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Ah it seems some companies are having the same idea as me, consoles might well be the next infection vector for zombie style botnets, they have good processing power, the current generation has ample hard-drive space and they are network connected.<\/p>\n
The difference with consoles is they tend to be turned off when not in use unlike PCs which are quite often left on.<\/p>\n
Still infecting a few million PS3s could be a great attack mechanism – so the latest update for the PS3 is web filtering, the first step towards security software for consoles.<\/p>\n
Sony has integrated a website filter into its latest PlayStation 3 firmware. But while use of the utility is optional and, for now, free, neither the console giant nor its security partner, Trend Micro, are saying how much they’ll demand from user whene the free-use period ends next April.<\/p>\n
Trend claimed the site blocker, which is part of PS3 firmware version 2.0, posted last week, is the world\u2019s first global internet security service games console.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
It’ll be interesting to see how much it costs when it stops being free, and what the uptake is like percentage wise. I have a feeling it’ll be very low.<\/p>\n
If users choose to activate the filtering service, which is accessed through the PS3\u2019s internet browser, they must select a password. If a blocked website is then accessed, users can enter their password to view the site.<\/p>\n
Trend’s service is free to use until April 2008, it said. Bizarrely, however, it was unable to say how much it will demand PS3 owners cough up after that date if they want to carry on using the service, perhaps to keep inappropriate content away from their kids.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
Apparently the pricing structure hasn’t even been worked out yet, but then I guess they just want to get it out there as the ‘first’ security software for a console and increase the branding strength.<\/p>\n
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