Sony has warned PSP users not to install a "PSP update" that recently surfaced on various websites and forums. According to the company, doing so will render your handheld useless, a condition which Sony can reverse, for a small fee.

The update was very tempting for most PSP owners as it promised to enhance the handheld with a web browser, word processing and spreadsheet tools, a calculator and various other software features. While most of you may conclude that this update is the work of some evil Nintendo-loving computer genius bent on the destruction of all PSP handhelds, the truth is much stranger than that. The update, it turns out, is a Sony file removed from a Sony server which, for a reason beyond our comprehension, contains dummy data. Apparently Sony is not ready with the update yet but still thought it wise to have a dummy file on its servers.

A full statement by Sony Computer Entertainment reads: We have become aware that there is a software program going around on some Web sites and Internet bulletin boards claiming to be an update file that rewrites the system software of the PSP hardware. This software has not been issued officially by SCEI and does not function properly. We advise our users not to execute or apply the program as it will cause the PSP hardware to stop operating.
It is not supposed to be used at this time.