The latest firmware update for PlayStation 3, version 3.60, is now live and available to download the next time you connect to the PlayStation Network.

While a rather large ‘to-do’ was made over the fact that, with this update, PlayStation Plus subscribers would be able to save their games online and access those saves anywhere in the world from any PS3, not much else has been added with the firmware. Unless you value the battery life of your controller. And security.

Yes, that’s right! Finally… we’re able to set how long it takes before our PlayStation 3 controllers automatically power down when inactive to save us some battery life in the long run.

Also: It seems as though Sony Computer Entertainment has finally tackled the extremely serious security issues that past PS3 firmware updates have included and performed some technical wizardry to prevent hackers from wreaking havoc. At least for a little while, anyway.

From a series of Twitter tweets by admired PS3 firmware ‘investigator,’ KakARoToKS, it sounds as though SCE has secured the PS3 by removing and bypassing key footholds previously used by hackers to access the system:

“Wow, in 3.60, Sony removed all the loaders,” writes KakARoToKS, “no more isoldr/lv1ldr/lv2ldr/appldr.. but they added lv0.2! Seems they found a way to secure ps3”

Sounds significant. Also:

“Humm, looks like lv0.2 is just the SCE header of lv0, just like the spkg, it doesn’t contain code in itself… just resigned with securely..”

As well as:

“For now, it looks to me (at first glance) that the ps3 has been resecured, but it doesn’t mean it can’t be broken again from scratch..”

Does this mean the PlayStation 3 hacking menace is at an end? Don’t count on it, but we’re safe and secure for now, it seems.

Source: KakARoToKS on Twitter