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Old 27th January 2006, 11:11   #1  |  Link
FreaQ
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Alpha-DVD protection on new DVDs

So there is a new candidate in the race for worst copy protection ever: Alpha-DVD from Settec.

When you insert the DVD in your PC drive, it tries to install a little Software, which wants to control playback. To uninstall the software you must have the original DVD and you have to mail Settec for an uninstaller and an uninstall key.

Some users at forum.dvdinside.de (german) report, that the software also removes all virtual drives and burners.

To bypass this crap, just turn off your Autorun in Windows.

So far known DVDs:

Mr. & Mrs. Smith - Kinowelt Home Entertainment R2 Germany

Kinowelt mentioned, that all of their future blockbuster releases will be 'protected' with Alpha-DVD and that all the other majors want to use it too.
In addition to Alpha Kinowelt uses Arccoss which causes some players to stutter.
So you have a DVD with CSS, Macrovision, Region Code, Arccoss and Alpha-DVD protection.

So whats next? Someone with a pistol behind you while you watch a movie?
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Old 27th January 2006, 15:21   #2  |  Link
VWRacer
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Sounds like a pending lawsuit. Installs their software? Disables drives? I wonder how long it will take someone to override Alpha-DVD?

I can't speak for everyone else, but I create copies to protect my originals from gettting damaged. I don't mind replacing my copy when the kids lose it, or scratch the he** out of it. But having to buy another DVD, for the same reason? No chance. Now another copyguard to make my life more irritating?
Feh!

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Old 27th January 2006, 15:41   #3  |  Link
vermaccio
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FreaQ
When you insert the DVD in your PC drive, it tries to install a little Software, which wants to control playback.

does the software ask for a permission to install or not?


Quote:
Originally Posted by FreaQ
To uninstall the software you must have the original DVD and you have to mail Settec for an uninstaller and an uninstall key.

this is illegal in many countries. my computer is MY computer and you can't decide what i can or what i can't do. I'm FREE to uninstall or to install what i want.Sony has many legal troubles about its rootkit. Is this a similar software or a similar philosophy?

Quote:
Originally Posted by FreaQ
Some users at forum.dvdinside.de (german) report, that the software also removes all virtual drives and burners.
very interesting. they can't do it. illegal. if they damage or modify my pc/my programs they will pay for it, they will talk about it in a tribunal. i see many maaaAAAAaany many legal problems for this company.

Quote:
Originally Posted by FreaQ
To bypass this crap, just turn off your Autorun in Windows.
as usual only low skilled users will be "infected" by this program. we will not have any problem.
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Last edited by vermaccio; 27th January 2006 at 15:45.
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Old 27th January 2006, 17:47   #4  |  Link
guada 2
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So whats next? Someone with a pistol behind you while you watch a movie ?
( FreaQ )

Who knows, it is possible
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Old 27th January 2006, 17:49   #5  |  Link
SamuriHL
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AnyDVD will block this garbage and remove the ArCCOS protection while it's at it. They best not get carried away with tihs crap, though, as like people have said, they will get sued. Right, Sony?
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Old 27th January 2006, 18:36   #6  |  Link
FreaQ
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vermaccio
does the software ask for a permission to install or not?
It asks for permission to install. But if you say 'No', the DVD will be ejected.
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Old 27th January 2006, 20:55   #7  |  Link
Johnny_Deep_Down_Below
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Luckily I never work with Autorun enabled. Anyway, a copy-protection fiddling around in the system is REALLY shitty, this a step too far!
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Old 30th January 2006, 13:35   #8  |  Link
rotty
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Where is Autorun Enabel/Disable in XP

I know this is going to sound thick, but how do you turn Autorun on and off in XP.
Thanks in advance
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Old 30th January 2006, 16:22   #9  |  Link
SamuriHL
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Just download this:

http://www.annoyances.org/exec/show/tweakui

In the My Computer, Autoplay section you can unselect the drives you want to turn it off for.
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Old 30th January 2006, 16:29   #10  |  Link
unskinnyboy
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Alpha-DVD or Beta-DVD, it will be broken, hacked, decimated. It is just a matter of time. Always remember - if it can be viewed, it can be copied.

@rotty, Either TweakUI or read this.
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Old 4th February 2006, 21:28   #11  |  Link
johnhamler1
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Quote:
Originally Posted by guada 2
So whats next? Someone with a pistol behind you while you watch a movie ?
( FreaQ )

Who knows, it is possible

what next???:

P2P, and it is free
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Old 5th February 2006, 17:32   #12  |  Link
CruNcher
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it's a totaly dumb copy protection it doesn't protect from copying but from viewing totaly dumb concept i really wonder if anyone @ Kinowelt has any idea what they bought their lol
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Old 8th February 2006, 09:42   #13  |  Link
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The german online magazine Heise did an analysis of the Alpha-DVD protection.

First of all: There are defective sectors in the structure.

Now for that shitty windows part.

If you allow to install that software it will copy three files in your systemroot (cmtl.dat, dmdmgr.exe und hadl.dll).
The exe-file itself gets on different installtion different names ("dmdmgr.exe", "mscomc.exe", "avsys.exe", "win32k2.exe") and hides from Task Manager and ProcessExplorer.
The process scans permantly for "wnsaspi32.dll", "asapi.dll" and "elbycdio.dll".
On the test systems of Heise they caused read/write errors while burning, a completly wasted DVD-RW after burning and heavily reduced burning speed with Data-DVD.

Here are the german articles.
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/69211
http://www.heise.de/newsticker/meldung/69322
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Old 8th February 2006, 10:17   #14  |  Link
Boiling Ice
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Imagine someone gets in your house, eat your food, sleep in your bed, and though out what ever he/she likes without you knowing or behind your back...... that's what this protection is doing.... that's pure illigle sh*t if you ask me.

They don't have the right to install anything on my PC, they have no damn right to remove any virtual drives.... it's my PC, my world, they don't have the right to do anything on it unless I say so.

Thank God, I never have autorun enabled.
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Old 9th February 2006, 00:27   #15  |  Link
Amnon82
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Quote:
On the test systems of Heise they caused read/write errors while burning, a completly wasted DVD-RW after burning and heavily reduced burning speed with Data-DVD.
... seems they want to disable the burning produce, so you have problems with any media you want burn on. We should start a list for A-DVD-protected DVDs.

P.S. Germany test this shit. I think if they do it in the USA there will be more troubles for the firms, so they use germany. Everybody knows that the law in germany is slow in excution.
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Old 10th February 2006, 01:59   #16  |  Link
kis2005
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It is another reason to make sure we backup our PC, so if we get infected with things like this, we can wipe it from a saved image...don't play without a net.
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Old 11th February 2006, 14:50   #17  |  Link
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kis2005
It is another reason to make sure we backup our PC, so if we get infected with things like this, we can wipe it from a saved image...don't play without a net.
Well said.

I never had autoplay on.

Mike
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Old 18th February 2006, 03:24   #18  |  Link
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The following appeared on the SBC-Yahoo website:
Quote:
Robert McMillan, IDG News Service
Thu Feb 16, 7:00 PM ET

SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA-- A U.S. Department of Homeland Security official warned today that if software distributors continue to sell products with dangerous rootkit software, as Sony BMG Music Entertainment recently did, legislation or regulation could follow...

Earlier this week security vendor F-Secure reported that it had discovered rootkit technology in the copy protection system of the German DVD release of the Brad Pitt-Angelina Jolie movie Mr. and Mrs. Smith. That DVD is distributed in Germany by Kinowelt GmbH, according to the Internet Movie Database.
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Old 20th February 2006, 05:06   #19  |  Link
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@setarip_old

Isn't it great watching the monster eat itself? In many ways, the legal issues are far more entertaining than the drek Hollywood's been pumping out lately. It's become a classic case of "the more you look, the less you see" for the MPAA.
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Old 20th February 2006, 06:29   #20  |  Link
setarip_old
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In many ways, the legal issues are far more entertaining
Not if you're a "little guy" on the receiving end of a lawsuit or threat of a lawsuit...
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