Introduction to DRM, Rights Threats – from IP Television Magazine March 2007.

DRM Series

Digital Rights Management Threats

by: Lawrence Harte

Some of the potential threats to digital rights management systems include file ripping, hacking, slurping, spoofing, hijacking, bit torrents, camming, insider piracy, analog holes, digital holes and misrouting.

Misrouting

Misrouting is the redirection of transmission paths or routes. Misrouting may be accidental (error in a router table update) or it may be intentional through the altering or changing of the routing tables.

This article is Part 8 of a 9 Part Series

DRM Series List
Month

Digital Rights Aug 06

Rights Management Sep 06

Digital Assets Oct 06

Media Identification Nov 06

Security Processes Dec 06

DRM Systems Jan 07

Media Distribution Feb 07

Rights Threats Mar 07

Protocols and Standards Apr 07

Ripping

Ripping media is the process of extracting (ripping it from its source) or storing media as it is streamed. Ripping media may occur through the use of a stream recorder. Stream recorders are devices and/or software that is used to capture, format and store streaming media. Figure

Figure 1.25, Ripping Media

32 Mar 2007 Definitions FREE at www.IPTVDictionary.com

1.25 shows how users may rip media from its original packaging to alter its form and potentially change or eliminate rights management attributes. This example shows that an audio CD is inserted into a personal computer that has had ripping software installed. The ripping software instructs the microprocessor in the computer to make a copy of the data that is being played to the sound card (audio chip) in the computer and to store this data on the storage disk in the computer.

Hacking

Hacking is the process that is used when attempt to gain unauthorized access into networks and/or computing devices. The term hacking has also been used by programmers to solve their programming problems. They would continually change or hack the program until it operated the way that they desire it to operate.

Hackers perform hacking. A hacker is someone or a machine that attempts to gain access into networks and/or computing devices. Hackers may perform their actions for enjoyment (satisfaction), malicious reasons (revenge), or to obtain a profitable gain (theft).

Slurping

Slurping is the unauthorized gathering media and data files from another computer or data storage system. When slurping is performed by a POD device it is called POD slurping.

Spoofing

Spoofing is the use of another person's name or address to hide their true identity. Spoofing may involve registering using one name or identify and obtaining access to the media through the use of other names.

Hijacking

Hijacking is a process of gaining security access by the capture of a communication link in mid-session after the session has already been unauthorized. Hijacking occurs when an unauthorized user detects (sniffs) and obtains information about a communication system.

A sniffer is a device or program that receives and analyzes communication activity so that it can display the information to a person or communication system. While sniffers may be used for the analysis of communication systems, they are often associated with the capturing and displaying of information to unauthorized recipients. For example, a sniffer may be able to be setup to look for the first part of any remote login session that includes the user name, password, and host name of a person logging in to another machine. Once this information is captured and viewed by the unauthorized recipient (an intruder or hacker), he or she can log on to that system at will.

Figure 1.26 shows how hijacking may be used to obtain access to an authorized media session to gain access to protected media. This example shows that an unauthorized user has obtained information about a media session request between a media provider (such as an online music store) and a user (music listener). After the media begins

Figure 1.26, Hijacking Operation

streaming to the validated user, the hijacker modifies a routing table distribution system to redirect the media streaming session to a different computer.

Bit Torrent

A bit torrent is a rapid file transfer that occurs when multiple providers of information can combine their data transfer into a single stream (a torrent) of file information to the receiving computer.

Figure 1.27 shows how to transfer files using the torrent process. This example shows that 4 computers contain a large information file (such as a movie DVD). Each of the computers is connected to the Internet via high-speed connections that have high-speed download capability and medium-speed upload capability. To speed up the transfer speed for the file transfer, the receiver of information can request sections of the media file to be downloaded. Because the receiver of the information has a high-speed download connection, the limited uplink data rates of the section suppliers are combined. This allows the receiver of the information to transfer the entire file much faster.

Figure 1.27, Torrent Operation

34 Mar 2007 Definitions FREE at www.IPTVDictionary.com

Camming

Camming is the use of a video-recording device to capture audiovisual content from a display (e.g. using a camcorder to record a move).

Insider Piracy

Insider piracy is the duplication and sale of program materials, particularly TV programs on DVD, videotape or other digital media format in violation of copyright laws which is performed or assisted by people who are employees, contractors or supporting personnel of companies that produce, distribute or manage the program materials.

Analog Hole

The analog hole is the ability for users to copy media in its analog form after it has been converted from digital format to an analog signal. An example of the analog hole is the recording of an audio disk by using a microphone, which is placed next to the speakers of a digital stereo system.

Digital Hole

The digital hole is the ability for users to redirect media that is in its digital form after it has been received and decoded and reformatted to a display device (such as a HDMI interface). An example of the digital hole is the redirecting of a digital display and processing it into a recorded format.

Misrouting

Series Source:
Introduction to DRM
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