EvilZone
Programming and Scripting => Projects and Discussion => : smerkz December 09, 2012, 11:08:32 AM
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How's it going guys.
I have joined this site because i seek interest in programming/cracking and i believe you guys can help me answer a few simple questions.
I have come from the gaming scene (please don't hate) and would like to learn a thing or two about programing/cracking in that area. My attention has been drawn towards Sony's PS3 patches. To me it just seems amazing how Custom Firmware works and i love the effort and time these programmers put into cracking the firmware.
So my question is for anyone that knows is, what language and programs do i need to learn in order to create my own firmware? I know that it will be time consuming, but i am willing to take the time and learn no matter how long.
My next question is will i able to use this knowledge for software cracking or game cracks? or is that in a different area?
It'll be great to link me to a few tutorials as i am lost on what to learn.
Cheers guys.
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Most likely C and very low-level languages like assembler. Then there's hardware with logic gates and stuff like that... techb might comment on this more :)
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C/C++
Good luck on patching Sony's firmware files :P remember that in order to flash CFW on your PS3, you need an exploit to accomplish it since its not signed by Sony. Also remember Sony likes suing people for cracking their firmware files (look at Geofag.. hat, I meant hat... I think)
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Cheers Kulv & Skid. I understand the risk that i am taking. Now i'm on track. Is it possible to link me to some good tutorials about c/c++? & are there any recommended programs that i need?
If there's anyway to get techb to help me out, that would be appreciated
Cheers guys, thanks for helping.
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Take a look in the ebook section here:
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/
And here is our C/C++ forum where you can get help with code as well as post any advancements you make with C/C++:
http://evilzone.org/c-c/
There are several eBooks on C++ here... I checked through the first 5 pages (didn't even really get to the programming books that were uploaded)
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/c-primer-(-5-edition-2012-)/
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/optimizing-software-in-c/
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/ivor-horton's-beginning-visual-c-6/
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/programming-principles-and-practice-using-c-(bjarne-stroustrup)/
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/c-without-fear/
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/starting-out-with-c/
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/(c11)the-c-standard-library-a-tutorial-and-reference-2nd-edition/
http://evilzone.org/ebooks/e-book-c-for-dummies/
Those are just C++ books, there are several more, including C :P
Also I suggest starting out with C and then go to C++ when you learn C, you just learned 90% of C++ then you can even fuck around with java easily as well ;) Also I recommend the C Primer Plus book as well as the C++ Primer Plus book ;)
(hint: use the search function for "Primer Plus" and see what pops up :P)
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Cheers Skid.
You've been of great help. I will learn as much as i can. I'll take note of you and won't forget to mention you in future projects.
Thanks again.
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Don't start on a PS3, your going to brick it. And bricking a $200+ console that is extremely useful is not good. IDK about you, but I don't have that kinda money.
You really need the basics before hand. If you want to do high-end stuff you will be mostly working with ARM processors. C is what you need not C++. Embedded C is diff from regular C.
You will need a dev board or platform. I am using a BeagleBoard. There are other options, like GumStix, RaspberryPie, 32bit Arduino, ect... General boards found here (http://hackaday.com/2011/02/01/what-development-board-to-use/) (read the comments too).
Resources:
HaD (http://hackaday.com)- Great for what has been done and what is going on currently. Read the comments on posts too. There are ALOT of great professional people giving great advice and opinions on here. They even ran a tutorials and shit. Really, I check this site everyday when I wake up and go to bed.
Embedded C (http://www.engineersgarage.com/tutorials/emebedded-c-language)- Explains what and why embedded C is diff from regular OS dev of C.
Lady Ada (http://www.adafruit.com/blog/category/armdevelopment/)- adafruit is your fucking friend. Buy your shit from them too, if you can. All open source, hacker owned, looking out for the community, I fucking love adafruit.
Good supplier (http://www.digikey.com/)- Digikey has pretty much everything. From resistors to optoisolators. More importantly, they have datasheets.
Datasheets- This one doesn't have a link because it depends on what processor your deving for. After you pick a processor/devboard to work with you need the datasheet to the processor. Example, here (http://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/omap3530.pdf) is the one for the BeagalBoard I'm working with. There is a lot of technical shit with it too. Like PinMuxing, VDD, Duty Cycle/Clock Jittering, NAND constraints, ect....
All in all, the things you want to do take years of poking around. You would be better spent learning how shit is set up and how it actually works on the electron level
Extras:
http://hackaday.com/2010/12/24/reading-nand-flash-chips-without-removing-them/ (http://hackaday.com/2010/12/24/reading-nand-flash-chips-without-removing-them/)
http://hackaday.com/2012/01/05/reading-nand-flash-with-an-arduino/ (http://hackaday.com/2012/01/05/reading-nand-flash-with-an-arduino/)
http://hackaday.com/2012/09/20/reading-bare-nand-flash-chips-with-a-microcontroller/ (http://hackaday.com/2012/09/20/reading-bare-nand-flash-chips-with-a-microcontroller/)
http://hackaday.com/2012/12/03/odroid-u2-is-latest-barebones-board-begging-to-be-used/ (http://hackaday.com/2012/12/03/odroid-u2-is-latest-barebones-board-begging-to-be-used/)
http://hackaday.com/2012/11/13/cornell-ece-4760-lecture-videos-now-online/ (http://hackaday.com/2012/11/13/cornell-ece-4760-lecture-videos-now-online/) ----------
----------------(watch them all)
Good shit:
http://hackaday.com/2012/11/01/how-computers-work-starting-with-transistor-gates/ (http://hackaday.com/2012/11/01/how-computers-work-starting-with-transistor-gates/)
Yes all from Had. HaD is your friend.
Sorry to butt in a bit skidiot.h:
The links and stuff you provided where great, OP REALLY needs to learn syntax and all and what you posted he needs to look into to know how to code for shit, but embedded stuff is a bit diff. OP needs to look over what you provided, but also needs more to know what I posted. It isn't really about learning C and stuff, if he plans to learn/do what he wants, firmware and all;it takes knowing what to work with, constraints, memory management, what the mcu can handle, clock rates, muxing, nand management/even flashing nand, etc... Hell, I can bet OP can even find the ISP headers on the PS3 board, let alone a "powered" toothbrush to flash firmware that runs a PIC mcu.
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Hey tech,
thanks for replying and i really appreciate the help man. I do understand the kind of risks I'm taking and how time consuming this can be for a beginner like me but i am willing to learn. All these resources will come in good hands and will be put to good use.
Just another question was this somewhat kind of a similar method they used to hack other consoles? what i mean is, did they tinker with the hardware in order to use modified software/ firmwares?. This could be in relation to other consoles like wii, psp etc.
If it's fine with you man, is it okay if i can pm you time to time if i ever need help? or anyone else you recommend?
Thanks for the help man. Much appreciated.