Blu-ray and HD DVD encryption cracked?

Unbreakable encryption--broken

(Credit: CNET Networks)

The underlying encryption on both the Blu-ray and HD DVD high-def disc formats has been cracked. That's the word from user arnezami on the Doom9 forums, where anti-DRM denizens have been hacking and slashing their way through the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) encryption algorithm found on all Blu-ray and HD DVD discs. Previously, Doom9 user muslix64 had cracked the encryption keys to individual titles, but the newly uncovered "processing key" is said to be the Rosetta Stone for all current titles on both HD disc formats.

We haven't independently verified this crack, but given that even the AACS Licensing Authority has admitted the previous muslix64 hack, it's entirely plausible. With the processing key in hand, software could be created that could rip HD DVD and Blu-ray titles to a PC's hard drive. There, the movies could be viewed with playback software or--more nefariously--uploaded to file trading sites where they can be copied and pirated ad infinitum (albeit slowly--HD movies can range in size from 15 to 50GB). That's exactly the scenario that Hollywood studios were hoping to avoid. Exactly how the content providers and the hardware manufacturers will respond to this latest potential piracy challenge has yet to be seen.

For the technical details on how the key was obtained, check out arnezami's post on the Doom9 forums.

Source: Engadget

[mdfischer]

Threat to AACS licencing, not the DVD industry

It has been trivial to 'rip' DVDs for many years now, and the DVD industry is
not experiencing the downturn that the Music Industry claimed was caused by
illegal downloads. In fact, business is booming. The decline in music sales in
the USA was quite understandable: they released 20% fewer titles over the
period they experienced a 15% decline in sales. So in fact they experienced a
5% increase in sales of the titles released.

DRM was doomed from the beginning, but the only people who shoud have
fear are those employed by the AACS licencing authority. Indeed, the faster
the HD-DVD and Blueray content creators can lose DRM, the sooner they can
experience the increase in income they hope for, with happy customers and
not people too irritated to invest in the equipment and content they would
otherwise purchase in the absence of over-restrictive market controls. And,
while you are at it, please lose region codes and save me the 5 minutes
required to circumvent these (the first time only).

[Martiat]

Less important than current DVD cracking

DVD cracking allowed not only to rip it, but also to compress it (DIVX, ...), which
allowed illegal download and upload. HD movies could also be compressed, but
then the gain of high definition is lost. So, either they can be shared via Internet,
with a loss of its main attractivity (HD) or they are (at least currently) too huge
to be downloaded by most illegal downloaders.

[maxpowers_37]

Now people can view their movies the way they want

I don't see why Hollywood cares. Most people will simply put the movies on their hard drive and use their hardware to view it where and when they want. No more swapping DVDs in and out and having to physically carry them.

[doctorjesus616]

only a matter of time

like everything else involved in technology and industry attempting to prevent us from using how we see fit, it was only a matter of time before someone cracked it...

like everything else ... if someone wrote it ... then someone can crack ...

the quicker that the "industry" begins to realize this maybe we can come to an agreement ... until then theyll keep trying to stop us and well just keep finding other ways to get around it ...

lets see if tunebite can crack urge yet ?

[jonathan_a]

So what else is new?

Like the other guy said... "it's only a matter of time."

Anything will be cracked at some point, but it just takes time. So what else is new? Some geeky hackers with no life will spend all their free time decoding and cracking encryptions. Nothing can stop them.

I really don't think Hollywood should worry about stuff like this, cause they should be the ones to blame if people prefer pirating a movie rather than buying the real thing.

I don't pirate DVDs, but there are times when I buy a DVD and ask myself: "Gee, if I pirated it, I would of gotten the same damn thing."

When I pay for something, I want to get my moneys worth! So buying a DVD, opening the box only to find 1 DVD and 1 colorful piece of paper that lists the chapter names really sucks! It sucks even more when you pop the DVD into your DVD player and find out all you get is the movie, language selection and chapter selection! I know, I know. I'm paying for the MOVIE! Not all the gadgets and extras. But like I said before, it just "SUCKS" to buy a DVD and feel that I'm getting the same thing as if I could of gotten it for FREE!

That's why DVDs with extras, bloopers, nice box art, a booklet with lots of stuff about the movie, etc... that's what really makes the DVD worth owning. That's what makes people feel they want to own the real thing rather than just downloading the movie off a torrent site.

So Hollywood? If you want to be lazy, release a movie on BlueRay or HD-DVD with just a piece of paper and a plain old box, then expect crappy results. But put the effort into a beautiful box, adding tons of extras and content on the dics, then you can expect more sales for the DVD!

[jtg61]

Did they seriously consider this hack proof?

The 15 to 50 GB file size should be whittled down with more efficient encryption. Plus all the extraneous extras can be stripped away for a file transfer. I see this as being a huge problem for the entertainment industry. This again proves they won?t be able to lock up their intellectual property. Their current outdated revenue and distribution model is toast. Instead of trying to lock in the past, why don?t they propose a revenue and distribution model for the Internet enabled digital future?

[usadingo]

You're Right

No technology is perfect. So rather than fighting this, the movie industry needs to figure out a way to use this. Of course, the movie industry is like the RIAA - rather than changing how they do business, they'd rather beat a dead horse while refusing to believe that everyone knows there's a better way.

[herrwitt]

I'm in total agreement ...

Whoooa!!! I couldn't agree with your post more ... The providers of digital media are going to have to meet the consumer(s) 'half way' , so to speak , with regards to copywrite procedures ...

[automato]

HD resolution

What do you prefer ? a full-resolution ?cracked? HD movie, or a ?cracked-down resolution? when viewing the label one? This DRM thing, with all the (...) annoyances is stupid at its best ? bugs, performance penalties, drivers and peripheral issues. When will all this end?? There must be respect for the consumer and all the industry, or all us will become slaves of proprietary (and outdated) technology ? welcome back to the middle ages.