Hacker Strips DRM From Netflix Movies

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Now you can save the movies you download.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/pcworld/20070809/tc_pcworld/135735;_ylt=AociOcw8nuUa756CuSZRQ_ReW7oF

A hacker has posted instructions for how to save streamed movies from the Netflix Inc. service, undermining Microsoft Corp.'s copy protection technology designed to prevent people from saving the content.

The hack is the latest in an escalating technical war by hackers against DRM (Digital Rights Management) technologies, which limit how music and movies can be used in order to prevent piracy.

Netflix, which is best known for its mail-based movie rental service, introduced a service in January called Watch Now that lets people watch movies and TV shows immediately on their computer. Users can watch a certain number of hours of streamed content per month depending on their subscription.

A hacker who calls himself Dizzie wrote late last month on the Rorta hacking forum that "Netflix doesn't easily allow you to save the flicks and watch them at your leisure because the films are entrapped in some... Windows Media DRM wrapper," referring to Microsoft's DRM system. Word of his hack spread more widely this week in various blogs and Web sites.

Dizzie goes on to detail a 14-step process that includes the use of FairUse4WM, a program created by another hacker about a year ago, to remove Microsoft's DRM from the content. He writes that the process for removing the DRM could take a few attempts, and the process does not remove the time limit imposed by Netflix on viewing the content.

The Netflix site was down for maintenance early Thursday, although it was unclear if it was related to the hack. The site was back up later Thursday morning.

Microsoft has updated its DRM technology twice before to block the effectiveness of FairUse4WM. Last month, hackers on the Doom9.org forum declared another victory, saying it had defeated Microsoft's DRM again, and the company said it was investigating.

[TaoTeWingChun]

I'd be very careful posting anything that might encourage piracy, hacking or warez around here, as others have been booted for such offenses.

Of course this is newsworthy anyway, but it dances right on that line.

TTWC

[Supreme2k]

Actually, that's nowhere near "dances right on that line". It's a news link, not a guide. (plus, the smiley helps )


That being said, it should probably go in News.

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

@Supreme2k:



@TaoTeWingChun:

[lordsmurf]

Can you name one movie worth all this effort?

[yoda313]

Can you name one movie worth all this effort?

certainly not waterworld or fifth element

[stiltman]

Can you name one movie worth all this effort?

certainly not waterworld or fifth element

And certainly not any of the star wars flicks

[SquirrelDip]

Can you name one movie worth all this effort?

certainly not waterworld or fifth element

And certainly not any of the star wars flicks

[TaoTeWingChun]

Funny, MeDiCo_BrUjO -

Too bad that I'm not banned from the site, eh???

Talk about a "senior moment" . . .

Sheesh!

[yoda313]

@ Stitlman - you know I own every legitamate copy of each version of Star Warsa (sans beta/laserdisc) anyway so that comment doesn't apply to me you know :P :P :P :P

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

Funny, MeDiCo_BrUjO -

Too bad that I'm not banned from the site, eh???

Talk about a "senior moment" . . .

Sheesh!

As far as I checked, neither was I.

I'm not a senior citizen, and even if I was, don't expect me to behave like one.

We have been here long enough to see and understand what does indeed advocate piracy and what doesn't. It's one thing to joke sarcastically and another one to promote it.
My point being: You are not a mod so don't act like one, even the mods didn't warn me as you did.

[TaoTeWingChun]

Hey Med - maybe u need to take a few . . .

- I never said I was a Mod;
- The Baned comment was to your reply to Supreme2k, a guy who's listed as being banned (see list of posters above, DUH!);
- As for sarcasm, that's not my tool of choice, but it appears to be key in your arsenal. Congrats on making my plonk file! Good job!

As Lord Smurf stated, I cannot imagine a movie that's really worth all that effort. And in case you missed it, I did say it was news worthy, unless failure to read is also a problem.

TTWC

[redwudz]

Please keep it civil, even if this is OT. Fair warning.

Moderator redwudz

[thecoalman]

.... reply to Supreme2k, a guy who's listed as being banned (see list of posters above, DUH!);

That's his avatar.



Speaking of which here's better version.

[SquirrelDip]

Who shives a git on if the movie is worth having or not - the point is the stripping of the DRM. The new unhackable technology is a dare (or challenge) to the masses - and inevitably hacked.

[ZAPPER]

Who shives a git on if the movie is worth having or not - the point is the stripping of the DRM. The new unhackable technology is a dare (or challenge) to the masses - and inevitably hacked.

Just curious, Is this new news? I thought the whole thing was old news, maybe I am having a senior moment.


But I agreee, the humor is in the Hack.



Hmmmm.... Actually I think the humor may be in the thought that it would be un-hackable



Meanwhile, back on the ranch....

[MeDiCo_BrUjO]

But I agreee, the humor is in the Hack.



Hmmmm.... Actually I think the humor may be in the thought that it would be un-hackable



Meanwhile, back on the ranch....

That's the whole point!

[Guest]

I liked 5th element.