Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering 1st Edition

by Andrew Huang (Author)

31 customer reviews

ISBN-13: 978-1593270292

ISBN-10: 1593270291

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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 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.

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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This--this being the attitude encapsulated in Andrew "bunnie" Huang's Hacking the Xbox--is why a lot of people got into the computer industry in the first place. These people liked taking things apart and figuring out how they worked, then making them serve purposes they weren't originally designed for and sharing the new discoveries with others of like mind. Sure, Huang's book is about how to how to turn Microsoft's game console into a high-performance, general-purpose personal computer with a small price tag, and it contains lots of details about the how the heavily advertised gizmo is put together. But you can get the technical material on the Web. What's valuable about Huang's work is that he communicates the pure joy of taking the Xbox apart, figuring out how it works--despite its many designed-in anti-hacking features--and making it do new things. This book reads like the journal of a seventeenth-century voyage of discovery.

There's a wealth of information in these pages about how to disassemble and reverse-engineer electronics, and Huang is careful to show you what tools you need, and how to use them (don't worry if you don't know how to use a soldering iron--that's covered here). There also are step-by-step guides (complete with photos) to a couple of projects, and interviews with key figures in the Xbox-hacking community. --David Wall

Topics covered: How to enjoy a Microsoft Xbox game console without the mindless tedium of playing video games. This book shows you how to open an Xbox, make modifications to it (from a cosmetic LED color change, to putting in a new power supply, to adding a USB connector), and make the changes needed to get Linux running on it. In the process, readers get an education in reverse engineering electronic circuits, as well as in basic electronic techniques (soldering, crimping, etc) and in the intellectual property law that governs hacker activity.

Review

"A piece of simple, succint eloquence, this has fast become one of the most treasured books we own." -- PopularMechanics.com

"Although it's a technical book, it unfolds like a spy novel." -- Peter Wayner, Slashdot.org, June 26, 2003

"If you are interested in programming or even hacking, youre going to love this book." -- Cosmos Gaming, December 19, 2004 http://www.cosmosgaming.com/reviewother.php?subaction=showfull&id=1103512869&archive=&start_from=&ucat=9&

"an elegant, smart, and accessible introduction to hacking that happens to use the Xbox as a learning tool" -- San Francisco Bay Guardian, September 17, 2003

An introduction to copyright law in the digital age -- The New York Times, July 10, 2003

I recommend this book even to those who don't want to hack an Xbox...an interesting and informative read. -- About.com

If you are interested in hardware, software hacking and reverse engineering - this book should be on your shelf. -- E. Jonathan Hardy, Host, TechWeek TV!, August 2003

Teaches readers to think like hardware hackers, using the game console the way a med school teacher uses Gray's Anatomy -- SecurityFocus, July 2003

[Huang's] account of how he cracked the Xbox is fascinating and his perseverance is awesome. -- Personal Computer World, UK, August 21, 2003

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Product details

Paperback: 288 pages
Publisher: No Starch Press; 1 edition (July 2003)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1593270291
ISBN-13: 978-1593270292
Product Dimensions: 6 x 0.8 x 9 inches
Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Average Customer Review: 31 customer reviews
Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #258,919 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #39 in Computer Hardware Peripherals (Books)
- #80 in Network Storage & Retrieval Administration
- #57 in Computer & Video Game Design

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skinny viking

Good intro book to embedded hardware

January 3, 2017

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Starts slow by making some popular modifications and a battery replacement. It then jumps to some basic and advanced PCB design. This book is a great intro to embeded hardware hacking/creation. A beginner will probably only be able to retain a small amount of the content from the later part of the book because of the leap in complexity. Still would recommend this book because for the price you will get a good amount of information.

2 people found this helpful

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Retired Husband

High Level Technical Notes for Original Xbox

February 6, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This is a very interesting book about the original Xbox. It's an engineer's book written for engineers. I enjoyed it because I have an electronics engineering background. The book describes in minute detail the trials, tribulations, failures, and success that the author had on two fronts. First, there was the technical issues that were hidden by the designers of the unit. Second, there were legal challenges that tried to prevent him from even understanding the Xbox. It also shows how the author communicated with others in the electronic and computer industry and how they used world wide team work to solve the problems.

3 people found this helpful

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Brilliant book

March 20, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I am glad I didn't eschew this book because of my first impression of it being too narrow-focused and (possibly) outdated. I am only half way into it, but I already learned a lot. It contains so much information that goes far beyond the Xbox hacking itself: electronics gear preparation, soldering techniques, PCB design, FPGA design, etc. Most of these are essential knowledges that still apply today, 10 years after its publication.

5 people found this helpful

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Donald A. Lane

Not just for Xbox

May 9, 2013

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Acquired an old, used Xbox, so I bought this to see if I could maybe turn it into something useful. Well written book, and was very instructive on many techniques for hacking hardware, which could be used for more than just Xboxes. Good if you're into hardware.

3 people found this helpful

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Jonathan Goldsmith

Great!

October 7, 2016

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

Great book! Love it, and it is in very good condition, as described by seller!

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abc123

Fascinating read, short on actual projects

August 4, 2009

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

I purchased this book because I would like to learn about reverse engineering without getting a degree. Tinkering with an Xbox, which can be purchased for less than $50, sounds like a great idea. The book, sadly, is short on actual projects to learn from. The vast majority is about hacking, reverse engineering, and legal issues related to these activities. The book is well written and the arguments for the freedom to reverse engineer and invent in your own garage beautifully argued. It made for a really great read but left me wanting regarding the original reason I purchased it.

6 people found this helpful

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Amazon Customer

Has a lot of Info, but is old

September 7, 2007

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

This book was published a couple of years ago, so it's problem is that it doesn't cover the newer 1.6 Xboxes and doesn't contain Microsoft Dashboard 5960 hacks. Otherwise, it's a wonderful book for someone looking to do something more interesting with their old Xbox, I mean, now that it's place is being taken by the newer 360.

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joseph sarchenko

very cool book about playing around

March 8, 2015

Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase

very cool book about playing around. shows that electronics do not have to be limited to what we just purchase them for. Anyone that bought the first original xbox could tell that there was serious computing power and ability that just needs to be unleashed.

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Hacking the Xbox: An Introduction to Reverse Engineering 1st Edition

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