5 ms·
This is a bit misleading. The "plugin" you mention is not something the user installs - it is usually bundled with the browser or OS. For example, Apple's is c
by BillinghamJ 11y ago
This is a bit misleading. The "plugin" you mention is not something the user installs - it is usually bundled with the browser or OS.
For example, Apple's is called FairPlay. It's automatically embedded in every iOS device, Apple TV, Apple Watch, and Mac. It is able to decrypt the content streamed from approved providers.
Of course, it is closed source, but that does not make it insecure or dangerous. The vast majority of your Mac is closed source and has an awful lot more privileges than FairPlay.
- yarrel 11y agoA plugin designed to conceal what your computer is doing from you and make it work against you is by definition insecure and dangerous. Encyrypted content is trivial to record and redistribute for reasons that Cory Doctorow spelled out to tech companies a decade ago. That those companies are still pretending otherwise is leading to them perverting the operation of network and systems software.
- jcranmer 11y agoThe tech companies know that DRM is pointless. The problem is that they don't get to decide to not use it: it's the content producers who insist on inane maximal DRM, and refuse to let companies license/broadcast the material without it.