Hacking 3DS Custom Firmware by Smealum

[luigi90210]

True true.
If you can make custom code run on a console, you're a hacker in the eyes of the majority of people.
You got a point indeed.

Humm, Did Marcan code a USB loader in under 12 hours?
Yeh, as soon as you got arbitrary code running on a 3DS, people will make a ROM loader.

I'm not against piracy (cause it's unavoidable indeed)
But the readily availability of it via flashcards is what I don't want.
Companies exploiting people through the use of the works of hackers for their own profit.
Ironically, I recommend people to get TX hardware for their 360 hacking instead of cheap chinese knock offs/Maximus products.


Piracy is a "nice addition"
But to be completely honest, I couldn't care less about piracy.
I'm much more for the homebrew on consoles.
Shame that the 360 doesn't have that much.

ya with this, its not going to be widespread, kind of like the jtag xbox 360, and CFW ps3 and unless someone finds a way to downgrade the 3ds(which is not possible from what i have gathered)

im really glad i held out for this long, i might get an XL or a 2ds so i can play the new pokemon, didnt get it because i didnt want to leave 4.5

 

[DinohScene]

ya with this, its not going to be widespread, kind of like the jtag xbox 360, and CFW ps3 and unless someone finds a way to downgrade the 3ds(which is not possible from what i have gathered)

im really glad i held out for this long, i might get an XL or a 2ds so i can play the new pokemon, didnt get it because i didnt want to leave 4.5

I'm kinda glad about that tho (it not being widespread).
Seeing that cheaters where a disaster on WFC...
And EVERYBODY cheated in games.
It was just no fun anymore to play Mariokart/SSBB/whatever.

Well, I never updated past 4.5 cause I hardly touch me 3DS ;p
so I wouldn't care anyways ;p
That and I'm no pokemon fanatic so I could live without it just fine.

 

[stanleyopar2000]

thank goodness I updated my XL for pokemon Y and left my old red 3DS alone. all my bought 3DSware is on there thou D:

 

[Shin Akuma]

Come on guys...really now
Give Smea a break.When he thinks that its ready to realese it we will know

On top of that...lets not make that fuss over it..

 

[FAST6191]

hacker is a very loose term used nowadays, if it makes you feel better though i use to be the a*shole who would put rats on peoples computers and mess with them(literally hacking into their computer) but that was forever ago, anyhow yes its more modder then hacker, which is what everyone who modifies and finds exploits and uses them for non malicious purposes(so technically people doing this are modders, not a hacker as their intent is non malicious)

Defining the word hacker is always an interesting* affair, however I do have to mention your definition runs entirely contrary to the ones (as in it is defined as whatever hacker is it is not that, such a person usually getting called a cracker instead) used by those that would find themselves at hacker type conventions and in the groups that run them.


*interesting might be the wrong word as it is a way to get many people to roll their eyes in the same way that discussing WEP cracking or default passwords will.

 

[BORTZ]

This is all incredibly interesting. I am ready and waiting. But considering my 3DS is 6.x, ill just have to sit tight and wait for a way to downgrade or a 6.x exploit. either way, the feature I am interested in is region unlocking. My copy of Terry's Wonderland is waiting.

 

[luigi90210]

Defining the word hacker is always an interesting* affair, however I do have to mention your definition runs entirely contrary to the ones (as in it is defined as whatever hacker is it is not that, such a person usually getting called a cracker instead) used by those that would find themselves at hacker type conventions and in the groups that run them.


*interesting might be the wrong word as it is a way to get many people to roll their eyes in the same way that discussing WEP cracking or default passwords will.

well all a hacker is as far as i know is someone who illegally gains access to a computer or someone who breaks into a network and their intent is usually malicious

cracking would be decoding RSA signatures, cracking software code for piracy(IE making photoshop run without the need for a license key), ect.

everything is used very loosely used now a days, people will call someone who roots their phone a hacker when clearly they are not a hacker but a modder

heck i have even been told i hacked my car's ECU because i tuned my car to take advantage of the modifications i have on it

 

[bikewow]

I hope I don't start a flamewar by saying this, but I really don't get the common perception of piracy on this website. I mean, any other website and the two warring factions would make perfect sense, but GBAtemp started as a piracy-related site... I mean, it's only the logical progression that through the site's evolution it has changed it's official stance on piracy and stopped facilitating it, but while it is now a community based website with many helpful reviews, it *still* has very strong links to piracy (hacking subforums, flash-cart reviews, etc.)
I don't have a problem with either view, it just seems like the people complaining about it picked a really shitty venue to air their grievances.

 

[Foxi4]

I hope I don't start a flamewar by saying this, but I really don't get the common perception of piracy on this website. I mean, any other website and the two warring factions would make perfect sense, but GBAtemp started as a piracy-related site... I mean, it's only the logical progression that through the site's evolution it has changed it's official stance on piracy and stopped facilitating it, but while it is now a community based website with many helpful reviews, it *still* has very strong links to piracy (hacking subforums, flash-cart reviews, etc.)
I don't have a problem with either view, it just seems like the people complaining about it picked a really shitty venue to air their grievances.

Nobody on GBATemp officially promotes piracy - backup loaders, flashcarts and other backup loading are just that - backup-related software and hardware and backing games up is entirely legal. GBATemp only prohibits illegal filesharing and I think it's a very healthy approach towards the subject. As far as hacking is concerned, it doesn't only lead to playing backups but also creating homebrew or translating games - I don't see a reason why the hacking section shouldn't be here.

 

[bikewow]

Nobody on GBATemp officially promotes piracy - backup loaders, flashcarts and other backup loading are just that - backup-related software and hardware and backing games up is entirely legal. GBATemp only prohibits illegal filesharing and I think it's a very healthy approach towards the subject. As far as hacking is concerned, it doesn't only lead to playing backups but also creating homebrew or translating games - I don't see a reason why the hacking section shouldn't be here.

I understand the legalese behind the decision to ban discussion of piracy, and I have no qualms with that. Nor do I have any qualms with people discussing 'backups' (as much as it tickles me to imagine a world where I can actually take that word at face value).
My curiosity lies not with the discretion used by the alleged proponents of piracy at this website, but with those who vehemently oppose piracy to the point that they feel it is an issue for discussion every time a new flash cart or hack is released.
I just don't think it makes any sense, considering what this website began as and where the community puts it's focus.
It's like going into a crafts store to espouse your belief that scrapbooking is inherently evil to a bunch of sad post-menopausal women.

 

[Foxi4]

I understand the legalese behind the decision to ban discussion of piracy, and I have no qualms with that. Nor do I have any qualms with people discussing 'backups' (as much as it tickles me to imagine a world where I can actually take that word at face value).

"Backup loaders" like the ones we're using today will only become increasingly relevant once today's systems become obsolete. Optical drives can only withstand so much wear and tear and once they're out of comission, you can either replace the laser (which may be impossible or very expensive for older systems) or use alternative loading methods.

While I agree that the great majority of users use those alternatives for loading illegal backups, the fact remains that they're a by-product of a necessary evil. Contemporary systems do not allow you to backup your software - something you are entitled to do by law in most countries.

My curiosity lies not with the discretion used by the alleged proponents of piracy at this website, but with those who vehemently oppose piracy to the point that they feel it is an issue for discussion every time a new flash cart or hack is released.

It's really a matter of freedom of speech more than anything. I choose to ignore them simply because I see all the other benefits hacking brings to the table, not to mention that I feel entitled to use backups anyways.

I just don't think it makes any sense, considering what this website began as and where the community puts it's focus.
It's like going into a crafts store to espouse your belief that scrapbooking is inherently evil to a bunch of sad post-menopausal women.

The past of this website is what it is - the past. Just because it used to be a ROM trading community doesn't mean that it is one and will be one till the end of time. GBATemp's focus shifted towards gaming and hacking news a long time ago, although I do agree that we don't really need people to teach and preach - we're not 5, we know what we're doing and we don't need a lesson on morals.

 

[luigi90210]

I hope I don't start a flamewar by saying this, but I really don't get the common perception of piracy on this website. I mean, any other website and the two warring factions would make perfect sense, but GBAtemp started as a piracy-related site... I mean, it's only the logical progression that through the site's evolution it has changed it's official stance on piracy and stopped facilitating it, but while it is now a community based website with many helpful reviews, it *still* has very strong links to piracy (hacking subforums, flash-cart reviews, etc.)
I don't have a problem with either view, it just seems like the people complaining about it picked a really shitty venue to air their grievances.

reviewing a flashcart and pirating games are two totally different things

chances are, people buy them are pirating games, but still buying and having the hardware to pirate, doesnt mean you are pirating anything, legally you are allowed to back up your own games for personal use

a lot of the people though who say piracy is wrong and rant on about why it should not exhaust here are usually little kids who worry about what people think, or brain washed people who actually have been conditioned to believe piracy will destroy an entire market(which is doesnt, if that was the case, the music industry would have died off back in 2000)

either way, i just ignore these kind of trolls, and the sooner people realise piracy will not kill off an entire industry and the sooner people realise piracy is unavoidable when you give people the ability to run unsigned code, the better the discussions here will be

 

[bikewow]

Thanks for taking the time to reply, I appreciate the discussion.

 

[the_randomizer]

This is all incredibly interesting. I am ready and waiting. But considering my 3DS is 6.x, ill just have to sit tight and wait for a way to downgrade or a 6.x exploit. either way, the feature I am interested in is region unlocking. My copy of Terry's Wonderland is waiting.

I ain't getting my hopes up for this or the Gateway to work on 6.x unless there is a way to downgrade the firmware

 

[Boy12]

I ain't getting my hopes up for this or the Gateway to work on 6.x unless there is a way to downgrade the firmware

The only way to downgrade right now, has something do to with soldering your NAND, and stuff like that.
You also need a backup of your FW in order to downgrade back to 4.5.0.

 

[the_randomizer]

The only way to downgrade right now, has something do to with soldering your NAND, and stuff like that.
You also need a backup of your FW in order to downgrade back to 4.5.0.

Not doing that, no siree, very high chance of bricking. It's very paradoxical. Like I said, I don't have high hopes at all that this or GW will ever work any < 6.2

 

[Boy12]

Not doing that, no siree, very high chance of bricking. It's very paradoxical. Like I said, I don't have high hopes at all that this or GW will ever work any < 6.2

Yeah, i also don't recommend this method if you're not very good at soldering (like me, i've never done soldering before).

 

[reaper527]

Not doing that, no siree, very high chance of bricking. It's very paradoxical. Like I said, I don't have high hopes at all that this or GW will ever work any < 6.2

i think you mean > 6.2.

saying that you don't have hopes of this working on any fw lower than 6.2 doesn't make sense since 4.1-4.5 are all < 6.2

 

[SuzieJoeBob]

So it's a theoretical CFW. I see.

What he means is that with firmwares above 4.5, the exploit was patched/removed, but if a CFW 4.5 existed and the encryption is still the same for 5.0+, the firmware file could be modified to "undo" the patch/removal.

The problems are that:
A) Encryption still = unknown (to public)
B) Time is needed to understand the firmware + hardware interaction
C) People need time to learn how to program 3DS

 

[the_randomizer]

i think you mean > 6.2.

saying that you don't have hopes of this working on any fw lower than 6.2 doesn't make sense since 4.1-4.5 are all < 6.2

That's not what I meant, but whatever. I was saying there's no point in getting ones hopes up in there ever getting support for up till 6.2 with this or the Gateway. Just sayin'. Whether they can find another exploit or not remains to be seen.