Microsoft Windows Media Player Encryption Hacked

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Microsoft Windows Media Player Encryption Hacked

Posted by Zonk on Friday September 2, 2005 @03:31AM from the he-sure-is-a-busy-fella dept.

NubKnacker writes "Here we go again. The Register has the story about the encryption in Windows Media Player being hacked by DVD Jon. From the article: 'Jon Lech Johansen has reverse engineered a proprietary algorithm, which is used to wrap Media Player NSC files and ostensibly protect them from hackers sniffing for the media's source IP address, port or stream format. He has also made a decoder available." This has been pending for some time now. Do you see a reason to install Windows/WMP just to be able to view a webcast?"

20 of 293 comments (clear)

And out come the lawyers by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-02 03:34 · Score: 1, Funny

Thanks DVD Jon. Keep the interoperbility clause of the DMCA alive!
1. Re:And out come the lawyers by ackthpt · 2005-09-02 04:14 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Since he's already won one case, he's got some precident on his side. Now they just seem to be leaving him alone.
  Could be, but this is Microsoft he's now diddling with. Their approach could be either Open the Bucket o' Lawyers or Come up with a new Windows Media format, ecoding, etc.
  Some say as soon as someone figures out Microsoft's strategy, it will immediately be replaced by a new one even more confusing and inexplicable. Others say this has already happened.
  
  --
  
  A feeling of having made the same mistake before: Deja Foobar
2. Re:And out come the lawyers by bobcat7677 · 2005-09-02 04:50 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Bucket of Lawyers? I thought lawyers came in cans? Maybe it's a costco thing. Guess I need to get a costco card again...
Let the best player win! by RUFFyamahaRYDER · 2005-09-02 03:38 · Score: 3, Funny

FTFA - "It's more likely that the purpose is to prevent competing media players from supporting the NSC format," he observed.

Exactly right... Why don't they just leave this kind of thing open for everyone to impliment with their own player and let the best player win? Argh!
an added bonus!!! by jshaped · 2005-09-02 03:39 · Score: 5, Funny

"Do you see a reason to install Windows/WMP just to be able to view a webcast?"

Well sure!!!
But I've already installed Windows for its lovely properties of stability, speed, and beauty.
Uh-oh!!! by Pig+Hogger · 2005-09-02 03:40 · Score: 3, Funny

Expect some Louisiana military relief effort units to be redeployed soon to Norway, for a Search-and-Destroy operation aimed at Jon!!!
1. Re:Uh-oh!!! by Zemplar · 2005-09-02 04:36 · Score: 2, Funny
  
  Don't tell me, another search for WMDs [Windows Media Decoders]?
Best known export! by firepacket · 2005-09-02 03:42 · Score: 5, Funny

Article from theregister.com
Norway's best known IT export, DVD Jon...

Awsome. I didnt know they were exporting those. I wonder how high they tax. I want one.
1. Re:Best known export! by billybob2001 · 2005-09-02 04:21 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  He's Region 2 only - is that ok with you?
2. Re:Best known export! by WormholeFiend · 2005-09-02 05:54 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Now I know what coffee jetting through the nose feels like.
Imagination run wild... by Anonymous Coward · 2005-09-02 03:44 · Score: 4, Funny

Girl in the wild west: "DVD Jon, you're my hero!"
DVD Jon (disguised as the Lone Ranger): "Stay here, it's not over yet" (gets out revolver)

Man, I need to stop watching TV...
Re:Yeah! by Deanasc · 2005-09-02 03:44 · Score: 1, Funny

I'm sure that when he's old enough to sign a contract he'll have job offers. Maybe not from Microsoft but from some small company who wants to become the next Microsoft.

--
I've hit Karma 50 and gotten a Score:5, Troll... I win!
Re:As soon as I can figure this out.. by Astrorunner · 2005-09-02 03:46 · Score: 3, Funny

Linus: You know, before I answer any more questions there's something I wanted to say. Having received all your letters over the years, and I've spoken to many of you, and some of you have traveled... y'know... hundreds of miles to be here, I'd just like to say... GET A LIFE, will you people? I mean, for crying out loud, it's just an operating system! I mean, look at you, look at the way you're dressed! You've turned an enjoyable little job, that I did as a lark for a few years, into a COLOSSAL WASTE OF TIME!

[ a crowd of shocked and dismayed slashdotters.... ]

I mean, how old are you people? What have you done with yourselves?

[ to CmdrTaco ] You, you must be almost 30... have you ever kissed a girl?

[ CmdrTaco hangs his head ]
Poor Linus by TubeSteak · 2005-09-02 03:48 · Score: 5, Funny

/me puts on a flame suit
Maybe Linus is just bitter cause he doesn't have a low UID

--
[Fuck Beta]
o0t!
Re:What a shameful tabloid-press like headline by Spy+der+Mann · 2005-09-02 04:12 · Score: 2, Funny

A correct headline would have been:

Proprietary encoding of Media Player Broadcast definition files successfully reverse engineered.

Helloooo, this is Slashdot. Such a headline would've NEVER been published.
Re:As soon as I can figure this out.. by evilviper · 2005-09-02 04:13 · Score: 2, Funny

[ to CmdrTaco ] You, you must be almost 30... have you ever kissed a girl?

Well, he's maried... So no.

--
Slashdot gets worse every day... Pipedot: News for nerds, without the corporate slant
Re:As soon as I can figure this out.. by GPLDAN · 2005-09-02 06:37 · Score: 2, Funny

Turns out.... Kathleen was his laptop.
Re:Bring on the MS shills. by dgatwood · 2005-09-02 06:39 · Score: 2, Funny

What separates a "shill" from somebody who simply prefers Windows?
What's the difference between the pope and the Easter Bunny?

--
Check out my sci-fi/humor trilogy at PatriotsBooks.
Re:As soon as I can figure this out.. by AdamWeeden · 2005-09-02 07:01 · Score: 2, Funny

Be gentile

I'm Jewish you insensitive clod!

--
I was quoted out of context in my autobiography...
Re:As soon as I can figure this out.. by Hosiah · 2005-09-02 08:45 · Score: 2, Funny

I metamoderate him over the head with a rancid carp
Actually, if Linus Torvalds says I'm publicly wanking, then that's probably what I'm doing. It's just kind of difficult not to break stroke when I'm looking at phrases like "rancid carp".