BT plays down hacker claims

 

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Posted on 25 Oct 2001 at 09:53

BT has denied that its new online music subscription service's built-in security can be hacked.

As we reported yesterday, a hacker known as Beale Screamer claimed to have successfully hacked Microsoft's Digital Rights Management System, which is designed to prevent unauthorised copying of downloaded music in the WMA format that BT has chosen for the service.

However Ben Drury, Btopenworld's head of online music, claimed the hack was a one off and that Microsoft is close to releasing a fix. He dismissed the files placed on the Internet by the hacker, saying that they were 'mere theory' reminiscent of 'mathematical lecture notes' beyond the comprehension of the average user.

Other observers are not so sure, saying that hacking will continue until a form of DRM is implemented that does not impinge upon the rights of users.

As well as developing a fix, Microsoft is also believed to be considering legal options.

Author: Simon Aughton