Linux right after turning on the console and without the need of a modchip, finally opening up the Xbox 360 to a level of hacking as the original Xbox.

 

Because of the dangerousness of the update and the homebrew lockout, the Free60 Project advises all Xbox 360 users to not update their systems to the latest software version. The Project website at http://free60.org/ will provide the latest information on this ongoing topic, including the final hack software.

 

Free60 (www.free60.org) is a project that aims to enable Xbox 360 users to run homebrew applications and operating systems like Linux on their consoles. The effort is headed by Felix Domke and Michael Steil, who have a background in dbox2, Xbox and GameCube hacking, and who have spoken at various conferences about their findings. Two years ago, Free60 released a hack that allowed arbitrary code execution using a game ("King Kong Hack") as well as an adapted version of Linux, but this possibility has been disabled by Microsoft in subsequent updates of the Xbox 360 software.

 

Felix and Michael have repeatedly argued that game console manufacturers should open up their platforms to Linux and homebrew, similar to what Sony has done with the PlayStation 3.

 

Official Site: http://www.free60.org

 

original thread.

http://forums.xbox-scene.com/index.php?showtopic=690029

[Alpha]

I was just going to post this... unfortunately I already updated to the lastest NXE a few hours after its release last night.

[fumanchu]

ive been reading the thread over at xbox-scene and its just turning into a farce,just some people posting cryptic bull,arguments.....this is a waste of time.

[The-Ice-Man]

I lost interest at page 5. I mean come on, 14 pages of replies in a day? Those people who updated should just plug their 360 controllers into their PCs and use them to do right now, all the things they're hoping that will maybe one day be possible on their 360s. I can't believe people are actually thinking about buying a second console just to test out this new hack.

 

My little rant about Microsoft's fear of homebrew I wrote at Status-X still stands though. If they'd alter their attitude and just let homebrew developers be, there wouldn't be people getting into such a fuss about the possibilty of running Linux on their 360.

[Inky]

I haven't updated to the new NXE yet. but thats just cuz I haven't played my 360 in a few days. I'll update it tomorrow with no regrets. I'm not giving up live to run linux. I can do that on the OG xbox if I want to. and I don't.