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Watermarking has long been one of the tools used to track sources of pirated content so with the growth of live content streaming, it's becoming more important than ever. However, while broadcasters can use these marks to shut down infringing streams in a live situation, pirates are reportedly able to remove them using devices readily available on eBay.
[...] Since pirate streams are often captured from consumer decoders, a watermark denoting which subscriber account is being used can be embedded into the video. Once the mark is identified and matched with a customer device, the stream can be cut off at its source by the broadcaster. While it is possible to remove these codes, doing so isn’t always straightforward. Systems can place the watermark in any place at any time, meaning that some always slip through the net. However, others are more easily dealt with, as a report from security company Irdeto reveals.
“So-called ‘HashCode removal tools’ work in near real-time to strip away any kind of visual marks from a video feed. This ranges from unique fingerprints right down to the broadcaster’s on-screen logo that’s so familiar on many channels, both helping pirates to cover their tracks,” the company explains.
“These tools are so smart, they take a sample of the surrounding pixels and re-use them to replace the visual marks, so the viewer of the pirate stream barely notices any disturbance in the picture.”
Source: https://torrentfreak.com/live-tv-piracy-watermarking-defeated-by-devices-sold-on-ebay-180624/
(Score: 2) by Freeman on Thursday June 28 2018, @09:03PM (1 child)
This used to be the case by and large, but online streaming services have gotten a lot better. Personally I stick with Netflix. No "Traditional TV" service. We still get the occasional DVD or DVD/Blu-Ray combo, but that hasn't really increased or decreased. My wife heard about Disney making a new streaming service, so we'll probably be switching to that or getting both. I'm just fine tinkering on my computer and playing video games.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 3, Interesting) by DannyB on Thursday June 28 2018, @09:54PM
I've enjoyed Netflix for a long time. But I find it increasingly difficult to find anything I like on Netflix. Especially any kind of "Sci Fi" that doesn't have fantasy, supernatural elements, witches, magic, or a really dark or dystopian plot. A lot of Netflix's home grown content is disappointing.
This was not the case a few years ago, but now I find more I like on Amazon Prime and Hulu. Sometimes HBO.
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