Sony has - temporarily at least - blocked a number of PS3 users running hacked firmware from accessing the console's online service.

According to modding site PSX-Scene (via Edge), overnight the platform holder blocked two circumvention methods used to play pirated games over PlayStation Network while running 3.55 custom firmware.

These methods involved hosting hacked verification files that intercepted PS3 DNS requests and reported back that the system is running the latest, currently unhackable 3.56 firmware.

Sony has used this approach before, and hackers have said it only works until a new PS3 firmware update is released, so it appears to be a temporary solution to PS3 security breaches.

http://www.computerandvideogames.com/28 ... -from-psn/

As someone not interested in hacking consoles, just wanting them to play the games I buy it is a pain to have be connected to have updates.

Yeah, you have to be connected these days just to make some games playable

Unless of course you have a hacked/cracked game.. oh the irony. To fully enjoy games on your own terms, it can pay to get the dodgy copy.

I was actually thinking of the games that weren't completed before going on sale , but good point

My Xbox 360 is connected to mine. I wonder how it will cope when I upgrade the network in a month or two's time? At the moment it is a 20 digit WPA2 password over 802.11b/g to be replaced with a 50 digit over 802.11n.

Those banned hackers simply update their firmwars and they're no longer blocked.