4 ms·
AFAIK a big reason for this is that the developer mode (as mentioned elsewhere) removed a large incentive for trying - people can run whatever code they want (a
by badsectoracula 1y ago
AFAIK a big reason for this is that the developer mode (as mentioned elsewhere) removed a large incentive for trying - people can run whatever code they want (after paying $20 or so to enable the developer mode, though supposedly Microsoft is planning on making that free now) on their console (with some limits but for things like getting emulators or homebrew to work those weren't important).
However there have been some efforts last year or two to break the security. I remember reading about some exploit some time ago that would work from the original Xbox One to the current Series X devices though it relied on some program on the store that it was removed. However (supposedly, i do not own an Xbox One) the files were archived and one is still able to modify and compile the program (so it wont be caught by whatever automation MS has), use dev mode to put it on the store or device, then use that to apply the exploit.
I expect the Xbox One (and later) to be cracked open pretty much as soon as Microsoft abandons the whole thing as recently their interest in Xbox seems to be waning.
- FirmwareBurner 1y ago>people can run whatever code they want Imagine that. The computer you bought and own can run the code you want. Wild. Now what's Apple's excuse? > removed a large incentive for trying I'm not entirely buying this, there's a big difference between running any code you want and the Xbox dev mode. If I look at jailbroken consoles of the past, people do way more stuff on them than what you can do on an Xbox with dev mode, like implementing various ways of self hosting and playing a huge library of pirated/backup games off local network storage, which Xbox dev mode can't do. So I don't think incentive is gone, just that the barrier is too high for your common hackers in their homelabs. I'm sure private companies with six figure side channel analysis equipment and unlimited hours can crack them no problem but there's nothing to gain from that.
- liprais 1y ago[flagged]
- FirmwareBurner 1y ago[flagged]
- liprais 1y agoOne finger pointed to other and four fingers pointed to self.
- echelon_musk 1y ago> - HN users For a moment I thought I was on Facebook. Good job you made it clear.
- twoodfin 1y agoBroadly, what can you do in Xbox “developer mode” that you can’t do with a similar Apple developer account & their SDK?
- xandrius 1y agoNot sure but one requires you to keep on paying the tax.
- badsectoracula 1y agoWhile pirated/backup games can be an incentive, they are far from the only one and for many who actually tried to crack open the consoles, being able to run their own software like emulators is a much higher priority and this is possible with the dev mode. In fact AFAICT the main thing that is impossible is pirated games. And in practice there isn't that much of an incentive for pirated games on Xbox One and later either since nowadays pretty much all of the games there are also available on PC where piracy is much easier.
- kgabis 1y agoThat Xbox One exploit is quite funny, it relies on delisted Game Script app that uses Ape programming language made by me and submitted here on HN a few years back.