Clarifications about 3.73 (and 4.0) “jailbreak”

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Update:
I tested the jailbreak on the latest firmware 4.0 since it was released and I can confirm that it still works.

Hi all,

I’ve been flooded with questions on twitter and I’ve read many posts on news sites and  I’ve seen some stuff being said on IRC and I thought I needed to clarify a few things…

First of all, I didn’t expect to see my tweet front paged on all ps3 hacking news sites.. although I should have expected it.. but anyways, the “jailbreak” is not ready to be used, at all. I only tweeted that because I was excited having it working and I wanted to share my excitement with everyone. But this is a bit equivalent to the day I released that create_cfw.sh script that created the very first CFW/MFW but it still took a couple of months before a real, easy, multiplatform and fully fledged solution was released : PS3MFW.

We are currently at the same state, I have the proof of concept, it works, but a solution that anyone can use where they just click a button and their PS3 gets jailbroken is still far from ready.

I’ve seen people say (and even write it in their front page news) that I’ll release it in two weeks after I come back from vacation. That is not true and I never said that. What I said was that for the next 2 weeks, the project is on hold until I get back.. but when I get back, then I will continue working on it, and it will then take some more time before it’s ready and released.

Some asked if it’s based on what gitbrew was doing/suggesting or if I used someone else’s exploit or work. No, this solution is my own idea and 100% my own implementation. However, the actual solution for the full jailbreak involves some components on which I will not work, and I expect/hope that someone else will provide the solution for that.

Some speculated it might be what I spoke about back in March which I later said I wasn’t pursuing by lack of motivation.. and yes, you are right. The same hack I had in March is still valid today, I told a few people about it (rms, Mathieulh, an0nym0us, and a couple more), but no one was interested in pursuing it further and actually exploiting that flaw (mainly because it requires a huge amount of work to get a proof of concept working). 10 days ago (I started on the 11th), I got bored and decided to start poking at it again, and yesterday (a lot faster than I thought it would take), I got my first pkg installed on 3.73 firmware.

On twitter, I said “do not update if you are on 3.55”, I said that in response to someone who said he would update.  Because of that, people speculated that you need to be on 3.55 first, and then install something before doing the upgrade. No, that’s not it, that would be useless. The purpose of my solution is to jailbreak a ps3 that is already on 3.73 firmware and which had never been jailbroken before. I told people not to update because, first of all, it’s not yet ready, and second of all, the 3.55 firmware gives you a lot more possibilities than what can be achieved on 3.73.

So what is this jailbreak? I won’t say because I don’t want Sony to block it in a firmware update (and yes, they potentially could) before it’s even released (and yes, I will release it when it’s ready). But I will explain this to you : in order to run your homebrew apps, you need two things. First, to be able to install them on the ps3, and second to be able to run it once installed. I did only one of these two things.

Some may say it’s not a real jailbreak, but the way I see it, there are three ‘jails’ on the ps3, I broke the first one which prevents you from installing anything, so now you can install your .pkg, great, but it won’t run, that’s the second jail. The third jail is being able to modify the firmware (peek&poke).

The second jail (running apps) is something that can be done, but it’s not my area of expertise (npdrm algo), so I will not be working on that. I am waiting for someone else to achieve it (some have succeeded but do not wish to release it, at least not for now) then I will release.

The third jail (modifying the firmware) is not possible with my method, this means that you will  not have a “CFW”, you will run your homebrew applications and games on an official firmware. This also means that without peek&poke support, none of the backup managers will work. So, again, my solution is piracy-free, and as always, I do not plan on working on a way to enable piracy (or even legal backups).

Overall, the purpose will be to allow people who are on 3.73 firmware to enjoy the homebrew games that were released, to play a bit with Eskiss, and to use Showtime for playing their movies. This should be more than enough for everyone.

Finally, I will conclude by replying to another question I received : Do you accept donations? The answer is yes. I do accept donations but I do not seek them out. I will include a donate button to the bottom of this post, so if anyone wishes to donate, they can do so, however, I want to make it clear that whether or not you donate does not and will not affect in any way, the release, or the progress of the work I’m doing. If you donate, you would do it as a sign of appreciation of my efforts, and not in exchange of any favors or anything crazy like that.

That’s about it I think… If you have any more questions, please refrain from asking them, I get enough as it is already.. I also said everything I needed to say and I don’t want to give any more information than that (for now).

KaKaRoTo

435 thoughts on “Clarifications about 3.73 (and 4.0) “jailbreak””

  1. Good Work Kakarotto!
    I don’t belive in donations, but if it will motivate you, I will get you a lap-dance in your local bar.
    Just tell me the name of the bar and the girl’s name (ok, names if that’s what you want)

  2. Thanks for answering my questions, I have done most of my work with ps3’s by my self because I cant’t find someone to help when I have a question. I have a 3.55 and the only thing I use it for is to change game update files on my 3.72 but it takes about 45 min to do, and I am happy with it but it would be nice to just be able to use one system for that, and not take so long to do. I think if or when you release your 3.73 you should release it here and not on some site like NGU or PS3 hacks. As for my question do you think they should come out with new dragonball series, with Kakorots grand kid’s

  3. Thank you for that huge text explaining to us about this custom firmware that does not leave anyone’s head, I even bought my PS3 for some time and came with version 3.66 (so I decided to upgrade to version 3.73), then I was too stupid to have done it, would have any way to make a “downgrade” or something while you finish this CFW??

    I look for answers and more information about the jailbreak, thanks Kakarot.

    Add me on psn: danieloooBR
    Follow me on twitter: daniel_apto41

    I would love to be your team.

    • hey retard. get the fuck off this man’s page, you do not deserve to be here. come back when you grow a brain big enough and want to contribute. im tired of you little punks coming in here and stopping the momentum. if your so pissed about your console not being able to play your pirated games, go fucking do it yourself.

  6. Holy crap what a small world. Kakaroto, you went to Louis-Colin in school right? I remember you ah!

  7. Thank you for explaining about the current progress of your work in 3.73 jailbreak.
    But I think it had been a long time for the ppl who are stuck with 3.55 upward FW.
    Please reconsider about not keeping em waitng more and more.

  10. Brutto pezzo di merda uando rilasci sto cazzo di jailbreak e perchè cazzo non avvierà i backup dei giochi

  11. Cook sei proprio un italiano coglione e analfabeta! Evviva kakaroto e il suo fantastico lavoro!

    • Oh hell no, I doubt it will work on 4.00, I hope you bypassed your system firmware, because I’m still on 3.72 OFW

  19. Hey I just wanted to let you know that I’m sorry that your jailbreak leaked early. It’s really disappointing what people are doing with the scene these days, and you are one of the few people who was still contributing to it in a meaningful way. I hope that this doesn’t prevent you from continuing your amazing work. I respect you so much, and I am thankful for all you have provided to us (ps3 users) so far.

    You’re a coding genius.

  21. Dear friend Kakaroto !

    First of all, I want you to know that I am very thankful for your efforts to jailbreak ps3. You are one of the brightest minds of the scene and the only one that is trying to do something.

    However, I believe that if you want to be able to ask for donations you must be able to give
    some answers too… Why e.g. to donate to someone who later decides to release nothing ? I don’t understand that.

    Many of people here will say “Don’t be ungrateful, no one asked you to donate blah blah blah”… But for me some things are simple; You are giving something and then you are getting something. That’s life !

    So I have one question for you : Give us a jailbreak 3.73 release date estimation.

    If you answer that, then I will donate to you, and I will persuade my friends to do that also.
    Sorry but I am tired of all this drama and b..shit of the scene. I am not a hypocrite. I know what I want and I am asking for it.

    Waiting for your answer,

    Bill

    • Hi Bill,

      Thank you for the comment.
      One thing though is that you say “if you want to be able to ask for donations”, but you got that wrong, I am not asking for donations. I clearly say it in the article. I provide the donate link because some people want to donate and ask me how they can do it, but i’m not asking anyone for a donation.

      As for having to give answers, I gave already too much in this article, any more than that might tip sony as to what I’m doing exactly and they might fix it before it’s ready.
      Also, if I decide not to release it (which I won’t), the donation is still about “thank you for your past work” or an encouragement, etc.. if you donate and expect something in return, then it’s not a donation, then it’s a sale.

      Donations are about generosity, and I love this quote “You give and forget, you receive and never forget”.. if it’s give something and receive something, it’s like I said, it becomes a sale, not a donation.
      As for the estimation, it depends on how much it advances, if others want to or can help, how much work I get at my job (so how much free time I have), other personal issues, if there are any good movies out recently that I’d want to watch, motivation, etc…so an estimation cannot be given.. but you can hopefully expect by the end of the month, although that may not be true, so I don’t want to see anyone telling me I’m late or I’m delaying or something.

      So that’s it, you are not asked or required to donate, you do what you want to do and you are free to do that 🙂

      I hope this clarifies some things,
      Thanks,
      KaKaRoTo

    • Bill, someone like Kakaroto, who obviously has a life, a job, a carrier etc, doesn’t really need money for this. He never asked for it, because he is not a 16 years old kid. (correct me if i’m wrong)

      Sure, receiving a 10 dollar donation is a great thing, but come on! With his skills he won’t sell himself to you or to any of us.
      If he would care about money that much, he would just ring up Sony, and bribe them for one hundred billion dollars (Dr. Evil laugh)

      Maybe after your comment he decided to postpone the whole operation for a week. So good job! Duh! 🙂

      • Yes Trib, you’re right, I do have a life, a career and a pretty decent salary and I don’t need the donations. And no, I’m not 16 :p
        I appreciate donations because it’s a pay for the work that I do (for free) and mostly because it shows people’s appreciation of that work.
        And yes, I could sell this to some company that would sell the software, but I don’t want to, and no, asking sony for the money would be extortion :p
        As for Bill’s comment, it doesn’t change anything. He was respectful in his post and he gave his opinion, which he is entirely entitled to, so I see no problem in his comment.

  22. Hello KaKaRoTo!

    I was wondering if you’d be able to help me with something. I have two questions, and they have nothing to do with your jailbreak. First: I’ve got a PS3 with OFW 3.72, and I would like to know if I get into recovery mode and install CFW 3.55, it will brick my console or not? Second question: My uncle got a PS3 with an old firmware, I don’t know which one exactly, maybe 3.30, but there’s a problem: the disc reader is broken. If I install CFW 3.55, I’ll be able to play backup games from HD?

  23. Well cfw users are still good for now even with the 4.00 update spoofs work good for data transfers, and people are still having fun with them, if i buy new content from psn I can still get on my 3.55. So take your time get it right ( witch i know you will ) and thanks again I use your software and firmware every day.

  24. O and one more thing it feels good to help people out I am off work because injury, so I have allot of time on my hands. I go to two different forums and spend a good part of my day trying to answer questions, and I have helped allot of people out ( no charge ) simple things, and have a good time. So it’s nice when someone like you comes along and returns the help with thing that I in return have no ideal how to do

  25. Ok I got a question can u downgrade a cech 3001 b model and if so how with e3 or progskeet or should just wait for ur jailbreak ty for ur time and I’m in no hurry just want ur opinion

  27. hello KaKaRoTo

    I would like to thank you for your hard work .. since your doing this for free .. and yet still some people find it easy to be assholes .. your giving me hope .. i was on 3.55 but i was dumb enough to upgrade as im still new to this .. im from Libya .. i lived through 8 months geting shot at .. hopefully i can live through a couple more till you finsh your JB .. haha

    wish you the best of luck .. =)

    • Rebbi m3akoum, inchallah Libya 7orra wel 3isha fiha zwina.
      If you don’t understand it, it’s because it’s moroccan dialect, which isn’t proper arabic.
      Good luck

  30. KaKaRoTo, did you hear about this great news? Jailbreaking videogames (including PS3) can become legal! Take a look at this document:

    https://www.eff.org/sites/default/files/filenode/2012_dmca_exemption_requests_no_appendix.pdf

    “In the matter of exemption to prohibition on circumvention
    of copyright protection systems for access control technologies”

    “In filing these comments, EFF represents the interests of the many U.S. citizens who have
    “jailbroken” their cellular phone handsets, tablets, and video game consoles—or would like to do
    so—to use lawfully obtained software of their own choosing, as well as the tens of thousands of
    noncommercial remix video creators who have or would like to include clips from audiovisual
    works on DVDs and Internet-based sources in their work.”

    Share your thoughts about this.

    • I think you need to check your understanding of this news. They are fighting for jailbreaking of various devices including video game consoles, not video games. This will not make piracy illegal but will make the running of homebrew legal. Perhaps this is what you meant but to me it sounded like you thought they were making the circumvention of copy protection legal, which isn’t the case.

    • So if this becomes true, you guys from the scene will not fear a prosecution anymore, so will take it at full speed, or will still keep a low profile?

      • Yeah, I’ve seen it and read the 67 pages document (well, part of it) linked at the bottom of the article. I also tweeted about it, it’s a must read, very interesting.

  32. Are you still going to go on with the 3.73 jailbreak even though the 4.0 has came out already. 🙂 thanks

    • Will this 3.73 jailbreak work for 4.00? I really want to know if I should update my 3.72 ps3 or not because I really want to play online! Thanks!

      • you can only go to the firmware your on or higher once you update unless you look at all the downgrading options but hard work and cost money so if you have not upgraded to 4.00 i recommend you dont if you only have 1 ps3 and like to play online its upto you update and you cant use this as it would be a lower fw if you want to go online also you my need to buy another ps3 ?? hope this helped

        • Thanks for replying to my comment and I decided to stay on 3.72 but I bypassed the firmware update so I can play online 😀

  33. Hello kakaroto, I explained about the best and prosheet Tensy? as I install it? where do I download? thanks!

  35. Hi KaKaRoTo,

    Just a couple quick question’s
    Will their be a signed FTP or File Manager .pkg file on this jailbreak ??
    or will you just release a signing tool for your cfw ?

    If not really appreciate all the work and time you put in,
    Looking forward to the move game.

  36. Please reply KaKaRoTo, are you working on this during your vacation or what? Tell me or I’ll blast you with my Galick Gun

  37. Hi. Kakaroto,
    Can you please tell me if a original 3.4 ps3 firmware, updated to 3.73 by Sony, can be downgraded by software to 3.55 ? without to open the console ?…

    Thanks a lot.

  38. hey kakarot…

    Thanks for this one… i thought they all stop jailbreaking the 3.55+ FW..

    now i have my hopes high again.. im not going to update my 3.73 and wait for your JB…

    thanks a lot…

  39. Kakaroto, I was just wondering if you could tell me,(of course you might not want to at this point) but does any of the exploits used in 3.73 work on 4.00?

  41. what about the people who applaud his work? the people who are ungrateful shouldn’t bring us down as well…i’ve never once hated on him and i appreciate what he does for the scene

    • We all know that the haters are a minority, but the majority are silent and this minority is loud. It doesn’t matter if you have 10000 kudos, it sometimes only takes one person to say the wrong thing at the wrong time for you to get depressed.

    • +1 (or +n…). I wonder how the # of haters compare to the # of ‘respecters’ … And i guess creating some id’s and post hatefull posts is an excellent way for companies that do not want the scene to prosper, to sabotage that scene? Ignore the haters! Enjoy the compliments. And basically do it for yourself: as than, who cares what haters think? But i understand that when you receive hatefull reacties, this demotivates 🙁

  42. Dear Youness

    I tried the old way of jail breaking my ps3 v4.00 did not work… u got any idea? Btw i just got a ps3 slim and i can’t run any app on it except for theme changing that’s it the size of the HD is 269. I really need help i have no idea how to hack the console P.S Tu parle francais? can’t wait for ur reply plus am following you on twitter am HassanHT_10 Thanks man.

    It seems like your doing a great job got lots of fans if you need any help i can help out got sum experience in Technology about to start an online bizzz…

  43. hahah..maybe he was trying to steal ur brains so he can be d greatest playstation hero instead

  44. oooooooooooooooooh my koka – u know ? – u r very intelligence keep go and GOOD LUCK Even if it did not work

  45. Good luck, waiting for Mathieulh to share is work…. I respect what he has done in the past, but know he just shows us is arrogance…

  46. Hi Kakaroto HWRU?

    İm From Turkey.We need more here JB. because video games are too expensive, dont buy.

    PS3 New JB much needed

    the so-called sony this time superior??

  47. Thanks for all your hard work Kakaroto. Just know that there are many more people that are appreciative of your work and Mathieulh’s work than there are haters. The only reason it seems like so much is, hate is much more of a motivator than appreciation. But again, thank you. I look forward to seeing your code someday soon, hopefully 🙂 I always find it immensely interesting.

  48. Those flaming and hate comments i bet has to come from the Xbox 360 Haterz
    no doubt
    just like those from MAC that hates and flames Windows
    Godspeed Mathieulh wish you recover from the hard work and have a happy holidays

  49. It doesn’t surprise you like Mathieulh so much, you are the same kind of scum: much talk but no code. Please vanish both of you, we don’t need drama-attention queens-whores in the scene.

  50. oi kakaroto tudo bem cara, sou um adimirador do seu trabalho
    eu tenho um ps3 ja foi 3.55 agora atualisei para 3,73 os jogos sao caros
    nao queria vender meu ps3 mais e dificil pois sao caros os jogos
    oque vc acha vou ter que esperar muinto,ou vendo?
    sou brasileiro valeu um abraço!!!

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