Last year, hackers found a tiny loophole in the 360 which could allow them to run applications, or even an OS like Linux, on the system.

Together with a method to inject data into non-privileged memory areas, this vulnerability allows an attacker with physical access to an Xbox 360 to run arbitrary code such as alternative operating systems with full privileges and full hardware access

Check: it allowed an attacker to do that. Microsoft have clamped said loophole shut, and they did it on the sly a month ago. It was instituted as part of an "operating system update" for anyone connected to Xbox Live, and for those who aren't any game shipped after February 20 has the fix lurking in the game code.

Good security measures, that, but not perfect: there will still be unconnected 360s out there that don't have the update installed. Expect obligatory "OMG Linux running on 360" pics to surface later this year. Luke Plunkett

Microsoft patches Xbox 360 [news.com]

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