BBC iPlayer Cracked

Hackers have cracked the DRM protecting the content on the BBC iPlayer, according to reports.

The breach in security means that consumers will now be able to download shows including Ashes To Ashes and Life In Cold Blood for unlimited viewing.

Previously content was only featured on the iPlayer for up to a week following its TV broadcast and expired 30 days after being downloaded to a PC.

"We've released a fix to prevent unrestricted downloading of streamed TV programmes on BBC iPlayer. Like other broadcasters, the security of rights-protected content online is an issue we take very seriously. It's an ongoing, constant process and one which we will continue to monitor," said a spokeswoman.

The BBC reported that 17m shows had been watched via the iPlayer by mid-February following its launch on Christmas Day.

This leads me to think that the DRM providers, companies that make money out of designing DRM are in the same situation as the Anti-Virus companies. The latter has been on a trend of seeding fear, including labeling harmless cookies as spyware just to sell more product. Why would DRM companies even ever want their technologies to be 100% effective (if it were possible), when it's more profitable to keep playing the cat and mouse game?

Moreover, does anyone think that there's a huge hacker conspiracy to break DRM just out of spite? Hackers are but consumers who feel swindled by artificial limitations on products they want, and respond by lifting those limitations. They don't even feel that they're doing something wrong, but rather that they were wronged.

From NMA.