Microsoft now patching for FairUse4WM 1.2
---copied from source---
From: Windows Media License Agreements [email removed]
Sent: Thursday, September 07, 2006
To: Windows Media License Agreements
Subject: Status - Windows Media DRM circumvention
MICROSOFT CONFIDENTIAL [This was highlighted in bold red letters, ha! -Ed.]
Dear Windows Media DRM Licensee,
As you may know, on August 28 2006 Microsoft released an update of the individualized blackbox component (IBX) of Windows Media DRM to address a circumvention of the Windows Media DRM system. Unfortunately, a new version of the tool that circumvents Windows Media DRM technology on Windows PCs has surfaced, breaking the content protection that our content partners apply to their intellectual property such as music or video content.
As we did with the initial circumvention, Microsoft will use the built-in renewability features of Windows Media DRM to deploy an update to address this circumvention. We have teams working around the clock on this project, and this update will include incrementing the Security Version of the individualized blackbox component, which should ease deployment and make it easier to detect the update remotely. We will continue to work closely with you to inform you of our progress and help you update your systems as needed. As always, we appreciate your feedback and ongoing support.
If you have any questions, comments, or concerns regarding this circumvention or related updates, please contact [email removed].
Kind regards,
Windows Media Licensing Department
Microsoft Consumer Media Technology
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
resource @ Sep 8th 2006 4:04PM
One man versus the entire Microsoft DRM department.
They turned this guy into a cyber folk martyr already.
How do you stop the updates?
Jim @ Sep 8th 2006 4:09PM
Why bother patching? Who really uses IE or OE these days? I have a perfectly good working Windows XP SP1 (I have not updated to SP2 or any of the "fixes" from that point on). I have no viruses or spyware. The router behind my T1 has a sufficient firewall. I leave the perfectly-workable pre-SP2 firewall enabled. I VPN to work and SSH to home when necessary.
While I haven't been tempted (yet) to try out FairUse4WM, there's not a darn thing that Microsoft can do to stop me. They do not own my computer, I DO.
Matt @ Sep 8th 2006 4:25PM
In other news Microsoft require all Plays for Sure licencess to have a DRM chip emebeded in thier brians so they can't re-type text from confidential Microsoft emails without Steve Balmer knowing about it .
liquid @ Sep 8th 2006 4:32PM
i agree with disciple83 and Karl L. Gechlik
The app had been around for a while before the info was posted on Engadget, and its even where MS found out about its existence. The more publicity the more of an issue it will become.
And like Karl, i too wish they would be this active for real security issues.
Pip @ Sep 8th 2006 4:55PM
Is there any software DRM out ther that hasn't been cracked yet?
I mean really, what is the point?
Mike @ Sep 8th 2006 5:28PM
The real solution to the problem will become when Microsoft releases their new DRM, not a software DRM, but a hardware DRM. How, you might ask? Why with a simple but easy method. When you purchase your next PlayForSure DAP you'll be given your new player and a RFID tag that must be inserted into your skin. Now, all Microsoft must do is to perfect the perfect unhackable RFID tag, wait... Has that two been cracked? I guess when there is a will there is a way. Too bad they refuse to acknowledge that. Too bad indeed.
Mike
Dave @ Sep 8th 2006 5:34PM
So does this new one rip the DRM off Amazon's movie files? If so, then that's pretty funny.
Monoto @ Sep 8th 2006 5:44PM
@ liquid and disciple83: Good. LET it become an issue. Let it become a BIG issue. This may or may not be the best way, but one way or another the powers that be need to wake up and realize that DRM DOES NOT WORK (I won't go into all the reasons, since Grant Robertson over at the Digital Music Weblog is much more eloquent in that regard). So if it takes something like a tug-of-war with FairUse4WM to help the content providers see that DRM protected content frustrates the consumers, so be it.
Josh @ Sep 8th 2006 5:52PM
Hope they dont fix it before i un-drm all my napster music...
Mr. B @ Sep 8th 2006 6:02PM
Watching history repeat itself usually isn't terribly amusing, but this is hilarious.
Craig @ Sep 8th 2006 6:24PM
It's pointless... Microsoft just give up. That's pretty sad having probably the entirely of the Windows Media division trying to maintain the security of your DRM for the moment. I honestly hope who ever this is doing this continues to play cat and mouse with you all. Maybe then the labels will see the pointlessness in trying to maintain DRM on their music and studios on movies.
SoDangerous @ Sep 8th 2006 6:27PM
I think Neslon said it best when he said, "HA HA!"
liquid @ Sep 8th 2006 7:58PM
The powers that be will never wake up and realise that DRM doesnt work. Just like most people know that a good kick in the right place will knock down doors, it still wont stop you from locking them at night.
I think those who seek to protect there "investments" with DRM know that its not 100% fullproof (nothing is) and one day it will be exploited (like everything else).
Showing them that its being exploited will do nothing to encourage them to not use drm in there products.
The only thing that will raise eyebrows and get attention is for people to stop paying for poor quality low bitrate drm music and video.
Austin @ Sep 8th 2006 9:54PM
I BET... the patch is being listed as "a vulnerability, that could allow an attacker to remotely gain control of the computer"! :D
Alex @ Sep 8th 2006 10:20PM
I like their use of the word "unfortunately". Clearly indicates their mentality on the subject (i.e. "unfortunately" for MS and its licensees, not the end user who just wants to watch/hear the stuff they buy).
mb @ Sep 9th 2006 2:35AM
I agree with some of the other posters, that sites like Engadget make this more public, and therefore more of an issue for Microsoft.
However, I think this is a GOOD thing. The more publicity this gets, the more people will understand where Microsoft's priorities are. It's been painfully obvious to a lot of us for years how they operate, and this makes it a lot easier to explain to everyone else.
tekdroid @ Sep 9th 2006 7:43AM
Posted at 7:56PM on Sep 8th 2006 by liquid [ ! ]
----
The only thing that will raise eyebrows and get attention is for people to stop paying for poor quality low bitrate drm music and video.
^^^^^
What he said.
Cracking DRR when you're the very one feeding the companies that place Digital Rights Restrictions on you to start with is incredibly stupid. And will not change the opinions of any suits involved, I'm afraid. But what it will do is give a reason for people to buy more DRR-embedded content.
(DRR, because 'Management' is their marketing word chosen to placate Joe Customer).
James @ Sep 10th 2006 6:54AM
funny, i'm still using the first version with no problem. (of course I haven't clicked on the shield that states updates are available for my computer) Face facts, it is THEFT. It's not like the software removes the drm from songs that you have actually BOUGHT, which would be a good thing since drm tends to lock you to one device or another. These are songs that you are RENTING. They are not yours. Once you stop paying the rent you don't have any rights to them. (although this hasn't stopped me from using it...I might be an amoral bastard but I'm an honest one...lol) Strange though...microsoft is coming out with a player that does not use their playforsure and all of a sudden theres this thing that renders playforsure useless, which will probably make all the companies that make mp3 players switch to the new technology..nothing but a conspiracy theory...lemme shuttup. If they do fix it...there's always tunebite....lol
bxf @ Sep 10th 2006 12:00PM
Yes, yes, it's been said before in one form or another. But, just to emphasize: if you want to see changes in ANY marketing strategy, don't buy the product. This is so simple it's pathetic.
Chris @ Sep 11th 2006 1:14AM
'I BET... the patch is being listed as "a vulnerability, that could allow an attacker to remotely gain control of the computer"! :D'
More like "a vulnerability that could allow a user to locally gain control of their computer" amirite
bxf- @ Sep 11th 2006 3:19PM
Yes, yes, it's been said before in one form or another. But, just to emphasize: if you want to see changes in ANY marketing strategy, don't buy the product. This is so simple it's pathetic.
FavrotSale@yahoo.com
Zeuuss @ Sep 19th 2006 2:01AM
DRM is a scam. I bought my license to songs, paid cash for them. My Windows XP is always unstable, crashed my hard drive (only 90 day "guarantee" with Windows), this crash killed my authorization to listen to songs I paid for. I have to continually waste my time waiting for idiots to answer the telephone and "reauthorize " my DRM rights. Okay Mr. Gates, maybe you are running a scam, with the Windows crashes (just fix the damn thing) in addition to your Microsoft tax on pc's. I say screw Microsoft and DRM and RIAA and go to Limewire. Why pay, if all I do is get screwed again by the RIAA and Microsoft for even MORE unearned money.