PS3 3.42 Update Available and Controversial Firmware Blocks PSGroove Jailbreak on PlayStation 3

A PS3 3.42 update is available, but it's controversial. You see, the 3.42 PS3 update makes it so that the PS Groove jailbreak will no longer work with the console. The PS Groove was an open source item that allowed users to alter the code - and it was only a matter of time before the hack could be used to bootleg games.

The purpose of Groove was to be able to play "home brew" games using the console - something that isn't sinister in and of itself. But like a wolf in sheep's clothing, this item stood to hack the console to save games on to the hard drive, thus allowing multiple users to play the game from a single disc (while PS3 only got paid for...one disc.)

It's understandable that Playstation would want to patch security holes, but do you think that they should patch options that allow you to play home brew games?

Still yet, when you operate a business to make money, it doesn't come as a surprise at all that these types of moves would be taken so quickly. Although the Nintendo Wii and the Xbox 360 have been hackable for quite some time, Sony's Playstation 3 has been highly touted as the only "unhackable" console.

It will only be a matter of time before something else pops up - after all, hackers are in the business of getting around security features. It's a never ending game of Cat and Mouse, and in the end, no one really wins. The hackers waste their energy finding ways around the rules, and then Sony exhausts their resources patching the holes that the hackers found.

For those who are resistant to download the update, you have no choice. If you don't do it, you can't access the PlayStation network. I know, that's the controversial part - should they be able to force this down your throat?

This won't be the end of the jailbreaking efforts for the PlayStation 3, but it looks like for now the battle was won by Sony in the neverending game console hacking war. And if you don't believe me, believe those commenting on the PlayStation blog posting. The simple update was announced with a post which read:

Hi everyone! A minor update to your PS3 system is now available via system software update v3.42 that includes additional security features. For more details and instructions on how to update the system software for the PS3 system, please visit the PS3 System Updates page.

User OMGMyFace said

Oh, come now. At least be honest about the update. We all know it's the first of an expected hundred-plus firmware updates to block the Jailbreak. Now you'll be doing these every day like with the PSP instead of actually taking the time to give us updates we actually need or working on making the system/service better. You know it's never gonna end, right? Firmware update, gets cracked, firmware update, gets cracked, awesome.

What do you think about the PS3 3.42 update?

Source:

PlayStation Blog