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Like all ominously powerful technology, the PlayStation 3 can be used for great good or, it seems, potentially terrible evil. According to Computer World, an international team of security researchers used a farm of 200 PS3s to discover a flaw in an algorithm used to create authentication certificates for secured websites.

The researchers used the PS3s to exploit a bug in the MD5 hashing algorithm used to generate unique certificates to prove a secured website is actually what it purports itself to be. The certificates work like digital fingerprints that all have a unique numerical value, but the researchers were able to hack into VeriSign Inc.'s RapidSLL.com certificate authority site, exploit the MD5 bug, and create fake certificates that shared the same values. In plain terms: This could, theoretically, be used by hackers to create phony websites that have seemingly legitimate authentication certificates, and then use these fake sites to steal personal information that an unwitting user may feed into it.

While that sounds like scary stuff, the researchers evidently don't believe a similar real-world attack is likely (this might have something to do with the fact that they needed 200 PS3s to accomplish it). Still, the researches stressed that it's an important warning. "It's a wake-up call for anyone still using MD5," said David Molnar, a member of the team from the University of California, Berkley.

Like all ominously powerful technology, the PlayStation 3 can be used for great good or, it seems, potentially terrible evil. According to Computer World, an international team of security researchers used a farm of 200 PS3s to discover a flaw in an algorithm used to create authentication certificates for secured websites.

The researchers used the PS3s to exploit a bug in the MD5 hashing algorithm used to generate unique certificates to prove a secured website is actually what it purports itself to be. The certificates work like digital fingerprints that all have a unique numerical value, but the researchers were able to hack into VeriSign Inc.'s RapidSLL.com certificate authority site, exploit the MD5 bug, and create fake certificates that shared the same values. In plain terms: This could, theoretically, be used by hackers to create phony websites that have seemingly legitimate authentication certificates, and then use these fake sites to steal personal information that an unwitting user may feed into it.

While that sounds like scary stuff, the researchers evidently don't believe a similar real-world attack is likely (this might have something to do with the fact that they needed 200 PS3s to accomplish it). Still, the researches stressed that it's an important warning. "It's a wake-up call for anyone still using MD5," said David Molnar, a member of the team from the University of California, Berkley.

According to Gamasutra, research from media research company Nielsen revealed the "most-played" console of 2008 wasn't the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, or even the ludicrously-selling Wii. Last-generation's juggernaut the PlayStation 2 claims the top spot accounting for a substantial 31.7 percent of total time played. In comparison, the 360 occupied 17.2 percent of total time played and the Wii came in with a surprisingly small 13.4 percent. As further evidence of the PS3's struggles it came in well behind at 7.3 percent. That shockingly put it below the 9.7 percent of play time managed by the outdated original Xbox, which hasn't been really supported since the launch of the 360.

On the PC, placement was somewhat more predictable. World of Warcraft took the "most-played" top spot with each player averaging 671 minutes played per week (0.723% of gamers) followed by Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare with 404 minutes per week (0.163% of gamers). Arguably most unexpected of all is the original Halo's rank as the third most-played PC game, with 295 minutes per week (.092% of gamers). Halo 2, whch is also available on the PC, failed to enter the top 10. Maybe people just prefer the original's overpowered pistol to the sequel's dual-wielding madness.

News slipped just before the holiday break that Harmonix was readying some sort of Roy Orbison downloadable content for Rock Band, and now we have the official details. The "Roy Orbison Pack 01" will be available next Tuesday on the Xbox Live Marketplace, but, for some reason, not until Thursday, January 15 on the PlayStation Network. It'll bring the following six songs from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame legend:

• "Claudette"
• "In Dreams"
• "Mean Woman Blues"
• "Oh, Pretty Woman"
• "Ooby Dooby"
• "You Got It"

All tracks are master recordings, and as usual, they can be purchased either individually for 160 Microsoft Points ($1.99) or you can get the whole set for 800 Microsoft Points ($9.99). And yes, it's officially called the "Roy Orbison Pack 01." While there's no mention of it in the press release, clearly this indicates there will be more Orbison DLC coming in the future.