(release) molecularShell disguised: a way to protect yourself from prying eyes?
I’ve blogged a few days ago about my concern that using HENkaku and related hacks on your PS Vita could lead to Sony taking action, namely banning people, due to the popularity of the recently released hack for PS Vita 3.60.
HENkaku and other homebrew bubbles show up in your activity feed on the PS Vita, meaning your friends (and Sony) can easily know that you’re using the hack. Although that’s been the case for a while with VHBL bubbles, the popularity of HENkaku is what could make this a problem in Sony’s eyes. Hence, to me, the fear of a ban.
Although the easiest thing to do is probably to not use your main PSN account to avoid a ban, Sony could still ban the console itself.
I need to state once again here that so far nobody has ever been banned for using a PS Vita hack, to the best of my knowledge. This includes HENkaku, but given that it was released only a few days ago, the jury is still out for that one.
It seems some people share my concerns. User TerraCadenceRedux over on Reddit shared a folder of “disguised” molecular Shell vpk packages. These are basically the same molecularShell binary (the package installer / ftp server that ships with HENkaku) but with a different wrapper (specifically, an updated params.sfo file) that pretends this is a legit game such as Freedom Wars, Terraria, or Persona 4 Golden.
It is unclear at this point if such cloaking is enough to hide your homebrew activity from Sony (and if it really matters), but TerraCadenceRedux has confirmed that this does effectively report his activity in his friends’ feeds as if he had been playing one of the games instead of using HENkaku.
Don’t want this to happen? disguising molecularShell might be the solution
TerraCadenceRedux has released his molecularShell disguised in several games, so you can pick the one that you like. For security reasons, you might want to do it on your own rather than trust random files on the internet, the process seems completely straightforward, as TerraCadenceRedux states:
Also it should be noted that all you’d need to do to disguise pretty much any other homebrew is copy the param.sfo from one of these vpk files into another homebrew vpk.
It’s worth noting that you cannot play the game that is used as a cloaking device, so choose wisely 🙂
Download disguised molecularShell
You can pick the disguised molecularShell of your choice from TerraCadenceRedux’s MEGA folder here, or as explained above, do it on your own by replacing the params.sfo file (reminder: .vpk files are zip files).
Source: TerraCadenceRedux on Reddit
Seriously, i just reformatted my memory card in fear of getting my 3k$ investment on my PSN account worth nothing…
Stupid boy… You do realize you could easily avoid ALL forms of detection if you follow the following rules:
1) NEVER go online on PSN when running homebrew. Your internet browser is fine, just not PSN.
2) When you’re finished running homebrew and have closed it, run legit game(s) and subsequently close them 7-8 times. Open it, have it load a bit, then close it. You do this because you want to overwrite your hidden activity log that Sony has access to whenever you sign into PSN. Do all of this offline, and they won’t know a thing when you finally do go online.
3) With the new findings of HenKaku, people will eventually create spoofing/masking tools like with the PS3. Make sure you use them whenever they come out.
Thus why physical copies are better. (deterioration/covienience is why you’d go digital)
Same here, i have so much in my psn id, and have a 80% of titles digital, but in my local walmart still have a ps tv in stock and only 15 bucks and a old 4gb (wishing for some day can use a usb to load all) and create a new id, i am ready to henkaku :3
pd: sorry for my bad english
Same here, i have so much in my psn id, and have a 80% of titles digital, but in my local walmart still have a ps tv in stock and only 15 bucks and a old 4gb (wishing for some day can use a usb to load all) and create a new id, i am ready to henkaku :3
pd: sorry for my bad english :/
This should help you scaring assess, just leave your playstation network on ‘not signed in.’ and Sony wouldn’t get any info of you running or playing whatsoever!!
Can’t we just log out of psn?
for real. this seems like the logical thing to do. even delete that log file if one must before signing in (maybe make a “sign out” bubble that deletes it for you) but if people start spoofing game names on their network its only going to start giving them reasons to begin possible banning.
Will HENkaku port to 3.36 or lower firmware? I don’t want to lose tnv
No that is not their priority. TN-V/ARK support has been rumored on this site to be expected in the next couple of weeks so there would be no point. Just wait it out and in the meantime make a backup of the 3.60 fw update file somewhere to install when support is added.
Likely no, it was stated that it is a low priority, TheZett claimed that TN-V/ARK will be obsolete soon, possibly meaning an alternative is coming or something even better.
As of right now no
Yesterday, something “scary” happened to my Vita with my own account with Henkaku and homebrew installed. I knew about going offline, play log data removal and signing out PSN when using homebrews, which I already did in advanced, but I decided to log in to download some PSN games on PS Store.
Then, after finished everything, went to settings to log out my PSN and noticed my PSN ID changed to like 4 letters/numbers instead of my normal long 12 letters PSN ID. I don’t know how it happened but I quickly signed out and switch to airplane mode.
Thought that my account was hacked or something to do with homebrews that screw up my ID which potentially risking my account for ban if the servers detected the console with ID changed. Then, today I take a look at my Vita and now the ID back to normal. I guess I really need to sacrifice my account; full of downloadable game for the Vita and create a new one.
I just replaced the param.sfo files from my emulators with the one from TerraCadenceRedux and it works so far. But i don’t know if this is just enough to avoid the ban hammer. Atleast, my friends thinks i play Freedom Wars or Crazy Market (for hours haha). Good luck to all who are trying to do this 🙂
Hello. SOme questions (noob questions)… To use this Param.sfo do I have to install any of this VPK files? I mean trough MolecularShell? How can I replace my own Param.sfo from a game I own? Or exactly where do I need place it? Thanks a lot
(1.) To use this Param.sfo do I have to install any of this VPK files?
yes, you can choose any of these vpk files and place it in the molecularshell that you already have.
Place it in ux0: -> pspemu -> PSP -> GAME folder and install vpk file from there.
(2.) How can I replace my own Param.sfo from a game I own?
don’t use your own files from your original game. Use only from TerraCadenceRedux to replace Param.sfo files from your emulators
(3.) Or exactly where do I need place it?
after you’ve installed one of these vpk files from TerraCadenceRedux (see step 1.) you go back by pressing PS and look for the new bubble (Crazy Market or Freedom Wars or whatever you’ve installed. Open it and connect your Vita with Filezilla.
Go to app0: -> sce_sys -> and copy param.sfo. This one is the file you need to replace other param.sfo files from your emulators.
(4.) After you’ve copied the Param.sfo file from your installed vpk (see step 3.) go back to ux0: -> app -> and a folder from one of your emulator that looks like this: RETR00007 (retroarch), QUAK00000 (VitaQuake) open one of the folder from your emulator and go to -> sce_sys -> replace the param.sfo inside with your copied one (see step 3.)
I hope this helps and english is not my native language :PPP 😛
Not native either 😛
So just for ensure. I need the Param.sfo inside each folder of each app (emu) I have right? After install a VPK from TerraCR the new Bubble should be used instead Molecularshell always? Could I just copy the actual file in ” app0: -> sce_sys ->” or need to install the VPK and run the new bubble first? Thanks in advance 😉
(1.) So just for ensure. I need the Param.sfo inside each folder of each app (emu) I have right?
yes, replaced them with the new param.sfo file from your new bubble
(2.) After install a VPK from TerraCR the new Bubble should be used instead Molecularshell always?
yes, if you use the Molecularshell, it would show up as Molecularshell in your log activity, but if you use a vpk from TerraCR then
it should up as Freedom Wars or Crazy Market or whatever you have installed from TerraCR.
(3.) Could I just copy the actual file in ” app0: -> sce_sys ->” or need to install the VPK and run the new bubble first?
first you need to install the VPK from TerraCR, run the new bubble and connect with Filezilla and from there you go to app0: -> sce_sys -> and copy Param.sfo, this file should be used to replace other Param.sfo files from your emu’s, easy peasy 😛
Me again. The VHBL and/or the original MolecularShell can be ‘patched’ this way? I supposed the molecular is safe trough Crazy Market, but can be replaced in VHBL or this is not neccesary?
I am not familiar with VHBL, so i can’t really give you an answer on that 😛
has i said before if i get banned for playing emulators sony can go **** themselves.
Oh hey, that’s me.
Just a note, seeing this reminded me to update my folder. I added disguisers for Super Star Wars, Terraria, and Knytt Underground finally. Persona 4 Portable is coming as soon as it finishes redownloading. I’ll probably also add a subfolder with just the param files so people can put them in whatever vpks they wish.
Persona 4 Golden disguiser and folder of param.sfo files are uploaded.
Thanks 🙂
Can i use the same param .sfo of one game? For all vpk files that i want? i need to install the original game for example crazy market?