Microsoft DRM cracked

[PigDog]

Sombody has finally cracked some versions of Microsoft's DRM.  The program is all over the P2P networks already.

Article http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/5294750.stm


Forum http://forum.doom9.org/showthread.php?t=114916

[FreewheelinFrank]

I'm going to give this a go: I have lots of tunes on my hard drive that I ripped in WMA, foolishly allowing Windows to protect them. Now I can't play them on the MP3 player I got for Christmas!  :'(

I'll report back if it works.

[bob3160]

All toys eventually either break or get broken till they either get fixed again or,
they're thrown away.
Microsoft keeps fixing their WGA and hackers keep finding ways to break it.
This protection isn't any different.

[FreewheelinFrank]

Rats! It didn't work. Not on my .wma files, at least.  :'(

[justin1278]

Rats! It didn't work. Not on my .wma files, at least.  :'(

Well why not just convert your WMA files then? Here is a free little tool.

http://koyotstar.free.fr/

[FreewheelinFrank]

Thanks justin1278, but my player plays .wma files- the problem is that the files are protected so that they will only play on my computer. The converter you link to won't touch them.  :'(

The site is also broken in Firefox. Had to dig up IE to look at it. Been a long time since I had to do that!

[Eddy]

Everything protected by a human can be breached by another humen.

Just be honest and don't steel.

[polonus]

Hello Eddy,

But I think they won't enjoy it that long, and there are more intelligent ways to get to information then resorting to these "ïnferior" methods. All that is digitalized can be found, lest you be a good searcher. Learn people how to search & surf the Net, and they do not have to reverse crack and use script kiddy methods anymore. All is out there for the taking, the only thing is you must know where to look. Besides hacking protection is invoking heavier protection, it is an ongoing process that leads nowhere, only restrictive measures for the meek. (In Dutch: de goeien lijden met de kwaaien"),

polonus

[galooma]

seems Apple`s taking a hit on their I tunes DRM as well 

http://hymn-project.org/forums/viewtopic.php?p=9577

[justin1278]

Thanks justin1278, but my player plays .wma files- the problem is that the files are protected so that they will only play on my computer. The converter you link to won't touch them.  :'(

The site is also broken in Firefox. Had to dig up IE to look at it. Been a long time since I had to do that!

Well then it would appear that you actually purchased these songs from Windows Media player then? Just a guess. Ok I used this to get past the iTunes protection so I am sure it will work with the Windows media one.

Burn the wma files to a CD to create an audio CD, then rip the files in MP3 format using a CD ripper, the link I posted above comes with a CD ripping component so that should work fine.

P.S. I don't understand why it won't open in Firefox, works fine for me

[FreewheelinFrank]

Well then it would appear that you actually purchased these songs from Windows Media player then?]Well then it would appear that you actually purchased these songs from Windows Media player then?

No, I ripped the music from CD. I can therefore just as easily rip them again- I now have DRM turned off- but it would have been nice just to defeat the DRM rather than spend hours ripping dozens of CD's.

I think they might be protected by DRM 9, which this tool won't break.

Thanks anyway.

P.S. I don't understand why it won't open in Firefox, works fine for me

The menus appeared to be broken in Firefox because you get a cursor while hovering rather than a finger, but in fact they are clickable links.

[FreewheelinFrank]

I finally got FairUse4WM to work for me! 

Now I can start to use that MuVo I got for Christmas.

FairUse4WM is currently available from BetaNews:

http://fileforum.betanews.com/detail/FairUse4WM/1156529648/1

Also on BetsNews:

"Microsoft Sues FairUse4WM Developers"

http://www.betanews.com/article/Microsoft_Sues_FairUse4WM_Developers/1159371255

Grab a copy while you can, for use on tracks you already own, of course.

[polonus]

Hi FwF,

Read this and see the one-sidedness of it all:
http://www.eff.org/IP/DRM/guide/

Microsoft's campaign is meant to make you comfortable with its limited universe of compatible products. But what happens if you later want to switch to a WMA-incompatible iPod, or a superior device that Microsoft won't license? You'll have to rebuy your music collection. Unlike MP3s, you can't easily convert DRM-crippled music to a different format. Likewise, if you switch music stores, you might have to buy a new set of compatible devices. And if the time comes that stores and devices no longer support your DRM, you're entirely out of luck.

polonus

[neal62]

Hi Polonus,
Yes, this was an interesting article to say the least. I have seen many changes here in the U.S. during my lifetime. All or most of them have been changes taking away something we used to have. Not liking the way things are going. Have a nice day Polonus.  I guess music is another way to take something away from us. 

[polonus]

Well Neal63,

There is an alternative: http://sourceforge.net/projects/openipmp/ also used in streaming radio.
It was always new media that wins over old (remember the days  FM coast to coast lost out (had to change frequencies, the man that lost (also lost all his assets)  jumped a thirteen story building eventually, while the others could start rolling out).
The thing that is always striking to me in these matters, that they start out giving it away for free, and the when customers are accustomed to it, you have to pay and pay and pay. Read Lawrence Lessig's e-book on http://free-culture.org/

polonus