MCV/DEVELOP News, events, research and jobs from the games industry
Up iOS update that closes a lockscreen security loophole has also put a stop to a popular iPhone jailbreak. Gizmodo reports that update 6.1 has killed the exploits used by the Evasi0n jailbreak – a hassle free method of freeing iPhones and iPads from Apple’s closed-wall operating system. Users who …
Read More »Security conference unearths Origin security vulnerability
Attendees Amsterdam’s Black Hat security conference have discovered a security vulnerability in EA’s Origin client. ArsTechnica reports that an attack using the loophole takes just seconds to execute” and can even be done without any interaction from the PC owning victim. The weakness is similar to the one discovered in …
Read More »Wii U loophole granted forumite access to debug menu
A member of video games forum NeoGaf appears to have found an OS loophole that grants access to Wii U’s debug menu. The ‘hack’ is no longer available though after Nintendo seemed to quickly issue a fix. Forum user Trike claimed that he was able to access one of the …
Read More »UPDATED: Ubisoft DRM loophole allows remote hackers to access PCs
A potentially very serious issue with the PC DRM employed by Ubisoft seems to have left many gamers susceptible to hackers. Rock Paper Shotgun reports that a problem with the Uplay/DRM infrastructure of a number of Ubisoft titles that allows websites to plant potentially malicious code onto the PCs of …
Read More »Channel Islands lose VAT-loophole court challenge
Jersey and Guernsey has lost their judicial review of the UK Government’s decision to end Low Value Consignment Relief. Low Value Consignment Relief is a tax loophole which means online retailer that operate out of the Channel Islands – including The Hut Group, Play.com and Amazon – do not have …
Read More »ANALYSIS: Channel Island tax dodge
When Play.com took advantage of the Channel Island tax relief back in 1998, it changed UK online retailing overnight. Low-Value Consignment Relief (LVCR) meant that any goods sold from the Channel Islands under 18 didn’t have to pay VAT. That included DVDs, CDs and budget games. And with Play.com based …
Read More »Tax dodgers flee Channel Islands
Online entertainment retailers are preparing to leave the Channel Islands after the UK Government said it will close the VAT loophole next April. MCV understands online retail behemoths may move to Asia, Switzerland and even the US to avoid paying tax on CDs, DVDs and some games. For years, campaigners …
Read More »Indies call for VAT clampdown
Independent games retailers have urged the Government to make good on its promise to review the Channel Islands’ tax loophole. Plans outlined during the 2011 Budget last week include reducing the upper limit on VAT-free goods, publishing a report and holding a meeting in May to discuss whether to remove …
Read More »Budget delivers warning shot to Jersey traders
The tax loophole that has for so long allowed key online retailers to offer cheaper games is under threat. It’s a practice that has been under the spotlight since as long ago as 2005. Chancellor George Osborne has announced as part of today’s budget that the Government will consult on …
Read More »PS3 patch "re-secures" console against piracy
Today’s arrival of the 3.60 PS3 software patch may have won more headlines for its introduction of cloud game save storage, but its effects may have a far larger impact. Digital Foundry reports that the patch also seems to close the security loopholes that have opened the console up to …
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