A farm of about 200 PlayStation 3s were used to by researchers to launch a nearly undetectable phishing attack, says NetworkWorld. Their goal was to exploit a bug in the Web site security certificates you use daily on the internet. The researchers were able to hack into Verisign's RapidSSL.com certificate authority and create fake digital certificates for any Web site on the Internet.
The PS3 farm spits out fake certificates that would be trusted by any browser. NetworkWorld says that the PS3's Cell Processor is popular with code breakers for its ability to perform cryptographic functions well.
The group plans to present their findings at the Chaos Communication Congress hacker conference, to held in Berlin on Tuesday.
Naturally, Verisign was pissed, and it looks like they were the last to know:
"I can't express how disappointed I am that bloggers and journalists are being briefed on this but we're not, considering that we're the people who have to actually respond," said Tim Callan, vice president of product marketing with Verisign.
Dale North is Destructoid's Editor-In-Chief, a founding editor, and specialist in Japanese gaming. An accomplished musician, Dale was reporting from Japan during the earthquakes of 2011. Luckily, he got the fuck out alive and is home in America now with his wife and beloved corgi, Einstein. Dale is also a co-founder of Destructoid's sister anime site
Japanator. Likes Corgis, Sega Saturn, PSP, iPhone, Photographic tools.
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Contest:
4:29 PM on 12.30.2008
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OK then.....
Okay? Go!
Still interesting, makes me see the PS3 not just as a gaming machine or a media center, but more as a Tech Demo of the Cell Processor and Blu Ray.
But can 200 PS3's render Crysis in 1080p flawlessly? Would they blend?
after that, the matter will be taken to the UNHOLY HELLHOUNDS HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.
Not all 'hacking' is done with the goal of 'stickin' it to the man' or stealing your mother's credit card details, the computer security industry actually learns a lot by working with hackers at events like these.
If such a cluster of PS3s were to exist (heaven forbid), that may actually be a reality.
Israel thought it was the Hamas the whole time, we should have been keeping an eye on Sony since 9-11...
Kneel Before the almighty PlayStation Army! All your Credit card information and private log in information are BELONG TO US.