Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering

This hands-on guide to hacking begins with step-by-step tutorials on hardware modifications that teach basic hacking techniques as well as essential reverse engineering skills. The book progresses into a discussion of the Xbox security mechanisms and other advanced hacking topics, with an emphasis on educating the readers on the important subjects of computer security and reverse engineering. "Hacking the Xbox" includes numerous practical guides, such as where to get hacking gear, soldering techniques, debugging tips and an Xbox (tm) hardware reference guide.

"Hacking the Xbox" also confronts the social and political issues facing today's hacker by looking forward and discussing the impact of today's legal challenges on legitimate reverse engineering activities. The book includes a chapter written by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) about the rights and responsibilities of hackers, and concludes by discussing the latest trends and vulnerabilities in secure PC platforms.

Contents

Chapter 1: Voiding The Warranty
Chapter 2: Thinking Inside The Box
Chapter 3: Installing a Blue LED
Chapter 4: Building a USB Adapter
Chapter 5: Replacing a Broken Power Supply
Chapter 6: The Best Xbox Game: Security Hacking
Chapter 7: A Brief Primer on Security
Chapter 8: Reverse Engineering Xbox Security
Chapter 9: Sneaking In the Back Door
Chapter 10: More Hardware Projects
Chapter 11: Developing Software for the Xbox
Chapter 12: Caveat Hacker
Chapter 13: Onward!
Appendix A: Where to Get Your Hacking Gear
Appendix B: Soldering Techniques
Appendix C: Getting Into PCB Layout
Appendix D: Getting Started with FPGAs
Appendix E: Debugging: Hints and Tips
Appendix F: Xbox Hardware Reference