PS3 Network Map where it connects to and why!

[Sniffynose]

I like to eat cookies! om nom nom nom

[zeropage]

Cool idea. I planned to use its browser, but was quite paranoid, so logged some stuff and blocked those in my router. Then became even more paranoid and pulled the plug. I think really heavy logging would be needed (crash reports, tons of games etc.) to be sure.

Previously I blocked these keywords in my router: akamai, akamaitechnologies, llnw, playstation, sony and these ports: 443, 3478, 3479.

Of course this is blocking PSN totally (I think). When PS3 is started, it's phoning home (even if we aren't on PSN or don't start the browser) on the 443 port. Even when I blocked all the keywords, a clock update popped me up the 3.42 update, so it ratted me through the DNAS servers. Out of Sony's own servers, I think the Limelight Networks (llnw) and the Akamai servers are spying for Sony. But there may be others and sleeping alternatives too.

[Xtremegamer]

what you could do is make a shared internet connection via pc and scan all packets with wireshark , then you'll know exactly what is going on

[p666]

Some excellent info there, thanks for typing it all out...

As you stated down the bottom, with all the port connecting it does look like that MAC blocking is (probably) the only safe method to really block the PS3 connecting.

Exact process will depend on router, but I have blocked my PS3 MAC (via firewall rule). Then I have done an allow rule allowing only my other local PC's to connect to the PS3. That way I can use PMS, etc fine.

Once your PS3 is firewalled correctly, the firewall log will tell you what the PS3 is trying

Even putting in a dummy DNS in XMB (as some are doing) is not safe I thought, as Sony only needs to use a raw IP address for their servers in some future SCEI/SCEE game to "phone home".. which is exactly what it looks like they are doing when they can't connect..

Dummy gateway IP on your XMB is safer, but again, if Sony really wanted to, they could use your internal PS3 IP as a base to try and sniff out your gateway to contact the outside world. I guess that gets into the question as to how far sony would go - I am sure it would not be good press if they ever did decide to do that.