Hackers cracked the latest DRM protection created by Microsoft for use on its Windows Media Files.

In August 2006, a hacker by the name of "viodentia" released a program called FairUse4WM which could strip the DRM from Windows Media Files (both audio and video) allowing the downloader to play the file wherever they choose. The files could also then be converted to the format of their choice.

Microsoft then had a problem because in theory, users could sign up for one month of Napster, download one million tracks, and then strip the DRM from the downloaded tracks, leaving them with endless amounts of music for the cheap price of a one month subscription.

Microsoft then issued a patch for Windows Media and filed a lawsuit against the hackers. In the lawsuit, Microsoft claimed the hackers stole Microsoft source code to help in creating the program, but viodentia denied the allegations.

"FairUse4WM has been my own creation, and has never involved Microsoft source code. I link with Microsoft's static libraries provided with the compiler and various platform SDK files," the individual said.

The lawsuit was dropped in April because Microsoft could not discover the identity of viodentia or the others but no other cracks or programs had been released since then. With the latest update, Microsoft must once again issue a new patch.

The new crack, posted by a user called "Divine Tao", should uncover "the keys from Microsoft's newest Individualized Blackbox components used in its DRM." The keys are then used with the current FairUse4WM program to strip the DRM from the media.

Hundreds of responses have poured in since the release and many have said the crack works on movie downloads from Vongo, music downloads from Ruckus and Urge as well as songs downloaded via the Zune. To make matters worse for Microsoft, the new crack is compatible with Vista.

"This works fine for me with the very latest version of WMP on both XP and Vista along with both Urge and Ruckus," one user replied.

Source:
BetaNews