kejot
9th January 2007, 21:44
The recent release of software that can be used to decode encrypted HD DVD and Blu-ray movies is the first step toward making the encryption standard used by these next-generation video players obsolete, Princeton University researchers said Monday. Late last month, a hacker going by the name Muslix64 released software that could be used to decrypt movies that were encoded using the AACS (Advanced Access Content System) digital rights management specification. AACS is supported by Hollywood and video player manufacturers.
Introduced in April 2005, AACS is the copy protection system for HD DVD and Blu-ray movies. It is supported by companies such as Microsoft, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (Panasonic), Sony, Toshiba, The Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros.
Muslix64's BackupHDDVD software did not crack AACS, but it will make it easier for some technically adept users to decrypt movies, said Alex Halderman, a Princeton computer science student who, along with noted researcher Ed Felten, is calling the software "the first step in the meltdown of AACS."
Introduced in April 2005, AACS is the copy protection system for HD DVD and Blu-ray movies. It is supported by companies such as Microsoft, Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. (Panasonic), Sony, Toshiba, The Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros.
Muslix64's BackupHDDVD software did not crack AACS, but it will make it easier for some technically adept users to decrypt movies, said Alex Halderman, a Princeton computer science student who, along with noted researcher Ed Felten, is calling the software "the first step in the meltdown of AACS."