HACKERS FIND WAY TO KEEP ONLINE BBC PROGRAMMES INDEFINITELY

The BBC has been forced to close a loophole in its recently-launched iPlayer service after hackers found a way round anti-piracy settings allowing people to keep programmes indefinitely.

Using the iPlayer service viewers are allowed to download BBC programmes but can only obtain them for 30 days before they are deleted from PC hard drives.

Hackers however found a way round the piracy settings and enabled people to hold on to the shows for as long as they liked.

The BBC issued a statement today claiming to have closed the loop hole exploited by the hackers.

"It's an ongoing, constant process and one which we will continue to monitor," the BBC said.

"Like other broadcasters, the security of rights-protected content online is an issue we take very seriously."

A version of the iPlayer for the Apple iPhone and iPod was announced last week.

Figures suggest that more than 17 million shows have been streamed or downloaded using the BBC service since Christmas last year.


13/03/2008 18:11:05