Flash flaw may prompt Wii to 'hang'
Wii splat
Nintendo's Wii gaming console could be at risk from vulnerabilities within Adobe's Flash software, incorporated in the console's Opera-based web browser, security firm Symantec has warned.
The vulnerability, which affects Flash .FLV video files, means creators could send gamers a link to a "specially crafted video" that once opened would cause the console to crash or hang.
Videos of the crash occurring on Wii consoles worldwide have already begun appearing on You Tube:
Symantec's Wii hangs via YouTube
Adobe has already issued a patch for malicious .SWF files that could affect Flash Player versions 9.0.45.0 and earlier, 8.0.34.0 and earlier, and 7.0.69.0 and earlier. However, while the patch does cover the plug-in for the Opera browser on a variety of computer platforms, it's still unclear whether it fixes the potential vulnerability on the Wii console.
The Wii version of Opera is only available through the console's own internet channel. Originally free, it now costs 500 Wii points - which cost $5 or €5 in real money. At this stage it's not known whether Nintendo has posted a revised version of the browser containing Adobe's changes.
Symantec has also warned video hosting sites accessible through the Wii that they too should be mindful of content, even going as far as to suggest the scanning of all new video content.
COMMENTS
No surprise
Yawn. Another piece of closed-source software, another vulnerability, blah blah.
What the hell is it going to take before governments impose a simple OUTRIGHT BAN on closed-source software?
Wake me up when it happens.
Is that it?
The only thing that crashes on the Wii is an add on for viewing certain file types on certain web pages. Which not many people would actually care about when web browsing.
People cope with Windows and all of it's myriad of problems and they still sell consoles and operating systems.
So I still can't see a reason not to buy the console. Cheap, healthy (you played the tennis?), cheerful, addictive.
Yeah? Well..
Use Linux or OSX instead! HA HA HA *snort* Picard rules Shatner drools! Oh, and M$ sucks! Yeah!
Just kidding, seems to be the standard response to all internet stories these days.
I finally got my hands on a Wii and was a little annoyed to find that the coveted browsing capability was a priced add on. Not so much because I didn't have the 5 bucks (I did) but because Opera's site regarding their Wii partnership still says it's free. However, I ponied up and it works fairly nicely, though I'm still waiting for a Wiiboard to use instead of the shakey point/click/type method now.
I do have to say I was wondering how one "upgrades" the browser on a regular basis via this thing though. I have a similar problem with my WinCE phone where IE updates are still a head scratcher. 3rd party apps are no big deal, but I'll be damned if I can upgrade WMP or IE as needed. I'm guessing I'm going to run into similar problems with content players on the Wii.
Is this the first vulnerability found for the Wii?
If so, it took a hell of a lot longer than it did to find one on the iPhone. :)
