PSP 3000 Has Strong Anti-Homebrew Protection

Anyone hoping to install custom firmware or run pirated UMDs on their shiny new PSP 3000 will be disappointed, at least for now. It seems that Sony has implemented some powerful protections at the hardware level to prevent hackers from gaining unauthorized access to the system. Some customers immediately noticed this when trying to use a hacked “Pandora” battery with the new model – it won’t even recognize the battery, nor grant kernel access to the system.

This is not the first time Sony has taken steps to squash the activity of hackers in a new hardware revision the TA-088 v3 motherboard found in certain PSP 2000 slim models has so far proven to be unhackable. It contains boot checks that prohibit downgrading to any firmware below version 4.0. But according to some enterprising hackers who’ve opened up their new purchases to check, the PSP 3000 uses the original TA-090 motherboard. Some unknown, mysterious protections have been added to lock out unauthorized users, either through use of a Pandora battery or other techniques.

Community figurehead Dark Alex was already on the case earlier this week, as he and his team got their hands on new PSPs and began trying to hack them. So far he has been unsuccessful, as he explains in this blog entry:

"Having in mind that with a Pandora battery, it doesn't even boot the PSP, it could be possible that there are some other hardware patches on the connection Battery-PSP. Even though, some tests are needed to be made before making this for sure. This will explain the fact that when using DC7 or Pandora, the PSP doesn't even turn on. (Remember, on 88v3, it hangs up with the LED enabled and with no action). Important: this does NOT means that the mobo is an 090v2. It could be perfectly an original TA-090, but can't be sure."

We have to hand it to Sony for making their new hardware so secure. Even lasting a mere 72 hours against the formidable skills of the homebrew community is quite a feat. The longer the company can keep pirates out of the system, the longer they have to make legitimate software sales to those people who have picked up a new PSP 3000. By making it harder to pirate, and by offering a plethora of ways to enjoy games directly from the memory stick, Sony may have finally taken the wind out of pirates’ sails on the PSP.

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