Sony Japan has posted up a message on their website warning users of the dangers of using custom firmware on their PS3 consoles, dubbing it “malware”. The message (according to Google Translate) also warns that using unofficial software breaks the console’s Terms of Use and may result is the user getting banned from the PlayStation Network.
The message may not do much to discourage users, but being banned from the PSN should make a difference. Microsoft has taken similar measures in the past to block users will custom firmware from accessing Xbox Live. The main reason for the ban is to prevent software piracy, but it also affects independent developers who use custom firmware for legitimate reasons.