Shift key breaks CD Copy Locks
It turns out that the latest CD copy protection technology dreamed up by the studios is based on the Windows AutoRun feature. (This is the feature that makes Windows start running a program described by the autorun.inf file on any CDROM.) Well, a student at Princeton University is publicizing the fact that you can disable the AutoRun feature by simply holding down the shift key when a CD is inserted, according to this C|NET article.
Pretty neat. Of course, even a perfectly-protected CD is still susceptible to the analog hole.
Keep Reading
Most Popular
Large language models can do jaw-dropping things. But nobody knows exactly why.
And that's a problem. Figuring it out is one of the biggest scientific puzzles of our time and a crucial step towards controlling more powerful future models.
The problem with plug-in hybrids? Their drivers.
Plug-in hybrids are often sold as a transition to EVs, but new data from Europe shows we’re still underestimating the emissions they produce.
How scientists traced a mysterious covid case back to six toilets
When wastewater surveillance turns into a hunt for a single infected individual, the ethics get tricky.
Google DeepMind’s new generative model makes Super Mario–like games from scratch
Genie learns how to control games by watching hours and hours of video. It could help train next-gen robots too.
Stay connected
Get the latest updates from
MIT Technology Review
Discover special offers, top stories, upcoming events, and more.