chrisbaume.co.uk

On 1st April 2010, Sony released an ‘upgrade’ for the Playstation 3 which removes the ability to install or run linux. Failure to install the update means that the Playstation network cannot be accessed, removing the ability to play games online (read here). However, by intercepting the communication between the PS3 and Sony, you can fool the PS3 into thinking that there is no update, so everything continues as normal. This is done by running a local DNS server, which replaces Sony’s updates with a list of old ones. Here’s how it’s done, using Ubuntu 9.04/9.10.

Firstly, make sure you have bind9 and a web server installed. (you can use any web server you like)

sudo apt-get install bind9 apache2

Next, create the DNS configuration file:

cd /var/lib/bind
sudo vi ps3.update.playstation.net.hosts

and insert the following configuration, replacing 192.168.1.1 with the IP address of the computer in use.

$ttl 38400
ps3.update.playstation.net.	IN	SOA	ps3proxy. me (
			1
			10800
			3600
			604800
			38400 )
ps3.update.playstation.net.	IN	NS	ps3proxy.
*.ps3.update.playstation.net.	IN	A	192.168.1.1

Next, edit the bind configuration file:

sudo vi /etc/bind/named.conf.local

and add the following lines:

zone "ps3.update.playstation.net" {
	type master;
	file "/var/lib/bind/ps3.update.playstation.net.hosts";
};

Finally, we need to put the old Playstation update files on the web server. For apache:

cd /var/www
sudo wget http://www.chrisbaume.co.uk/files/ps3-update.tar
sudo tar -xvvf ps3-update.tar

Now, all you need to do is configure the PS3. Go to ‘Settings’->’Network Settings’ and click ‘Internet Connection Settings’.

Choose the custom method, and configure as usual. When you come to the DNS settings, choose ‘Manual’ and enter the IP address of the machine running the DNS server. No proxy server is required.

Please note that there is a small risk that Sony could disable your Playstation network account if you’re found doing this, and I accept no responsibility if this happens.

If you’re not happy with Sony retrospectively removing advertised features from its products, please complain to your local trading standard authority. Letting this happen sets a dangerous precedent for consumers.

(thanks to daGraveR for this idea)

Have a look at this beautful and innocent-looking lamp:

Now, look again. Notice that the cable can be pulled out. Not a good thing when it’s connected to the mains:

Turn it over and things don’t get much better. The wires are fraying, and it wouldn’t take much wear for the base to become live:

The bulb connector is only held onto the base by one screw, presumably an effective cost-saving technique:

And the wires are only connected by a few thin strands, which could easily come out or melt. Oh, and there’s no earth connection, so should a wire come out, the lamp would electrocute anybody who dares to touch it:

Moving onto the other end, you’ll notice the plug isn’t fused, so if there was a short circuit, the cable would melt and probably burn the house down.

As for the lamp itself – well, it’s made of shards of glass. Nice to look at, not so pleasant to stroke:

Thankfully, most of it has now been fixed, but don’t go pulling the cable, or stroking the glass shards: