Microsoft: The Xbox 360 is virus proof for three reasons

[Zeus]

Following a rumor yesterday that a virus was in circulation that had the potential to wipe the contents of an Xbox 360 hard drive, Microsoft has issued a response which implies the Xbox 360 is not susceptible to any kind of virus. They give three reasons as to why the Xbox 360 is secure - the 360 is not a closed computer, the Xbox only receives an IP when connected to Live and lastly the Xbox never listens to incoming connections on a nonsecure IP port.


"I do apologize for the inconvenience. I understand that you are concern with regards to virus on Xbox Live that may affect your Xbox 360 console. This not possible, First your Xbox console is not a closed computer. Very little code is shared between the Xbox console and computers. Therefore, attacks that infect computers will generally not affect your Xbox.

Second, your Xbox only receives an IP address when connected to Xbox Live. Otherwise, it does not have an IP address, even if the cable is plugged in. That cable is turned on under only two circumstances: one occurs when you actively play Xbox Live; and the other occurs during System Link play. For System Link play, your Xbox does not actually use an IP address.

Third, at no time does your Xbox actually “listen” to any incoming connections on a nonsecure IP port. It is impossible for a virus to attack an Xbox on an IP address if the Xbox is not listening to an incoming connection.”


News Source: <a href="http://torquedorks.com/2007/08/20/official-word-virus-not-possible-on-the-360/" target="_blank">Torquedorks.com</a>

[pilotlicense]

"your Xbox only receives an IP address when connected to Xbox Live. Otherwise, it does not have an IP address"

Completely false. When functioning as a Media Center extender and browsing media shared on a network computer, the 360 uses the TCP/IP stack and thus HAS an IP address assigned to it. And no, you don't have to be connected to Live to use this functionality. I can't believe they would make such a claim.

[InsaneNutter]

Common sense would have told you it would be impossible for a virus to get on the 360 considering it can’t run unsigned code at the moment.

[grapeape]

"your Xbox only receives an IP address when connected to Xbox Live. Otherwise, it does not have an IP address"

Completely false. When functioning as a Media Center extender and browsing media shared on a network computer, the 360 uses the TCP/IP stack and thus HAS an IP address assigned to it. And no, you don't have to be connected to Live to use this functionality. I can't believe they would make such a claim.

He was probably assuming the person he was responding to was smart enough to figure out the difference between an internal IP and an external one.

[pilotlicense]

He was probably assuming the person he was responding to was smart enough to figure out the difference between an internal IP and an external one.

It's irrelevant. A 360, when it has an "internal IP", is still connected and reachable from the internet. Educate yourself before making stupid comments.

[godashram]

and let's not forget that you need an ip address before you are able to connect to live.... static or dhcp, it doesn't matter. no ip=no live

[alcaholjunkie]

Any machine which can run software is succeptable to mallicious software which may be commonly refered to as a virus. Of course there are some safegaurds like the inability to run unsigned code as InsaneNutter said, but that doesn't mean it will always be effective against mallicious software.

All NICs recieve an IP when enabled/activated, but talking about the network of the 360 is a little irrelevant when it comes to a virus (software which replicates itself), never known any virus to brute-force itself onto a machine. I'm not saying that they can't though, just never heard of one doing so as they are usually software you run, or attatched to software you run. (Repplication by user stupidity, lol)

And the 360 does need to listen on some occaisions, or else system link play won't start. ^_^

ok, enough of my crap, ttfn :-P

[grapeape]

It's irrelevant. A 360, when it has an "internal IP", is still connected and reachable from the internet. Educate yourself before making stupid comments.

Umm internal IP means non-routable...which means an external IP address is only going to get to it if you let it, which means either you bother with no firewall, dont run behind nat and have no security in place or set it up with a static external address to start with. Sure someone could potentially sniff packets, spoof and eventually get in but who in the hell would bother with that?? Its all rather moot anyway hypervisor doesnt allow unsigned code to run anyway.

[pilotlicense]

All NICs recieve an IP when enabled/activated,

Again, technically inaccurate, but I'm not going to waste the day arguing semantics.

[Vesica]

It's irrelevant. A 360, when it has an "internal IP", is still connected and reachable from the internet. Educate yourself before making stupid comments.

eh no, you don't need an external ip address to set up an internal subnet.

[Ormrod]

Internal and external don't matter too much if you are NAT'ing between... I mean you could always use media center without having your machines connected to the internet, but hey... as long as you have a properly configured router you should be alright...

[nwjuggalo]

you "should" be alright :P

Internal and external don't matter too much if you are NAT'ing between... I mean you could always use media center without having your machines connected to the internet, but hey... as long as you have a properly configured router you should be alright...

[felixm477]

He was probably assuming the person he was responding to was smart enough to figure out the difference between an internal IP and an external one.

he must come from a houshold where hes in constant hacking attacks from little sister on her pc in her room you neve kno!

[felixm477]

It's irrelevant. A 360, when it has an "internal IP", is still connected and reachable from the internet. Educate yourself before making stupid comments.
yes and thats only possible if your computer or router allow it to meaning it would be YOUR doing wich would bring this so MS is in its right to claim that the xbox is safe as long as nobody can get unsigned code running on unmodded xbox's.

[Sinar]

Make it a challenge why not microsoft, i thought they would of learned the last times. Say virus-proof hack-proof and it's made a challenge, Say it's more 'secure' oh wait that didn't work either nvm.

[pilotlicense]

yes and thats only possible if your computer or router allow it to meaning it would be YOUR doing wich would bring this so MS is in its right to claim that the xbox is safe as long as nobody can get unsigned code running on unmodded xbox's.

I said absolutely nothing about Microsoft's statement about the security of its system. Nothing whatsoever. I simply pointed out yet another one of their blatant, albeit simple, lies. The XBox 360 does not have to be connected to Live or even to the internet to have an IP assigned to it. That's all I ever said, and I am 100% correct in this statement. You people need to learn to fucking read before trolling.

[OblivionX]

It's irrelevant. A 360, when it has an "internal IP", is still connected and reachable from the internet. Educate yourself before making stupid comments.

So if I have my 360 connected to my PC and im using it as an extender but I have no internet connection in my house my 360 can (for free) and by (magic) connect to the internet. :rolleyes:

[KainXS]

thats gotta be the dumbest thing i have ever heard of

who said that

[Sektor]

the 360 is not a closed computer

If it's not a closed computer then it's open and that's not something they want :)

Obviously the 360 is not open though since it can't run unsigned code (apart from the shader exploit that only works on old kernels).

[wigsplitta]

I said absolutely nothing about Microsoft's statement about the security of its system. Nothing whatsoever. I simply pointed out yet another one of their blatant, albeit simple, lies. The XBox 360 does not have to be connected to Live or even to the internet to have an IP assigned to it. That's all I ever said, and I am 100% correct in this statement. You people need to learn to fucking read before trolling.
Actually it does have to be connected to live to have an assigned ip. Like someone tried to explain to you before, you are talking about your internal networks ip. To prove this I have a banned 360. If I auto assign my router will of course assign an ip in my specified range but won't even stream movies, music, etc from my pc. I have to manually assign a static ip and subnet to get it to stream. The truth is that it calls out to Live and without the ability to connect means no external ip....no way no how! You can use services such as gamespy to connect if you're banned but the ping has to be so good that the person has to be next door. This replicates a private networked game. Again, no public ip. Sorry dude but you're wrong.

[felixm477]

I said absolutely nothing about Microsoft's statement about the security of its system. Nothing whatsoever. I simply pointed out yet another one of their blatant, albeit simple, lies. The XBox 360 does not have to be connected to Live or even to the internet to have an IP assigned to it. That's all I ever said, and I am 100% correct in this statement. You people need to learn to fucking read before trolling.

before pouncing on ppl for accused trolling rethink before you boast catching someone in a lie. the statement was too broad for you to point a finger at them for lying for what its worth they are more right than wrong unless u want to seriously nitpick that everyone will be using media extender capabilties. so again MS didnt like they mearly stated something based on what their device is generally used for. virii spread mostly thru the internet therefor they are talking about ip's you get that expose you to en external network. not one from your pc in your room to the 360.

[zymologist]

hahaha... it's hilarious to watch "gamers" talk about networking, each claiming to be all knowing, but at the same time making fools of themselves in from of the real network engineers

[pilotlicense]

hahaha... it's hilarious to watch "gamers" talk about networking, each claiming to be all knowing, but at the same time making fools of themselves in from of the real network engineers

No ****. I happen to be a network engineer.

[Xenogears V]

Install antivirus!.:p:D!.