4 ms·

Decoding viewstate might technically be illegal according to the DMCA, but shouldn't be and if the journalist is convicted they should be immediately pardoned.

• nextaccountic 5y ago
  Is the base64 in there actually a measure intended to stop copyright infringement? It can't be, base64 is completely transparent. The reason things are encoded in base64 is so that they can be transmitted in a subset of ascii (and thus be embedded in plain text formats like html).
  • literallyaduck 5y ago
    Viewstate is base64 then a further serialized underneath, it isn't XML or JSON, but is totally readable enough to pick out fields. In some states if you have screened in porch and you break the screen, it is still breaking and entering. Even the base64 could be equivalent to the screen door. I hope the reporter doesn't actually get prosecuted for this, but we need to fix some of our laws.
    • zarzavat 5y ago
      It's not nearly as bad as breaking a screen door. It's more like writing in a foreign alphabet, and then crying foul when someone can read that alphabet.
      • daveslash 5y ago
        I think this is a much better analogy. I'd even go so far as to say that it would be like using Morse code and then being upset when someone else listening also knows Morse code. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zfNfilNOIE https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8zfNfilNOIE