Possible Xbox 360 mod chip

[shmokes]

http://www.xbox-scene.com/xbox1data/sep/EEuAyuFFEkegQerZEd.php

Sounds promising.  Don't hold your breath, but if they're pulling everyone's legs they're doing a good job.

[GoPodular.com]

I wouldn't recommend installing a MOD chip on a 360 just yet.  AFAIK, the 360 is the first console that fully embraces the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) "stuff".  Basically, each xbox has a unique ID number.  That number can be traced to whoever bought the unit unless it was paid for in cash in a place without security cams.  If they cracked the TPM, my hat goes off to them.  If they didn't, read your EULA manual very carefully... page 24... at the bottom:
"Caution:
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Microsoft could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment."

Notice the wording; "authority".  Can they remotely "shut off" your 360?   Unless the TPM is disabled, they know exactly which box it is AND who bought it.  And if the TPM *is* disabled... you just might be a terrorist.

I remember the cable company knocking on the door of an old girlfriends house.  They wanted to know if they were going to start paying for the cable they were pirating.  That was like 10 years ago.  Last week I was talking with a tech at the cable company trying to troubleshoot my internet connection.  It's Orwellian what info they have about what's inside your house.  He was able to help me repair a router I had that was behind another router.

It's 1984, be mindful of what you do. 
The PC you're on probably has some kind of TPM as well.  Dell, HP & Gateway have had TPM for awhile now.  Look through the literature for your mobo and see if you see anything about TPM, Presidio, Palladium, or Lagrande. I'm not deep enough into it to know the ins/outs of each system or when each was introduced, but  I *DO* know it was pushed by the DRM guys for about 8 years now & the Dept of Homeland Security gave it the final push.  Somebody somewhere is logging everywhere you go and what you do when you're there.

[SOAPboy]

I wouldn't recommend installing a MOD chip on a 360 just yet.  AFAIK, the 360 is the first console that fully embraces the TPM (Trusted Platform Module) "stuff".  Basically, each xbox has a unique ID number.  That number can be traced to whoever bought the unit unless it was paid for in cash in a place without security cams.  If they cracked the TPM, my hat goes off to them.  If they didn't, read your EULA manual very carefully... page 24... at the bottom:
"Caution:
Any changes or modifications not expressly approved by Microsoft could void the user's
authority to operate the equipment."

Notice the wording; "authority".  Can they remotely "shut off" your 360?   Unless the TPM is disabled, they know exactly which box it is AND who bought it.  And if the TPM *is* disabled... you just might be a terrorist.

I remember the cable company knocking on the door of an old girlfriends house.  They wanted to know if they were going to start paying for the cable they were pirating.  That was like 10 years ago.  Last week I was talking with a tech at the cable company trying to troubleshoot my internet connection.  It's Orwellian what info they have about what's inside your house.  He was able to help me repair a router I had that was behind another router.

It's 1984, be mindful of what you do. 
The PC you're on probably has some kind of TPM as well.  Dell, HP & Gateway have had TPM for awhile now.  Look through the literature for your mobo and see if you see anything about TPM, Presidio, Palladium, or Lagrande. I'm not deep enough into it to know the ins/outs of each system or when each was introduced, but  I *DO* know it was pushed by the DRM guys for about 8 years now & the Dept of Homeland Security gave it the final push.  Somebody somewhere is logging everywhere you go and what you do when you're there.

So.... pull the ethernet out.....

[JackTucky]

That number can be traced to whoever bought the unit unless it was paid for in cash in a place without security cams. 

So, if I pay cash, with security cams, they will use face recognition software to figure out who I am and them come get me? 

If I pay with credit card, the store I buy it at is forwarding serial# and purchaser info to microsoft?  They're probably fowarding my Tivo wishlist too!  Fargin snoopers!

I will wear my DrewKaree mask and my foil hat.

Jacktucky

[pointdablame]

So.... pull the ethernet out.....

I hate agreeing with SoapBoy    but he's right.

A modchip for the 360 will likely be similar to those available for the Xbox.  You will need to either disable the modchip entirely when accessing the Internet/Xbox Live - OR - just don't connect that Xbox to the network.

As good as TPM might be, they can't track you if you don't connect your known modded system into the open network.  And if you do that.. well.... shame on you for being naive.  Microsoft has been kicking off people who log onto Live with modchips for a long time now, and they will likely do that for the 360 as well.

And they won't shut off your system if it's known to be modded.  How?  They'd have to force an update to your 360 and effectively lock and/or brick the entire system.  That'll go over real well with the public    They can't magically kill your 360 over ethernet or AC, and I doubt even the MS haters of the world think that they'll start bricking people's $500 game systems... especially when you consider the fact that MS has actually somewhat embraced the modding scene as it grew the installed base of the first box by a large amount.

[GoPodular.com]

That's the thing with TPM.  My understanding is that it broadcasts itself.

"This is xbox 360 #0000-0000-0000-0000.  Come back"
"This is MS central, have you been tampered with #0000-0000-0000-0000?"
"Yes."
"Authority for use revoked.  Farewell #0000-0000-0000-0000."

That's why I would think they need to disable TPM entirely.  That may mean your system has to stay offline for good.

Of course this is all wild speculation from a devils advocate standpoint, but from reading the manual, it's possible.  We'll have to wait for more info from the guys that are doing it.

So, if I pay cash, with security cams, they will use face recognition software to figure out who I am and them come get me?

LOL, that's why I put that stipulation there.  Make sure the shiny side of the aluminum foil is "facing in".  Otherwise they can still track you via the chip implanted during your last flu shot.

[pointdablame]

That's the thing with TPM.  My understanding is that it broadcasts itself.

"This is xbox 360 #0000-0000-0000-0000.  Come back"
"This is MS central, have you been tampered with #0000-0000-0000-0000?"
"Yes."
"Authority for use revoked.  Farewell #0000-0000-0000-0000."

That's why I would think they need to disable TPM entirely.  That may mean your system has to stay offline for good.

Of course this is all wild speculation from a devils advocate standpoint, but from reading the manual, it's possible.  We'll have to wait for more info from the guys that are doing it.

But it broadcasts itself on what??  Magical pixie dust? 

If the only thing plugged into your xbox360 is the video cables and power, that is that.  It can try to send out any damn signals it wants... the only thing they'll do is bounce off the walls.  Thus... like I said... for this to work, you'd have to not use a modded system online, or use an alternative online setup (like tunneling software available for Xbox), or disable online capabilities entirely while the modchip is on, and put them back while it is off.  Presumably, when you disable the modchip, you would have to make it seem as though NOTHING has been tampered with... again, just like modchips on the first xbox.

If I shut my modchip off and go online, all is well.  Its a stock xbox... nothing is changed.  It just happens to have a chip in there that is totally off and not doing anything.  Only going online with the chip ON causes problems.

[Howard_Casto]

Mind you I think the mod-chip is a waste anyway.  The whole reason the original xbox was modded was because the dash sucked and it was hard for small, third-party developers to get their games on it.  This isn't the case with the 360. 

HOWEVER... I've yet to see a system that can't be modded. The original xbox boasted similar anti-piracy tech too.  Only problem was the designers foolishly left pinouts to the dev upgrade port (essentially a parallel port) on the frikkin motherboard!  So all that was required for the hack was to disable the actual encryption chip and put a fake one on the upgrade port.  The thing about anti-piracy hardware is it's essentially useless unless the system is totally non-upgradeable.  As we know the 360 has all kinds of nifty ports, so it ain't gonna happen. 

[shmokes]

The thing about anti-piracy hardware is it's essentially useless unless the system is totally non-upgradeable.

And even if it's totally non-upgradeable it's still probably crackable.

[GoPodular.com]

But it broadcasts itself on what??  Magical pixie dust? 

Got some?   

Yeah, it has to be connected online or it wouldn't matter.

I'm under the impression that the 360 TPM is stuffed into the cpu itself, not a separate chip.  Maybe not?  They do it for other platforms though.

[Howard_Casto]

The thing about anti-piracy hardware is it's essentially useless unless the system is totally non-upgradeable.

And even if it's totally non-upgradeable it's still probably crackable.

Agreed, but at some point it becomes impractical/not cost-effective to mod the device.  Just like I COULD interface an old laptop lcd screen with a custom build hardware driver and video card combo but it's a lot simplier and cheaper to just by a regular desktop lcd screen. 

Having some sort of upgrade slot just makes it realitively simple/cheap to mod a device.

[Stingray]

The whole reason the original xbox was modded was because the dash sucked and it was hard for small, third-party developers to get their games on it. 

Okay Howard, I know you aren't this naive.

-S

[shmokes]

Stingray,

You have so little faith in humanity   

[SNAAKE]

The whole reason the original xbox was modded was because the dash sucked and it was hard for small, third-party developers to get their games on it. 

Okay Howard, I know you aren't this naive.

-S

what he REALLY meant was "the whole reason the original xbox was modded so people can rip games directly on hard drive and play without ever paying for the games" 

[big daddy]

Mind you I think the mod-chip is a waste anyway.  The whole reason the original xbox was modded was because the dash sucked and it was hard for small, third-party developers to get their games on it.  This isn't the case with the 360. 

Well I don't have the 360, but as I understand it, even the parts they opened up (video streaming from your pc) sucks or has software limitations...so you still need a hack to make it work like you want it...which you can't do unless it's modded.  And is there an extensive emulator community for the 360 right now?  I didn't think anybody had anything like that going, which is another reason to mod it. 

And there is the ever present, "rent a game at blockbuster and now I own it" reason.   

[shmokes]

I use my modded Xbox as a media center more than a game machine.  If I were to get an Xbox 360 it would be virtually useless as a media center because ALL of my video content is encoded with DIVX which the 360 doesn't support.  It's a step in the right direction, but it's nowhere near there yet.  Not to mention that it's always going to be difficult to persuade people that they want to pay for games when they don't have to.

[Jabba]

I've only played one at Best Buy. Played the Ping Pong and the Boxing game. Graphics are super smooth and unreal in reality!!!

But, I think I'll wait a year until the prices come down and real good mod chips have been out on the market and have been tried, tested and true...