Hackers released a tool about 24 hours ago which allows users to swap their PS3 console ID with another PS3 consoles ID.

Sony bans PS3s based on their console IDs (not MAC address like Xbox360s) and this tool allows hackers to swap the banned console ID with another unbanned console and connect back on to PSN.

Users can only use authentic PS3 console IDs (off other consoles) and can't generate them themselves, hence they have to get real PS3 console IDs. Buy a PS3, get the ID, return it to store kind of deal...

Furthermore, the tool can be used by people who have not been banned yet, as a safety net. If they use this tool to connect to PSN before they get banned and eventually get banned, their console ID is not banned but some other persons PS3.

Not going to put any links or tool names, but this could potentially become quite a bad situation. IMO Sony should have never picked a fight with the hacking community...seems like its getting out of control.

well is it hard for sony to switch to mac address?

Considreing Xbox 1 used the mac address to ban people in 2004 so Im sure its possible for Sony to do it with PS3 as well. But who knows what infrastructure PSN has...as things are, maybe there was something stopping them from using the MAC address for bans.

I think they should make it a combination of IP address, console ID and MAC address and blacklist them. That way, an innocent will never be harmed.

That way people aren't going to buy used consoles, Sony should thank the hackers on that one

This is going to be a tough fight. Time for sony to make the next move. 

I've read up on a big hacking site on it right now. According to them, it MIGHT succeed in fooling PSN out of considering your console banned, but it's not guaranteed. Either way, the easiest way for a ban is to ban by MAC. MAC's are utterly unchangeable.

...and the battle continues. Go Sony - if Microsoft succeeded in creating a strong defense network for all of its post-Falcon consoles, then they can too.

For now, I'll refrain from any and all Super SFIV online.

edit: re-reading the thread on that popular forum, it's confirmed to (not) work with PSN most of the time - if you guys are interested in the thread, hit me up on my wall. I'll PM it to you.

that's some pretty awesome homebrewing there,..truely the robin hoods of our generation.

robbin' hoods is more like it.

Banning the console off PSN was a normal move though. Im pretty sure this tool would have come out whatever Sony did beside that.