| Recurring |
one_organization, multiple_organization |
(a) The software failure incident related to hacking and jailbreaking of PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55 by George Hotz, known as "Geohot," is an example of a software failure incident that happened again within the same organization, Sony. This incident was part of Sony's ongoing battle with hackers, starting with the removal of the "Other OS" option, which led to various hacking attempts and jailbreaks to restore that functionality [3828].
(b) The software failure incident involving hacking and jailbreaking of PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55 is also an example of a software failure incident that has happened at multiple organizations. This incident showcases the ongoing battle between Sony and hackers, with various hacking attempts and jailbreaks surfacing to circumvent security measures put in place by the company [3828]. |
| Phase (Design/Operation) |
design, operation |
(a) The software failure incident related to the design phase can be seen in the article where Sony announced the removal of the "Other OS" option from the PlayStation 3. This decision was made to make the system "a more secure system" [3828]. However, this design change led to dissatisfaction among users who were running Linux on the console. Subsequently, George Hotz released a hack that allowed users to run another operating system on the console, highlighting a failure due to contributing factors introduced by system development decisions.
(b) The software failure incident related to the operation phase is evident in the article where a hack called PS Jailbreak surfaced, allowing console owners to play games via the PlayStation 3's hard drive or an external drive. This unauthorized operation of the system through the hack led to a conflict between Sony and alleged hackers, resulting in legal actions and security patches in subsequent firmware updates [3828]. This failure can be attributed to contributing factors introduced by the operation or misuse of the system. |
| Boundary (Internal/External) |
within_system |
(a) within_system: The software failure incident in this case is primarily within the system. Sony filed a restraining order against George Hotz and others for allegedly bypassing "effective technological protective measures" in PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55, allowing users to run custom packages on the console and potentially enabling the use of illegal copies of PlayStation 3 video games [3828]. Sony's battle with hackers, including the removal of the "Other OS" option and subsequent security patches in firmware updates, demonstrates how the failure originated from within the system itself. |
| Nature (Human/Non-human) |
non-human_actions, human_actions |
(a) The software failure incident related to non-human actions in this case is the bypassing of "effective technological protective measures" in PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55, which allowed for the jailbreak to run custom packages on the console [3828].
(b) The software failure incident related to human actions is the alleged actions of George Hotz, known as "Geohot," and other individuals in bypassing the protective measures in the firmware, offering the jailbreak, and engaging in activities that Sony claims violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and the Computer Fraud Abuse Act [3828]. |
| Dimension (Hardware/Software) |
hardware, software |
(a) The software failure incident related to hardware:
- The incident involves a software failure that is related to hardware as Sony removed the "Other OS" option from the PlayStation 3, which allowed users to install an operating system, most often Linux, on pre-Slim models of the game console [3828].
- Sony's decision to remove the "Other OS" feature was rooted in its desire to make the system "a more secure system" [3828].
(b) The software failure incident related to software:
- The incident involves a software failure that is related to software as hackers like George Hotz developed jailbreaks and hacks to bypass the security measures in PlayStation 3 firmware versions, enabling users to run custom packages on the console and potentially play illegal copies of games [3828].
- Sony filed a restraining order against Hotz and others for allegedly bypassing "effective technological protective measures" in the firmware, indicating a software-related security breach [3828]. |
| Objective (Malicious/Non-malicious) |
malicious |
(a) The software failure incident in this case is malicious. Sony filed a restraining order against George Hotz, known as "Geohot," and other individuals for allegedly bypassing "effective technological protective measures" in PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55 with the intention of enabling the running of custom packages on the console, including potentially illegal copies of PlayStation 3 video games [3828]. The incident involved circumvention technology and tools being used to bypass security measures put in place by Sony, leading to a legal battle between Sony and the hackers involved.
(b) The software failure incident is non-malicious. The incident involved the jailbreaking of PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55 to allow users to run custom packages on the console, particularly aiming to bring back the "Other OS" option that was removed by Sony. This action was not intended to harm the system but rather to restore a feature that had been taken away by Sony [3828]. |
| Intent (Poor/Accidental Decisions) |
poor_decisions |
(a) The intent of the software failure incident related to poor_decisions:
- Sony's decision to remove the "Other OS" option from the PlayStation 3 was a key factor leading to the software failure incident involving hackers like Geohot. This decision was rooted in Sony's desire to make the system more secure, but it ultimately sparked backlash from users who were running Linux on the console [3828].
(b) The intent of the software failure incident related to accidental_decisions:
- The software failure incident involving the jailbreak for PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55 was not accidental but rather a deliberate action by hackers like Geohot to bypass the system's protective measures and enable custom packages on the console. Sony's legal actions against Geohot and other individuals indicate that the incident was not accidental but intentional [3828]. |
| Capability (Incompetence/Accidental) |
development_incompetence, unknown |
(a) The software failure incident related to development incompetence is evident in the article as Sony filed a restraining order against George Hotz, known as "Geohot," and other individuals for allegedly bypassing "effective technological protective measures" in PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55. This indicates that the hackers were able to exploit vulnerabilities in the system due to potential shortcomings in the development of the firmware by Sony [3828].
(b) The software failure incident related to accidental factors is not explicitly mentioned in the article. |
| Duration |
permanent, temporary |
(a) The software failure incident in this case can be considered permanent as it involves a legal battle between Sony and hackers, specifically George Hotz, over the jailbreak for PlayStation 3 firmware version 3.55. Sony filed a restraining order against Hotz and others for bypassing protective measures in the firmware, leading to a prolonged legal dispute [3828].
(b) On the other hand, the software failure incident can also be seen as temporary as Sony continuously released firmware updates with additional security patches to address the vulnerabilities exploited by hackers. For example, firmware version 3.55 included a security patch to address the issues [3828]. |
| Behaviour |
omission, value, other |
(a) crash: The articles do not mention a specific instance of the system crashing and losing state.
(b) omission: The software failure incident related to the omission of the "Other OS" option from the PlayStation 3. This omission led to dissatisfaction among users who were utilizing Linux on the console [3828].
(c) timing: The articles do not mention a specific instance of the system performing its intended functions too late or too early.
(d) value: The software failure incident related to the system performing its intended functions incorrectly, specifically allowing the jailbreak that could potentially enable the use of illegal copies of PlayStation 3 video games on the console [3828].
(e) byzantine: The articles do not mention a specific instance of the system behaving erroneously with inconsistent responses and interactions.
(f) other: The software failure incident involves the system being hacked to bypass protective measures, leading to legal action by Sony against the hacker Geohot and others [3828]. |