Earlier this week we reported on the alleged discovery of a rootkit within the latest PS3 firmware update 3.56 that could give Sony the ability to execute code on the PS3 as soon as a user goes online. However its been discovered that Sony wrote the ability for it to do remote updates into its terms & conditions as far back as 2006.
So if you have bought a PS3 and agreed to the T&C’s which you would have needed to do to play the console there is little you can do. Unless you never connect your PS3 console to the Internet or PSN.
Chris Boyd, a security researcher at GFI Security who has studied the security of online games for several years, points out :
“It’s been known for a while that a networked PS3 will contact Sony servers at start up (whether it has an active PlayStation network account on it or not), which performs various tasks related to error logs, updates and other activities,”
Sony’s ability to track events and execute code should only really be a concern to the average users only if you use your PlayStation 3 for anything illegal.
Via Register
