BD+ Advanced Countermeasure: How Blu-Ray can hose your machine

[Ruined]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=8193766&&#post8193766

From p. 25 of the April 11, 2006 BDA "Overview of BD-ROM Security" internal presentation, delivered at a BDA conference, concerning the "3 phases of BD+ deployment":

Advanced Countermeasure (when basic countermeasure code does not work)

BD+ includes the ability to load native code (code that runs directly on the player’s host process). It is allowed to deploy it only after countermeasure code cannot address the hack.

So, yes, Parsons, chat up the FUT and Basic Countermeasure components of BD+ all you want. Just don't tell us what really happens when a Basic Countermeasure spawned from a BDA-sanctioned Hack Study fails to achieve its goal. The arrogance of this man never ceases to astound me.

EDIT: Just so we're all on the same page here, there is a distinction between co-called BD+ Content Code (which runs in the BD+ VM) and native code. It's a distinction that I first failed to recognize, as I didn't read the BDA documentation very carefully, and was willing to believe the smoke and mirrors. As the BDA will gleefully tell everyone who will listen, "BD+ Content Code works only while Disc with the code is loaded. After its ejection, Player to return to its state before the code is loaded." Alas, Advanced Countermasures don't have anything to do with BD+ Content Code.

In other words, Sony Rootkit Part 2. Basically if a Blu-Ray disc detects something it doesn't like and can't get rid of it, it can run native code of its choosing (a la rootkit) on your Blu-Ray player/machine and possibly even permanently disable it. Something good to know if you are on the fence between the two formats - note that HD DVD does not include this "feature."

 

[ANova]

This kind of stuff has put me off of HD players entirely. I have no interest in them until they stop the nonsense.

 

[RobertR1]

BD+ is the thron in the side of the Managed Copy system also. For those unaware, Managed Copy is where you can stream the content to various locations in the house from one area. In short, BD+ breaks managed copy and Sony/Panasonic/Fox (this is your core BR group for those un aware) aren't very easy to get help from on this and other issues.

Bit about managed copy:

"To recap shenanigans so far, managed copy is part of the AACS specification shared by both HD DVD and Blu-ray. In theory, managed copy will allow you to make digital copies of your BD-ROMs or HD DVDs for viewing on a home media center, streaming throughout your house, or even transferring to a portable player."

 

[Bouncing Zabaglione Bros.]

Just another reason to stay out of the HD/BR war, and in particular to continue to boycott Sony products while their company philosophy is to shit on the customer.

Given review of things like the new Denon, I think it's pretty easy for people to live without Blu-Ray, the poor quality conversions, limited movie choice, draconian DRM, etc

 

[Ruined]

Just another reason to stay out of the HD/BR war, and in particular to continue to boycott Sony products while their company philosophy is to shit on the customer.

Given review of things like the new Denon, I think it's pretty easy for people to live without Blue-Ray, the poor quality conversions, limited movie choice, draconian DRM, etc

I'm not a fan of AACS in general, but with BD+ on top of it Blu-Ray is especially unattractive.

Since I wanted HD video, I picked HD DVD which seems the far lesser of two evils. And better A/V quality & value at that (Toshiba HD-A1).