The service is thought to be the first globally supported web security service for a home game system. It was developed as a module for the PS3 using Trend Micro’s web reputation and URL filtering technology. When a website is accessed from the PS3 the Trend Micro databases are looked up. The URL filtering database classifies websites into categories, and the web reputation database evaluates the web pages, domains and IP addresses. By using both capabilities together, malicious web pages and websites can be blocked.
According to Trend Micro, the web security service categorizes the access to the websites into categories such as alcohol/tobacco, crime, gambling, hacking/proxy avoidance, illegal drugs, sex education, violence/hate/racism and weapons/military. These websites can be blocked by going to the PS3 internet browser menu, selecting ‘Tool’ and then selecting ‘Trend Micro Web Security for PS3’ from ‘Browser Security’. A password will be required for this security service.
Web security for PS3 will be available for free from November 8 2007 until the end of April 2008. After this period, a fee will be charged for the service. The service is provided by updating the PS3 system software to Version 2 and is sold with the user interface in 16 languages.
Gaming consoles have earlier faced virus threats, including PlayStation Portable device, which was targeted by a Trojan horse application posing as a firmware modification and deleted crucial startup files. Similarly, Nintendo’s game console, Nintendo DS was targeted by virus, which damaged its firmware.
Source: ComputerWire daily updates
