PS3s uncover web security flaw

An international team of security researchers have used 200 PlayStation 3 units to highlight a flaw in the MD5 algorithm used to generate website authentication certificates.

The bug exploited by the team could be used by hackers to create websites that appear secure, then use them to steal personal information from unwitting users.

Although the researchers insisted that such a large-scale phishing scam is unlikely, they stressed that the study serves as an important warning.

"It's a wake-up call for anyone still using MD5," said David Molnar, a member of the University of California team.