PS3 hardrive or surfing online?

[UlicBelouve]

It think it comes down to the viability of such protection. Sure, you can download some video that corrupts your harddrive with some virus. But what are the vectors for the PS3 being able to spread viruses? What kind of information can someone steal off of a PS3?

PCs are still the bigger field in terms of the type of rewards one can get from viruses: people store sensitive information on them, they are tied into corporate backbones, most have an always-on-connection, and they use a common programming language.

If the only threat of a virus on a PS3 is it damaging your console, there will likely be little need for AV software. It will be a while (if ever) before viruses are a large threat to PS3s. I think the shell in which a lot of things run is sufficient.

I'll only worry once it becomes a problem for smartphones, because those are a bigger target right now, than PS3s.

[crunchywyte]

Originally Posted by UlicBelouve

What kind of information can someone steal off of a PS3?.

Probably none....but what about a disgruntled HDDVD owner....?

[terjeber]

Originally Posted by UlicBelouve

Sure, you can download some video that corrupts your harddrive with some virus.

Not really, no. A virus needs to reside in executable code, a video is data only. The only way a virus can reside in video is if the video player on the PS3 is broken and will execute arbitrary code when exploited. This scenario is rather far-fetched and it is exceedingly rare that malware (virii, spyware) spreads like this. A virus spreads when someone downloads executables, pirated software, games demos etc. In some cases even legitimate software.

Originally Posted by UlicBelouve

PCs are still the bigger field ... and they use a common programming language.

PCs have a huge variety of programming languages. This statement is just strange.

Originally Posted by UlicBelouve

I'll only worry once it becomes a problem for smartphones, because those are a bigger target right now, than PS3s.

This one I do agree with though, and smartphones, particularly the ones that are used through companies, such as BlackBerry, are a much more attractive target.

[Phane]

I really wouldn't worry about virii on the PS3. It's highly unlikely that you'll come across one. You'd have to be running third party programs, which I don't think the PS3 will allow you to do without taking advantage of some kind of exploit or hack, which you wouldn't do just by browsing around online and downloading videos or images.

[actionhank]

Just stay a from the naughty websites!

I don't know if this is exactly true, but even if a virus starts to crawl around the internet specifically designed to attack the PS3 Sony can add a fix to this security hole in the next firmware update. Unless the virus somehow disables you're ability to update via the internet or by CD.