Vista DRM Cracked by Security Researcher

An anonymous reader writes "Security researcher Alex Ionescu claims to have successfully bypassed the much discussed DRM protection in Windows Vista, called 'Protected Media Path' (PMP), which is designed to seriously degrade the playback quality of any video and audio running on systems with hardware components not explicitly approved by Microsoft. The bypass of the DRM protection was in turn performed by breaking the Driver Signing / PatchGuard protection in the new operating system. Alex is now quite nervous about what an army of lawyers backed by draconian copyright laws could do to him if he released the details, but he claims to be currently looking into the details of safely releasing his details about this at the moment though."

very fitting

[Anonymous Coward]

called 'Protected Media Path' (PMP)

I can guess how that's pronounced...

1st thing is to get a good lawyer

[Punko]

As fast as you can

It's all in the details.

[FuturePastNow]

...could do to him if he released the details, but he claims to be currently looking into the details of safely releasing his details...

Grammar tip: don't use the same word three times in one sentence.

I have a brilliant crack of the Vista DRM too...

[Anonymous Coward]

... but there is no space in the margin of this comment to write it.

In future news...

[$RANDOMLUSER]

"Vista DRM cracked by anybody with the desire to do so".

Post the details on MySpace

[DBCubix]

and then ask Network Solutions to suspend their domain. It works on GoDaddy domains.

just release it

[192939495969798999]

Just release it, the deluge of bad PR will suck the moneyline away from the lawyers long enough for you to jet to Aruba or somewhere.

What with

[JustNiz]

Excellent news.
What with HD-DVD and Blu-Ray being cracked already, and now this, combined with all the hate and general unity by consumers against the big movie and music industry, how much more signal do they need that DRM is pointless and unwanted and to finally stop trying to force it on us?

Re:very fitting

[User 956]

"called 'Protected Media Path' (PMP)" I can guess how that's pronounced... Well, it just goes to show, that PMP'ing an operating system ain't easy.

Re:It's all in the details.

[Hoi Polloi]

What is the problem? That is a perfectly cromulent sentence.

Re:very fitting

[EvanED]

Well, it just goes to show, that PMP'ing an operating system ain't easy.

Or 'It's hard out here for a PMP'

Re:It's all in the details.

[drinkypoo]

This comment was apparently actually brought to you by the-department-of-redundancy-department. The last sentence was the one I found the most entertaining: "but he claims to be currently looking into the details of safely releasing his details about this at the moment though." But/though, currently/at the moment. Free advice to everyone: don't be so eager to get the story submission that you abuse the language. It's just not that important.

Re:I'll do it...

[robably]

The DMCA doesn't have arms, it has tentacles. Horrible, oozing, pus-filled tentacles.

Norwegians, I'm ashamed of you

[Weaselmancer]

Someone in America cracked this first.

Re:Let's learn English

[EvanED]

Could not be more redundant.

Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. [wikipedia.org]

(Also, that "sentence" I quoted is a fragment. And you didn't capitalize "i" in the previous sentence, which is actually a run-on.)

Re:Pro Bono Security Attorneys

[fotbr]

You'd have to put a pro-linux spin on this before the EFF will give a damn.

Merely being anti-microsoft and anti-drm isn't enough to get the linux and open-source fanboys fired up enough to get the EFF to do anything.

Re:Pro Bono Security Attorneys

[brunes69]

You really think you can find that many Pro-Bono Attorneys?

I mean sure, The Joshua Tree was great, but they've been going downhill for awhile....

Yay!

[Grinin]

There needs to be an installer to bypass the PMP and DRM functionality in Vista so that every user can have the right to CHOOSE!

Re:very fitting

[Anonymous Coward]

Come on, that jab is unfair.

As a user of the Windows Home Operating Rights Environment, I must state for the record that all of my transactions with said system are completely clean, and take place using the most effective protection available. If you truly feel that some of your Media exchanges are tainted, I'd suggest it's probably because you didn't pay the requisite PMP fees.

Re:In future news...

[Anonymous Coward]

"Vista DRM cracked by anybody with the desire to do so".

by holding down the ALT key when installing from Vista's DVD?

Re:Moving to Redmond?

[Anonymous Coward]

From Alex's website -

"He is currently studying at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada, and is in his first year of obtaining a bachelor's degree in Software Engineering. He is also a Microsoft Student Ambassador and is representing the company on campus as a Technical Rep."

Uh oh.

Re:very fitting

[WndrBr3d]

PMP: Makin' sure you get paid!

Re:Norwegians, I'm ashamed of you

[elrous0]

Canada isn't in America?

-Eric

Details?

[Jotii]

he claims to be currently looking into the details of safely releasing his details

Can anyone explain more in detail?

Re:very fitting

[drinkypoo]

Or 'It's hard out here for a PMP'

I don't know what you heard about me
But you can't get your video out of me
High quality video you can't see
Because I've got uncracked PMP [azlyrics.com].

Re:very fitting

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, it turns out his working draft is titled "time to un-PMP your audio"

Re:1st thing is to get a good lawyer

[PopeRatzo]

Security researcher Alex Ionescu claims to have successfully bypassed the much discussed DRM protection in Windows Vista

I have to go down to the corner and see my neighborhood gaming law researcher and get down a bet on the superbowl. After that I'll go see the drug law researcher and score some weed.

Obligatory attempt at poor humor...

[E-Lad]

"It's time to un-PMP ze audio"

Re:Yay!

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, Until microsoft anti-spyware deletes your patch....

Sorry 'bout that

[Weaselmancer]

Didn't read TFA, but when I saw this in the blurb:

draconian copyright laws

...I just assumed it was us.

Re:Pro Bono Security Attorneys

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, ever since he broke up with Cher.

Re:Obligatory attempt at poor humor...

[Anonymous Coward]

Oh, snap!

Re:What with

[Anonymous Coward]

At the same time, I told the guy who has taught the second-semester C++ course at my undergrad institution that I was going to be researching rootkits, and he said "what's a rootkit?"

(This was back in August -- well after Sony.)

Re: It's a shame

[winomonkey]

US law is like Man Law - a universal truth with a reach that transcends all borders.

Re:1st thing is to get a good lawyer

[anup_at_mac]

"We seem to bend over backwards for the US at this point, and for the **AA in particular....... "

You mean bend over forward, right?

Re:It's all in the details.

[D4rk Fx]

Grammar tip: don't use the same word three times in one sentence.

How about 9 times, is that okay?
Buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo buffalo buffalo Buffalo buffalo. [wikipedia.org]

Re:1st thing is to get a good lawyer

[gumbright]

...We seem to bend over backwards for the US at this point,...

We request that you to bend over the other way to simplify future interactions. Thank you for your cooperation.

Re:very fitting

[Anonymous Coward]

If you're really that obnoxious [wikipedia.org], maybe you should re-read your post a few times before submitting it, rather than go out of your way to insult another user (who was self-deprecating in the first place) for no apparent reason.

Re:very fitting

[Coucho]

Big Data Cane.. is that you?

Thank god for the primary process!!!

[Ayanami Rei]

*does a jig with two thumbs up*

*stabs self in eyes with thumbs*

JAZZ HANDS!