PS3 hacker joins Google to work on security project

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The hacker who became notorious for breaking open the PS3's anti-piracy measures has been hired by Google to work on its latest security project.

George Hotz, better known by his online alias GeoHot, is joining the technology firm's Project Zero initiative, which is designed to prevent computer users from being spied on via bugs in software.

"You should be able to use the web without fear that a criminal or state-sponsored actor is exploiting software bugs to infect your computer, steal secrets or monitor your communications," Google researcher Chris Evans said on the Project Zero blog.

"Yet in sophisticated attacks, we see the use of 'zero-day' vulnerabilities to target, for example, human rights activists or to conduct industrial espionage. This needs to stop. We think more can be done to tackle this problem."

Hotz will join a team dedicated to "improving the security of any software depended upon by large numbers of people, paying careful attention to the techniques, targets and motivations of attackers".

Project Zero will locate vulnerabilities in software and report bugs to the software developers. "Once the bug report becomes public (typically once a patch is available), you'll be able to monitor vendor time-to-fix performance, see any discussion about exploitability, and view historical exploits and crash traces," Evans explains.

Hotz gained notoriety in January 2011 after he decrypted the PS3 'root key' and posted it onto the internet for everyone to work with. Sony took Hotz to court and the case was settled in April 2011, with Hotz agreeing to a permanent injunction preventing him from hacking any Sony products again.

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Related Forum: PlayStation Forum

Source: http://www.computerandvideogames.com/471622/ps3-hacker-joins-google-to-work-on-security-project/

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"PS3 hacker joins Google to work on security project" :: Login/Create an Account :: 56 comments

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vWatsoncPosted:

I suppose if he can hack into things he would know how to stop people from doing it as well but did he get punished for hacking ps3 ?

322Posted:

XeCryptSha This happens all the time, no big deal. Also, all the scrubs saying they want to be a hacker now, stop now. You're from TTG, you won't ever gain the knowledge of security penetration.


And I suppose XeCryptSha will? Any one can use google dork and a sql injector and penetrate small, exploitable websites without much trouble. And thats generally how it starts out. You work your way up. And out of all the people on this website there would atleast be one with some knowledge on network, and general computer security.

XeCryptShaPosted:

This happens all the time, no big deal. Also, all the scrubs saying they want to be a hacker now, stop now. You're from TTG, you won't ever gain the knowledge of security penetration.

TomPosted:

Thats a great idea. Guess I should start hacking

DeluxeHazardPosted:

If you can't beat hackers, get one to work for you.

WheyPosted:

Lia It's funny to see someone who was doing the hacking, now helping out to prevent it.


Very true but now his knowledge is being used for the positives.

BigTunaDaBossPosted:

Lia It's funny to see someone who was doing the hacking, now helping out to prevent it.


it kinda always ends up like that,because thevy got the skill to find out what is wrong and the security loopholes.

VHzPosted:

Maybe he's under cover for ttg :p

DissPosted:

It's funny to see someone who was doing the hacking, now helping out to prevent it.

EG6Posted:

Great news! Hopefully this reduces the amount of youtubes / google accounts that get jacked.


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