4 ms·
Hulu begins encrypting HTML content to thwart non-browser apps
- smanek 18y agoHTML is now encrypted at the source and then decrypted using Javascript on the client That is obfuscation, not encryption. When you provide a function capable of 'decrypting' the ciphertext with the ciphertext, I don't really think it can be called encryption anymore. It's kind of like saying: smNOSPAManek@fas.REMOVETHISTOOharvard.edu is encrypted ... If it's just Javascript, this should be pretty easy to fix (technically at least), right? I don't know the details of boxee's architecture, but there are plenty of free Javascript engines.
- mustpax 18y agoYes, what a brilliant idea. "We'll encrypt our content using a standardized language which by definition runs on several open source platforms. That ought to trump those user agents."
- mjfern 18y agoThis is clearly a response to Boxee, and I think Hulu will continue to try to block Boxee using technical and/or legal means. It's not in the interest of Hulu or the studios/networks to cooperate with Boxee. The Boxee approach significantly weakens Hulu's position. The only alternative to a legal/technical block is an acquisition or formal partnership, but there are a number of issues with such an approach, including the acquisition price ($6-8 mil min given Boxee's recent $4 mil financing), the fact that another startup could emerge and use Hulu's RSS feeds, etc.
- oomkiller 18y agoWow, because you can't just run the code using Spidermonkey to get the source!
- timcederman 18y agoMeanwhile Plex just launches a copy of Safari (I'm simplifying the process here) to get around any limitations. It's awesome.