Xbox 360 Hacks - News, Hacks, Cracks, Mods.

HERE IS (or right click, and save as) the on-demand video stream of Felix Domke’s (alias Tmbinc) and Michael Steil’s (alias Mist) lecture at the 24th Chaos Communication Congress in Berlin, Germany: “Why Silicon-Based Security is still that hard: Deconstructing Xbox 360 Security”. They explain the Xbox360 security and tell how it was hacked to run Linux (Hypervisor and Shader Exploit and the Timing Attack). The anonymous ‘Hoodie Guy’ from last year’s CCC also makes a short appearance :) They also show a 3d-demo using their reversed engineered driver for ATI/AMD’s Xenos gfxchip. At the end there’s also a short video of native Wii homebrew!

Even if you don’t understand every part of the lecture (it’s pretty technical) it’s certainly worth a watch to understand more about the Xbox360 security.

FTP DOWNLOAD

DIRECT DOWNLOAD (Right click and save as)

Believe this or not:
You CAN have your console banned for having a 12v fan mod (The direct wire for full speed fan). A very trusted user of www.360patches.com said they were told directly from M$ reps that his fan was modded on his 360, and; that it violates the TOA. Any modification of the XB360 hardware does indeed violate the TOA, so legally they reserve the right to ban users from live for that, and just about any other reason. Petty yes, but justified? Well, I think that’s a little much. A fan mod would be reasonably easy to detect, as voltage metering (RPMs of the fan) is something standard in all bios for the past 10 or so years.  So, don’t mod your fan so your console overheats and can be damaged as a result?  Or, do you help your system out by doing it, and; saving you time and money? I think this is a WAY STUPID reason to ban a console…

Microsoft has started unbanning consoles too. Lots of people who were banned these past few  weekends, and are still banned, no matter how much yelling and screaming they do to customer service. Others, who have modified firmwares ranging from 5.x to 1.4, and have never made a phone call have miraculously become unbanned…

In regards to ‘bad game data’ or bad kreon rips, SS, dmi and pfi, it appears that the reason MS might be unbanning xbox360’s is because people have found evidence that strongly suggests ANY xbox360 can return bogus data after old age sets in, yep they get old. After some internal testing on a few older 360’s, it seems that once a lens is near the end of its life, it can respond with all sorts of bad data, or lack of data. A lens on the way out was able to produce all sorts of odd angles that a new drive would not, as well as tons of missing data throughout SS files (many chunks of data that read 00’s instead).

So, it appears that MS is backtracking somewhat on the ban’s, likely due to the reasons described above. Their infallible system has proven once again to not be, well, infallible; and to attack innocent users. As always, it is recommended that if you are a live user, to NOT modify your system, in any way, shape or form; as you will eventually get banned.

Product Features:
HDMI port on your HDTV or receiver but not on your Xbox 360? Problem solved with the Mad Catz HDMI Conversion Kit. Now you can finally play your 360 games the way they were meant to be experienced: in true 1080p HD. Simply plug the adapter into the A/V port on the back of your 360 and run the included HDMI cable from the adapter to your HDTV and you’re ready to play. The optical audio port provides an alternative setup solution and everything you need to get full HD output from your Xbox 360 is right inside the box. Convenient, simplified HDMI connectivity makes the Mad Catz HDMI Conversion Kit the ideal choice for getting the most from what your console has to offer. Mad Catz promises innovative, quality products for all your gaming needs.

Convenient right-out-of-the-box HDMI solution
Upgrades console for digital signal transmission
Supports screen resolutions up to 1080p
Optical audio port for versatile connectivity
Supports stereo and multi-channel surround sound
Dolby Digital and DTS compatible
BONUS! Includes HDMI & Optical Cables
Everything included inside - just plug and play

There is nothing listed for this product at their official site . I also wonder if there will be any LAG, as it has to convert the Analog signals to Digital.

If you have gotten banned over the past week, we would ask you to share the following with us in the forum thread below, otherwise, please do not post in the thread! Bans only!

It appears to effect the new iXreme 1.4 as well, and of course rhe older ixtreme, and non ixtreme versions; and all of the drives have been effected.

If you can, let us know:
A) Firmware Version, drive type (hitachi, samsung, benq) and when you upgraded/installed that version. Also include if you spoofed the version.
B) Previous firmware version’s, or if the console is freshly modded or refurbished (please include manufactor date).
C) Backups played over the past month(and whether they were checked with kreon checker, if not, please check the SS and report the results).
D) Originals played over the past month.
E) Method of backing up games (as always, piracy is not tolerable, so if you have downloaded these games, please do not bother posting.)

FORUM

As of this moment know one knows if a new security was implemented, or if they are further scrutinizing the already given criteria (SS, DMI, PFI alterations, timings, etc).

Maximus released 360 Firmware Toolbox v4.6 - a graphical tool to handle several common dvd-drive firmware tasks. iXtreme v1.4 is added including for Hitachi-LG v78 and v79 (only with passkey for now) drives.
From The Readme/NFO:

WHATS NEW ON V4.60:
* ADDED: i-xtreme 1.4 multispeed for all Hitachi Versions (Credit is to C4E)
* FIXED: Properly Display BENQ VAD6038 Hacker String located at 5FE0
* FIXED: Several bugs.

WHAT IS NEXT ON FUTURE TOOLBOX VERSIONS ?:
* Direct dump/flash of 79 drives
* Smart Hack Patcher configurable by script (avoid hard coded rules)
* Restore and Patch Wizards (for totally noobs)

Download through usual channels…

Modrobert writes “Ivc over at xboxhacker.net has confirmed that the Timing Attack still works after kernel update 2.0.6683.0 (aka the fall update).”, “I have updated the Xbox360Kernel wiki accordingly, following the lead of free60.org.”

The latest Kernel for the December ‘07 update is 2.0.6683.0 - Blows eFuse

Xbox System update to put on the 360 hdd using xplorer, Xata or Xport (partition 3):
FALL ‘07 UPDATE- 12/11/07 On Local Server

DivX/XviD Media Update- 12/11/07 On Local Server

I checked the DivX/XviD update file, and the main file is 1MB Uncompressed; see the README.TXT in the archive. This is for Partition 3:
/Content
/0000000000000000
/FFFE07DF
/00000002
/69BCCCF6D6297BFB2AEE9EF626B46C8E22A4B672FF

These file should also help those without XBL to upgrade their consoles that are banned, or can’t OTHERWISE, connect to live. I will try and add them to our local downloads later today, or tomorrow.

I checked the main update Archive, it contains “$SystemUpdate” folder & the “su20076000_00000000″ file, which is about 7.1MB.

Timing Attack /Downgrade Info
Machines with CB/CD 1888 and CE/CF 6683 could be downgraded.

They downgraded a machine with the latest 6683 kernel to 1888 using the PIC timing attack. The CB/CD sections didn’t change after the update and is still 1920 after the update. This might suggest CB 1888/1903/1920 on current machines can’t be changed/updated, and a newer CB can only be applied to newer machines.

From Team Infectus:

First of all we want to update you about the lead times of the “very hot” Infectus2 and Argon [D2C Wii] chips.

* How to update your console to a vulnerable version (4532 or 4548)
* Obtain the CPU keys of your Xbox360 (100% control of firmwares installations)
* Installation of alternatives DASHBOARDS
* Change the DVDKEY in the Xbox360 motherboard (you need a VALID key from a non banned console)
* change the REGION CODE: NTSC-U/C, NTSC/J, PAL, NTSC/KOR
* UNBANN X360 from LIVE with serial change (under development)
* More and more and more in the next months… stay tuned!!

These are at the Infectus Site:
Download the tutorials here
Download the tools here

A class action suit has been filed against Bungie, because Halo III does not run native at 720p, and was claimed to do so.   They’re suing over “Missing Pixels” - that being 640p -vs- 720p. I have stated sever times before, that games run lower native resolutions, and they upscale it.  Doing this saves console resources; memory, CPU time, Disc space, and so on.

The Story:
A team of class action attorneys has launched an investigation into complaints that Halo 3 was falsely marketed as a high definition product, but does not actually render native high definition resolutions. These complaints are that, although Halo 3 was advertised as having a 720p resolution (720 pixels), it natively renders at 640p (640 pixels) and is simply scaled up to 720p. Read more about it here. If you purchased the Halo 3 game, you may be entitled to recover money.

Well, if you are that bored, and have to sue for 80 pixels of vertical resolution, well, you might need a better paying job…

A new release of ixtreme firmware, for all versions of drive (except v78/79 hitachi, which maximus will release shortly)..
Features: Disc jitter fix new for V1.4

And, as always, you are modifying your console *at your own risk*. If you make a backup of your game and play it on xbox live, you always run the risk of getting banned.

This new release also comes with firmtool 1.2, here is the changelog:
- Added support for Samsung ms19
- Added prompt for Samsung firmware to copy version strings.
This will allow for those who want their ms25,ms21,or ms19 to report as a ms28.
- Added Xtreme/iXtreme version detection in the hacked source
- Added extra check of BenQ key range for odd BenQ firmware revisions
- Rewrote firmware and version detection. Works properly with all spoofed firmware.
- Added spoofed firmware detection

Download? As usual, you got to find it…

First, you need the $SYSTEMUPDATE file. Click here to begin downloading the update folder. Save it as “$SystemUpdate_[date].zip” anywhere on your computer.

Burn it on a CD, or DVD with the content on the ROOT of the disc, power on Xbox360, place disk in tray, power off, then:

1. Power on the Xbox 360 console.
2. The update program will start automatically. Select “Yes, update now” and press the A button.
3. Wait for the update to complete.
4. The console will reboot and you’re done.

Getting The Codec:
Once you have updated, there are TWO ways to get the DivX Codec to the HDD. If you do not have live, or are banned, then you need do get someone who has live. This is the EASIEST method:
1. Remove your Hard Disk.
2. Place it on a NON BANNED console, on XB360 that has internet.
3. Sign in to live with a silver account.
4. Attempt to play a DivX/XviD file.
5. Download the Codec (content).
6. Place the HDD back on to your console.
7. You are done!

I (The Ori) have tested this method TODAY, and it works. This does not effect either console in any negative way.

You can also do it this way:
1. You need Xata/Xport or other method to connect the HDD to a PC and explore it
2. Place DONOR drive on PC, with Codec content already downloaded.
3. You need Partition 3:”/Content/0000000000000000/FFFE07DF/00000002″
file “69BCCCF6D6297BFB2AEE9EF626B46C8E22A4B672FF” - This editor did not allow me to use the BACK-SLASH, so I had to use forward slash.
4. Save the file to your PC.
5. Place your HDD on the PC.
6. Create the same path in partition 3: “content”, and put file
“69BCCCF6D6297BFB2AEE9EF626B46C8E22A4B672FF” into the correct folder.
7. You’re done, play DivX/XviD files!

“$SystemUpdate” with USB device:
Unzip the files to a USB memory device. Place the usb in the front of the xbox 360 and turn the power on . The XB360 will come on and then ask for a update; update, then do the DivX Codec thing.

There is no way to get the CODEC without using one of those two methods.