Undefeatable copy protections?

[Shades Coolray]

Alright, let me start by saying that I don't play computer\console games that much, but I get on CDFreaks.com sometimes and look at how much effort gets put into defeating copy protected CD's just to make backup copies of them.

Anyway, they've been trying for years (I'm assuming it's years now) to figure out how to defeat Playstation's Libcrypt protection without using a modchip or anything. Also, it's not just Libcrypt, it's also some of these new copy protections on CDROMs that are becoming increasingly harder to get around.

So here's my question: do you guys think that these copy protections are becoming too much and do you think they will ever be defeated?

[Roadblock]

If it can be encrypted, it can be unencrypted. I worked in the home satellite reciever business when they first came out. (the big home dishes) When they first scrambled the signals, they used something called the Video Cypher I. They touted it as Un-Decryptable. A guy at MIT decrypted the signals in about 72 hours, rendering the Video Cypher I virtually worthless. In short, if it can be done, it can be undone. All you need is someone with the brains, who is properly motivated. ;)

[FrYGuY]

I had a friend who wanted a backup CD of WarCraft III. (Yes, that entire sentance is completely true!) It has two types of protection. One, it has SecureROM protection, which is easily broken by creating a 1-to-1 copy of the disc. Good old CloneCD took care of that.

The other problem is it checks if the disc is a CD-R/RW. If it is, it won't play. The solution to that is even easier. Put it in a CD-ROM or DVD-ROM drive, as those can't read the ring around the edge of the CD-R/RW's for laser calibration, which identify them as CD-R/RW. Or, there are some utilities which can even burn the the ring, making the CD appear a genuine, bona fide, CD, undiscernable even to a CD-R drive.

End result: My friend got a perfect copy of his WarCraft III CD, so he didn't have to risk his $50 actual CD being out in a college dorm, where stuff notoriously breaks and/or goes missing.

So do I think that encryption will never be able to be broken? Not really... just look at the DVD and CSS. DeCSS took what, a whole month to figure out?

[Zcool]

Got to agree for the simple reason is that when these companies brag about coming up with some unbreakable protection it is just sending out a challenge to all the hackers. These protections never do last long and its fun when the game makers, film or record companies find out they have been broken.

[geffers]

all the copy protection does is stop novices from making copies,if you can see it or here it you can copy it some
stuff maybe harder than others but where there is a will there is always a way.

[Buddha]

In the gaming world its just a matter of hoping the copy protection holds out before the next platform comes out and a different method is used. Whatever they use to encrypt can be undone. There is no way they can make it 100% full proof. Like Roadblock said if it can be encrypted it can be unencrypted.

[FrYGuY]

My favorite is the 'Unbreakable" high tech CD protection which is easily defeated using a dry erase marker :D

[Buddha]

They probably spent an insane amount of money coming up with that "high tech" copy protection and someone figures out a way to bypass it with a 50 cent sharpie.

[Memento_Mori]

Originally posted by Roadblock
If it can be encrypted, it can be unencrypted. I worked in the home satellite reciever business when they first came out. (the big home dishes) When they first scrambled the signals, they used something called the Video Cypher I. They touted it as Un-Decryptable. A guy at MIT decrypted the signals in about 72 hours, rendering the Video Cypher I virtually worthless. In short, if it can be done, it can be undone. All you need is someone with the brains, who is properly motivated. ;)

Indeed, well said:thumbsup:

[SaLTy]

I agree with geffers, if they were too easy, there would be lots more copys of games and things because anyone could do it, if they get harder, there isen't as many copys around because no novices can do it and only the top of them can de-crypt it.

[Buddha]

If it's harder encryption the same amount of copies come around. It just takes time for the more elite to crack it and once it hits bit torrent, fasttrack, and the mule networks it spreads just as fast.