AfterDawn: News

Amazon Kindle hacked, e-book DRM cracked

The popular e-reader, the Amazon Kindle has been hacked this week, allowing for all purchased content to be transferred off the device via a PDF file.

Kindle e-books are sold as .AZW files which have DRM that stops users from transferring the purchased books to other devices that are not Kindles.



That should no longer be a problem thanks to Israeli hacker "Labba" who has cracked the DRM. A second hacker, "I <3 cabbages," has released the "Unswindle" program, which will reformat digital content downloaded and stored on the Kindle for PC app, converting it to easily movable formats, such as PDF.

"Cabbages" did note that Amazon's DRM process was tough to crack, although ultimately Amazon's work was in vain. "Amazon actually put a bit of effort behind the DRM obfuscation in their Kindle for PC application. And they seem to have done a reasonable job on the obfuscation. Way to go Amazon! It's good enough that I got bored unwinding it all and just got lazy with the Windows debugging APIs instead," he said.

Written by: Andre Yoskowitz @ 23 Dec 2009 19:07

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• 13 comments

• Amak

  So much money was just thrown away. Give up on DRM, it doesn't work!

  23.12.2009 19:13 #1

• windsong

  Why do the elite hackers always have awkward and/or funky names?
  
  Anyways congrats to them all. :)

  23.12.2009 20:42 #2

• blivetNC

  DRM= Doesit Really Matter?
  Much like indentured servitude, this shall pass.

  23.12.2009 21:18 #3

• KillerBug

  That's great...now you can transfer your books from your old Kindle to your new Nook! Even better, you can backup your books so that when Amazon decides to delete or edit them, you don't loose anything. Should also get PDF books to the warez sites a lot faster...

  23.12.2009 22:46 #4

• Pop_Smith

  Although doubtful, I wonder if Amazon has there content "watermarked" at all so when something like this happens the "leaked" content can be traced back to the original buyer.

  24.12.2009 01:28 #5

• nanu-nanu

  I have not used Labbas method, but i have used Cabbages...first thing i did after BUYINGthe book from amazon was remove the DRM. I bought the damn book, let me read it how, when I wish

  24.12.2009 02:01 #6

• ahiah9

  I've thought about purchasing a Kindle... but the lack of a color screen and the DRM made me choose not to. This might make it more worth the money. Are they as great as they seem? Anyone got a better recommendation?

  24.12.2009 04:45 #7

• blueboy09

  My question: Why in the hell do hackers expose themselves that openly when they hack something this big? That's like saying: Here I am, arrest me at your leisure time. It's no rush, I'll be posting more hacks as they are created. Don't get me wrong, DRM is the scum of the earth, but you that the authorities have got be searcing for these 2 as we speak. - BLUEBOY

  24.12.2009 11:15 #8

• John_Donn

  Originally posted by blueboy09: My question: Why in the hell do hackers expose themselves that openly when they hack something this big? That's like saying: Here I am, arrest me at your leisure time. It's no rush, I'll be posting more hacks as they are created. Don't get me wrong, DRM is the scum of the earth, but you that the authorities have got be searcing for these 2 as we speak. - BLUEBOYIf he is Israeli and is an elite hacker he will not be found. We can't find people in the US let alone the mid east where they have biger things to worry about

  24.12.2009 12:34 #9

• ahiah9

  Originally posted by blueboy09: My question: Why in the hell do hackers expose themselves that openly when they hack something this big? That's like saying: Here I am, arrest me at your leisure time. It's no rush, I'll be posting more hacks as they are created. Don't get me wrong, DRM is the scum of the earth, but you that the authorities have got be searcing for these 2 as we speak. - BLUEBOYIf I understand it all correctly, aren't you allowed to hack a program as long as you don't reverse engineer the code or something like that? Maybe not. If I'm wrong, I'm sorry.... I'll admit I'm wrong, just nobody go out for pitchforks & torches. After all, what the hell do I know? I use Windows.

  25.12.2009 01:42 #10

• KillerBug

  Originally posted by ahiah9: Originally posted by blueboy09: My question: Why in the hell do hackers expose themselves that openly when they hack something this big? That's like saying: Here I am, arrest me at your leisure time. It's no rush, I'll be posting more hacks as they are created. Don't get me wrong, DRM is the scum of the earth, but you that the authorities have got be searcing for these 2 as we speak. - BLUEBOYIf I understand it all correctly, aren't you allowed to hack a program as long as you don't reverse engineer the code or something like that? Maybe not. If I'm wrong, I'm sorry.... I'll admit I'm wrong, just nobody go out for pitchforks & torches. After all, what the hell do I know? I use Windows.If in the USA, then it is illigal to circumvent protection...but the DMCA does not apply everywhere.
  

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  25.12.2009 05:38 #11

• dvtran93

  Where can I find this program?

  25.12.2009 16:51 #12

• FredBun

  Congrats to this fellow.

  26.12.2009 04:06 #13