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DS development > RSA Is Used To Encrypt Wireless Downloads - Official!

#35330 - PhoenixSoft - Thu Feb 03, 2005 4:34 am

From IGN:

Quote:
Nintendo Uses RSA Security
BSAFE encryption to be used in future wireless-capable DS software.
By Craig Harris
February 2, 2005 - RSA Security today announced that Nintendo is a licensor of RSA's BSAFE encryption solutions for the Nintendo DS system. This encryption will allow for safe and protected data transferred wirelessly between Nintendo DS units.



RSA BSAFE technology is used to protect the digital rights of game publishers for titles shared over these wireless links. The technology also allows Nintendo to protect game software that is issued on a trial basis for play in retail stores and other demo environments.

"Nintendo's use of our embedded RSA BSAFE technology in its portable game console is a great endorsement of our leadership in providing the security components consumer device manufacturers need, in order to offer protection for digital entertainment assets on their platforms," said Rick Welch, Vice President of Developer Solutions and Professional Services at RSA Security.

Nintendo DS systems have been using RSA security since the unit's debut in November 2004, as noted in the "RSA Secured" branding on the back of every system.

#35333 - Abscissa - Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:39 am

From the wording of that, it sounds like confirmation that current DS games do not use RSA for wireless and hence the DS supports *but* does not require it. In which case: Yay for us! Of course, it could just be poorly worded: maybe they were using future tense just to make it sound fancier.

#35334 - ravuya - Thu Feb 03, 2005 5:57 am

Hands up, anyone surprised?
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#35337 - Lynx - Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:12 am

Doesn't the fact that people haved sniffed wireless communications prove that it's not required? It reads to me that it has the ability to have RSA encryption, so if I want to click on "Order" to order Mario 64 DS using my DS (from a downloaded Demo?), I don't have to worry about my CC info being stolen..

#35342 - Darkain - Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:04 am

as of current, i have not seen a single game use encryption on its wireless. my guess is that it is only talked about as a means of 802.11 layer 2 encryption for hotspot access points that have said features enabled.
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#35343 - TJ - Thu Feb 03, 2005 10:58 am

I had always assumed the RSA encryption was for future WEP support.

#35367 - extrarice - Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:17 pm

PhoenixSoft wrote:
From IGN:

Quote:
Nintendo Uses RSA Security
BSAFE encryption to be used in future wireless-capable DS software.
By Craig Harris

....

The technology also allows Nintendo to protect game software that is issued on a trial basis for play in retail stores and other demo environments.


Now THAT has me interested. Imagine Nintendo having a device in a retail store that just pumps out demo code to people's DS units that wirelessly connect to it. No more broken controllers on the demo unit at the retail store. People can try out games on their own equipment at no cost, before buying the game. Absolutely ingenious. "DS Wireless Demo Hotspot at <retailer X>!" Hit the mall every weekend to see what demos are playing. Absolutely incredible.
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#35369 - Lynx - Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:29 pm

Or download the demos off the internet from any hotspot or your own house after they release an internet play cart. Or even a demo cart that you can pick up for free at any retailer that allows for online downloads. The possiblities that this hardware is capable of is only limited by the imagination. Nintendo did a good job designing this thing. Let's just hope we don't have to play $20 for an online demo downloading cart, then $10 / month to download demos or online only games, etc.

#35372 - Darkain - Thu Feb 03, 2005 6:52 pm

as i recall from E3 news, i do beleive nintendo did state they would have demo stations setup. hell, it could be as simple as having a DS in a sealed case w/ power and a custom game cart that was specifically programed to give out a demo of a game. no special hardware needed, and it would be easy for retailers to setup. just leave a DS running underneath the counter w/ a custom game cart in it.
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DarkStar for Nintendo DS