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iTunes DRM-Free Files Contain Personal Info

Posted by kdawson on from the musical-steganography dept.

r2k writes "Apple's iTunes Plus files are DRM-free, but sharing the files on P2P networks may be an extremely bad idea. A report published by CNet highlights the fact that the account information and email address of the iTunes account holder is hidden inside each and every DRM-free download. I checked, and I found I couldn't access the information using an ID3 tag editor, but using Notepad I found my email address stored inside the audio file itself."

3 of 693 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Seriously... by dynamo52 · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I wanted them to remove it so I could use it on any device I wanted to listen to it on. They did that; now I can, as far as I'm concerned, we're all good now.

    While I agree with you that removing the DRM is a good thing and inserting this information in the file is perfectly reasonable, as long as the music is in a proprietary format it can't be migrated easily. can the files be read by other applications?

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  2. Using Notepad? Wow! Neato! by chainLynx · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    The submitter is a real 1337 Hax0r. Ever hear of strings? Vi? I know the Apple apologists are out on full force on this thread (as usual -- 'omg Steve Jobs is personalizing my tracks for me, how thoughtful!'), but I have to disagree with them -- http://bulletinthehead-wakeup.blogspot.com/2007/05/apple-turning-into-law-enforcement-one.html And yes, this is an old story.

  3. Re:What about First Sale Doctrine? by cdrguru · · Score: 0, Flamebait

    I guess I don't understand this at all.

    First sale? Sale of what? Sale of some bits that are available for free? Who exactly would you sell recorded music files to?

    iTunes was set up for clueless idiots that don't understand the Internet. It provides an extremely valuable service to these clueless folks because otherwise they would have nothing on their iPod, thus rendering the device useless to them. It operates pretty much at a loss, but it doesn't matter because without it said clueless idiots wouldn't buy iPods.

    Assuming that most of the people that know enough to post comments on Slashdot aren't clueless idiots, I don't understand. The value of recorded music is zero. ZERO. Nada. Zilch. It is available through probably 100 sources and that is just counting programs that assist in the downloading. If you are seriously in need to an education in how to obtain this music for free I'd suggest visiting any Junior High School - just about any 7th grader can help you.

    So, with the value of recorded music being zero, how do you really expect to sell your music to anyone else? By taking advantage of the poor clueless idiots out there that don't have broadband? Don't you have any concience at all?

    The reality of the price of music has to filter down to the masses sooner or later. The sooner it happens the better so we can get some intelligent discussion on the matter of creative works. Today, it is "I want, so I take" and we are training an entire generation that this is both appropriate and how things are supposed to be. I don't agree but it is a teacup against a tidal wave.