Hackers Determined To Break Nintendo Switch, Not Deterred By $20K Bounty

Recently, it was revealed that Nintendo has sent out an open invitation for hackers to try breaking into the Switch console in order to prevent piracy, illegal activities, and sharing of inappropriate content. The company is even offering a $20,000 bounty, which has already convinced three hackers to collect. The more rebellious group of the cybercrime community, however, is not deterred and is even more determined to break the new console’s security system.

Based on certain forum threads and posts like those in GBATemp, hackers are getting together to discuss the bounty that Nintendo is offering. Some of the comments are not exactly happy sentiments with what some of their fellow hackers are doing, with one user called Jeihfeng creating a thread in opposition of the bounty.

“It seems as if a few hackers wouldn't mind giving out their newfound exploits for some easy cash, hopefully for the sake of the Switch hacking scene, it isn't the same with our own resident hackers,” the post reads.

The thread also included images and usernames of the three supposed hackers who worked with Nintendo in order to find the Switch exploits and got paid for their troubles. In effect, Jeihfeng created a Wall of Shame to make an example of the trio as a warning.

More than that, Kotaku notes how some of the replies indicate that the hackers aren’t that worried about the bounty, to begin with. Some users pointed out that experts would just take a look at the updates in order to find some new vulnerabilities to exploit, which would then allow them to pirate Switch video games and mess around with the system.

This kind of brash behavior is indicative of a belief that their right to pirate and illegally access a company’s system is a right that hackers possess. Looking at just how many of them hold to the same conviction, it’s no wonder so many games and systems get pirated.