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Hacker Cracks AACS Protection

A hacker could not view his HD movies on his computer system. Irked by this, he set a target of four weeks under which he'd crack the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) specification. However, he only took eight days because it was that easy.

The hacker known by the name 'Muslix64' provides a link to the executable as well as the source code. In addition he gives a link that takes the user to YouTube, displaying a detailed process of cracking the AACS protection.

Muslix64 said he recorded a backup of an HD DVD movie and offers a 'Rapidshare' link that downloads 'BackupHDDVD'. It is a simple utility based on Java script that facilitates users to perform a backup of their HD DVDs.

Describing the utility he says it is a command-line utility that can decrypt vide files (.evo) from the owner's HD DVD disk to the hard drive with the ability to play them back with software for HD DVD player.

In the 'Doom9 forum' he said AACS specification troubled him because it was unfair to own an HD computer but that would not allow watching an HD movie, for which he paid money.

According to reports, the software is still in raw state because it only supports a small number of HD DVD titles. But it can pass through the AACS protection letting users to backup high-def videos. The technique of truly playing back any files earlier saved in a hard drive, however, awaits confirmation.

AACS restricts certain devices to play high-def discs by preventing those disks from illegal copying.

Companies comprising of Walt Disney Co., Intel Corp, Microsoft Corp, Toshiba Corp, and Sony Corp developed the mechanism to protect high-definition systems, including HD DVD of Toshiba and 'Blu-ray' of Sony.

If Mulix64 succeeds in his hacking operation it could mean that Sony's PS3 with the attached Blu-ray optical drive would be a disaster for the company. For consumers will move away from Blu-ray to HD DVD. But it could also mean that prominent movie studios that invested money in new DRM mechanisms will either adopt Blu-ray or raise the price of their products to recover their investment.

Related article: Hacker & Virus in MySpace

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