Originally posted by Tustin
Pretty curious how Sony went about fixing this if old save games still work. From my understanding, Save Wizard works by using either devkit PS4's or 1.76 PS4's to decrypt the saves using the same function calls the console uses decrypt the saves normally. If it doesn't work anymore, they likely changed the key for encryption/decryption but that should theoretically break existing saves, unless 5.00 decrypts using the old key on the first round and then encrypt with the new key which is then used in the future. Unless I'm completely wrong, I don't really see a way Save Wizard can work around this.
MY THEORY:
They first extracted save decryption key v1 from kernel 1.76.
Then Sony've upgraded save key to v2 and add special code to analyse save version and use right key to decrypt it and then always encrypt it with the new one (v2).
Fortunately there were private exploits up to 4.55 so SW could get new key. Then on v4 they simply bruteforced it by decrypting save from 4.55, then upgrading the same save to 4.70 and try to get the same result.
Now Sony could go further and add new step in encryption like: before using key v5 to encrypt, multiply all values by "X". It's nearly impossible to guess new step without exploiting 5.00 kernel.
The same situation was with Enigma machine. Our mathematicians from Poland fully cracked its encryption only when they took over one copy of that machine. Then the Germans added extra rotators and other things to complicate the cipher, just like Sony does to the save encryption these days. Now it's SW turn and we will see what comes next.
Originally posted by bobsandbag
I’m knackered then. I’d have to start a new profile, re-buy all my DLC, lose all my PS+ games - and that would be just a profile ban. And I’d have to rebuy PS+ subscription again. It would be even worse with a console ban. I’m contemplating not using Save Wizard again, regardless. Shame really. Time will tell.
Originally posted by jameshird85
I buy basically everything digital. I would probably never touch another sony product again if they banned me for using single player cheats.
It happened to me once, when I accidentaly synced trophies from a game which has leaked two weeks before it's release (yup, that was stupid mistake). Since then I'm creating new account for every game so If they use their ban hammer on one of them, I won't lose everything.