DRM Round-up: Q4 2018

Merry Christmas! You know what's not merry? DRM. Let's see how the numbers have moved since last quarter.

I have a policy of refusing to purchase any eBooks encumbered with DRM, which I observe strictly. My frustration has grown so immense that I have

Investigating an early-2010s gaming DRM system: Part 4

Last time, we investigated how an early-2010s gaming DRM system approached machine-based licensing. This time, we'll investigate exactly how the DRM system interacts with the game to accomplish its ends.

Structure of the DRM system

Looking at the game binary, FooBarBazX.exe, for the… »

Editable PTV Passenger Information Display System (PIDS) signs

Tram stop departure information – SVG

SmartBus departure information – SVG

Platform departure information – SVG

Platform departure information (Flinders Street) – SVG

Platform departure information (Clayton) – SVG

Platform departure information (Clayton – Not taking suburban passengers) – SVG

Platform departure information (Richmond) – … »

Investigating an early-2010s gaming DRM system: Part 3

Last time, we investigated how an early-2010s gaming DRM system stored licences for games. This time, we'll investigate how those licences are tied to particular devices.

From last time, we know that the licence file contains an encrypted XML payload:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8" standalone="yes"?>

Investigating an early-2010s gaming DRM system: Part 2

Last time, we investigated part of a gaming DRM system from the early-2010s, looking at some of the configuration files. This time, we'll investigate how the licences for these games are stored.

Is is known that the licence data for the games is stored… »

PTV PA noises

Trains

Platform announcements

• Good afternoon customers. Your next service to depart from platform 1 will be the 12:02 City Loop, stopping all stations to Caulfield, running express from Caulfield to South Yarra, then stopping all stations to Flinders Street, via the City Loop. Your next