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Nintendo Switch update 6.2.0 may have fixed its security flaw and stopped the hacking scene for now
- Thread starter Deleted member 2791
- Start date
Less "fixed" and more "thoroughly mitigated". It's still there, they just changed the boot process of the OS to make it incredibly hard to boot a modded version of it.
If you just want to run Linux or some other non-Horizon OS you can probably still do that.
Following that analogy, it's more like there was two holes. The first one (bootloader) would have a hole itself (the second holehole)whe would flow to give access to the firmware. The first hole is still wide open, but the second one hasn't just been plugged, they replaced the whole damn wall :P
so if they truly patched this issue and the pirates are no longer able to play games that require firmware version 6.2 or higher, will they now have to patch the new games individually to make them run on earlier versions?
I wish they could use their burning passion for plugging security flaws, to also improve the OS.
Interesting. I'm a Computer Science major, hence my curiosity. Either way, impressive work on Nintendo's part.
Great news, but I haven't seen anyone answer the question about hackers in online games? Are they still going to around or will it be difficult for them now?
No 6.2 games as of yet, even Pokémon only requires 5.1.
Bypassing firmware requirements is really easy right now. They might have similarly smart solution prepared to prevent that in 6.2 games, however.
same. it would be sad to see the homebrew scene hit a speed bump with this new firmware, but it's best (IMO) to have some way of stopping piracy in the system. just like how vita was recently and after being pretty much dead got hacked wide open, it's better if that happens to switch after a few years, for people to use it as a legacy hardware for homebrew and emulators.
i meant when the games that require 6.2 or 7 eventually come out.
i guess they have to work on that as well, because if not this won't stop piracy in any meaningful way. it's not like pirates are dying to update to newer versions for "stability", if they can keep playing games on older versions.
probably yeah. every new title will definitely force 6.2
smash uses 5.0 key generation and there's a preload version going around so it makes me curious whether nintendo will actually switch it to 6.2 for the actual final release. i doubt it but if they really did it would kill chances of pirates getting their hands on the game.
Very interesting stuff.
I'd be all over a video or text going over all the findings regarding this, what can be figured out about the inner workings and such.
I'd be all over a video or text going over all the findings regarding this, what can be figured out about the inner workings and such.
preload means it's already is on people's systems and they'll be able to run it once december 7th gets here, and physical carts are probably already pressed since a while ago. and it's not like they can force an update, whataver version is on the cart and on people's systems will be playable day 1 on 6.1.
so at least the launch version of smash will be pirate-able.
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You can't play any game online without updating to the last firmware, so they should be gone for now.
how did people play hacked games online anyway? wasn't it impossible for hackers to go online cuz they'd be banned and then be unable to go online?
oh god are people now gonna do "RARE HACKABLE PRE-6.2 SWITCH GOOD CONDITION" ads?
Impressive patch, will see how long it lasts. This will stop newer games that require FW6.2 and higher from being pirated going forward at least, well for now (until they find a way around it)
At least anyone wanting Homebrew right now can stick on 6.1 or lower, as the state of emulation on Switch is already great.
At least anyone wanting Homebrew right now can stick on 6.1 or lower, as the state of emulation on Switch is already great.
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Ban isn't necessarily instant. Those who cheated got banned for sure but it could take time.
On one side, I'm glad Nintendo found a way to screw piracy and cheaters. On the other hand, it is sad that homebrew will stall for a while until a new flaw is found.
This eventually being defeated or not isn't really the point. It's more an underscore on how damn good the infosec guys Nintendo has hired are.
Reminder: the kernel and security visor are still 100% bug/exploit free.
Defeating TSEC security now also means it won't be defeated on Mariko as this will absolutely require a burned major exploit. If TSEC can be defeated. We're right now back to using PegaSwitch exploits of all things.
When you remove the exploit on hardware, the secure kernel suddenly becomes a pain in the ass. Doesn't it?
Reminder: the kernel and security visor are still 100% bug/exploit free.
Defeating TSEC security now also means it won't be defeated on Mariko as this will absolutely require a burned major exploit. If TSEC can be defeated. We're right now back to using PegaSwitch exploits of all things.
When you remove the exploit on hardware, the secure kernel suddenly becomes a pain in the ass. Doesn't it?
TSEC doesn't just get keys, it's also continually validating the integrity of the RAM - Emunand users are toast too.
Also burns a fuse upon updating.
Also burns a fuse upon updating.
So for full clarification, this means that someone can't just update their SysNAND and be OK with that with their EmuNAND still on 6.1? Because the 6.2 checks and blown fuse will stop the 6.1 NAND from booting?
You could do this but with a major caveat:
Their sleep mode would be broken doing this, as warmboot checks fuses and will crash every time you sleep.
Pretty cool to see.
I know a lot of people want the Switch to be an emulation machine but I think it's better to have to wait on that.
Since you know people use it to pirate games instead of giving N the money they deserve.
I know a lot of people want the Switch to be an emulation machine but I think it's better to have to wait on that.
Since you know people use it to pirate games instead of giving N the money they deserve.
If that's an accurate summary then I have to say I'm impressed by the software engineering on Nintendo's part.
Nice!
Kind of bums me out since I was loving the idea of transforming my old switch into something malleable when the inevitable upgrade comes
That said i hardly ever have time to do enthusiast work on a system anymore let alone go back and play old games
Still would be fun to always have the option so I hope hackers find a way back in for the future
That said i hardly ever have time to do enthusiast work on a system anymore let alone go back and play old games
Still would be fun to always have the option so I hope hackers find a way back in for the future
Better then previous Nintendo systems(and others) where once they were cracked at the OS level Nintendo was left without much of a recourse. They are being VERY aggressive in fighting piracy this gen.
Because most people don't care about the homebrew scene, even if they say they do. 99% of users use the exploits for piracy. And that's bad for everyone (well, except for pirates).
It hasn't been rampant just very easy for those who want too. People who take their hacked switches online have been getting regularly banned so cheating has only been a small issue, Nintendo cares a lot more about stopping piracy.
piracy was getting too big. of course the big nintendo games will still sell bucket loads, but smaller third party releases or indie games could use every single copy they can sell, having a system blown wide open and piracy be so easy is not good news for them.
i don't care about homebrew/emulation myself, but i see why some people are interested in that, since switch is so convinent for playing games both handheld and on tv and obviously it'll be a great device to play older games on, but if enabling that comes at the cost of enabling piracy (for a different audience, i mean) then it's best that it gets shut down, at least until much later in the system's life.
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This, I hope the focus can return to bringing new features with the new updates.