Hidden stuff in your new music from iTunes

Itunesplussonghasname2
iTunes hacker Erica shows you what's hidden inside those new un-DRM'ed music files from Apple, open one of the songs via terminal and you'll see some of your account information inside the file - Link - it seems like these have always been in there (part of the ID3 tags).


Recent Entries

Comments

Oldest comments listed first.

Posted by: cyenobite on June 1, 2007 at 11:23 AM

I read about this on boingboing and on techdirt. At first I was angry at apple for including personal info (such as email address) into the files, then I read some interesting comments on techdirt that apple has always done this, and that actually it's a good non-invasive way to prevent people from "sharing" music via p2p. I have to agree. Curious of other maker's thoughts on this...
(yes, I know the id's can be stripped easily).


Posted by: japroach on June 1, 2007 at 11:41 AM

How is it a good way to prevent p2p, when they dont tell you that they do this?

Chances are, the majority of people run a p2p app which automatically scans + shares their music files. It is unlikely they will ever even hear of this story.


Posted by: samurai1200 on June 1, 2007 at 3:04 PM

right. its not a good way to prevent sharing, but its a good way to catch those who have...

screw apple.


Posted by: cowboyonahorse on June 1, 2007 at 4:32 PM

Years I've been saying I don't trust Apple (or Microsoft...basically any company that cozys up to the music recording industry). And now I have proof, thank you very much.


Posted by: paulbeard@gmail.com on June 1, 2007 at 5:42 PM

What's interesting is that the free single of the week is being released as DRM-free. But yes, the account holder name has been encoded in "protected" mp4 files before.

white:~/Music/iTunes/iTunes Music/U2/Under a Blood Red Sky paul$ strings 05\ Sunday\ Bloody\ Sunday\ \(Live\ 1983\).m4p | grep name
namePaul Beard
name
name


Will it prevent file-sharing? I doubt it. Will it make file-sharers easy to track down? Maybe.

As far as iTunes 7.2 preventing you from creating anonymous mp3s from iTunes Plus files, that seems not to be true, unless I am missing something.


Posted by: tms10000 on June 2, 2007 at 1:20 AM

So it was always there, but before you could not see it because it was "encrypted" with your personal DRM key.

Now DRM free files have it in the clear.

Should not it be easy to wipe the info out?

Why would you pay $1.29 per track in the first place?


Posted by: cheesy on June 3, 2007 at 4:25 PM

I give it a week before someone releases a tool to strip this info.


Leave a comment


Subscribe to MAKE!Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

Subscribe today, save 42% and get web access to MAKE free. MAKE Digital Edition is available only to subscribers.

$34.95 / 1 year
(4 Quarterly Issues)

Subscribe now


Void your warranty, violate a user agreement, fry a circuit, blow a fuse, poke an eye out. Make: The risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things... Welcome to Make: Online!


CRAFT Maker Shed Maker Faire MAKE television
MAKE: en EspaƱol MAKE: Japan


Check out all of the episodes of Make: television

Make: Science Room

Connect with MAKE

Be a MAKE fan on Facebook MAKE on Facebook
Visit our Facebook page and become a fan of MAKE!
MAKE on Twitter MAKE on Twitter
Follow our MAKE tweets!
MAKE Flickr Pool MAKE on Flickr
Join our MAKE Flickr Pool!
    make_tips on Twitter

    MAKE's RSS feed is here.
    Add MAKE to iGoogle - GoogleGoogle.
    How to add MAKE to your RSS reader - Real simple.
    Add MAKE on FriendFeed




    Maker SHED

    Advertise here with FM.

    Why advertise on MAKE?
    Read what folks are saying about us!

    Click here to advertise on MAKE!



    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Make: Online authors!

    Gareth BranwynGareth Branwyn
    Senior Editor


    Phillip TorronePhillip Torrone
    Senior Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Becky SternBecky Stern
    Associate Editor
    | AIM | Twitter


    Marc de VinckMarc de Vinck
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    John ParkJohn Park
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Sean RaganSean Ragan
    Contributing Writer
    | Twitter


    Matt MetsMatt Mets
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter


    Dale DoughertyDale Dougherty
    Editor & Publisher
    | Twitter


    Shawn ConnallyShawn Connally
    Managing Editor
    | Twitter


    Goli MohammadiGoli Mohammadi
    Associate Managing Editor

    Kip KayKip Kay
    Weekend Projects
    | AIM | Twitter


    Collin CunninghamCollin Cunningham
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter

    Adam FlahertyAdam Flaherty
    Contributing Writer
    | AIM | Twitter



    More contributors: Mark Frauenfelder (Editor-in-Chief, MAKE magazine), Kipp Bradford (Technical Consultant/Writer), Chris Connors (Education), Diana Eng (Guest Author), Peter Horvath (Intern), Brian Jepson (O'Reilly Media), Robert Bruce Thompson (Science Room)

    Suggest a Site!

    Current Podcast

    itunesdl.gif Weekend Project: Making Char Cloth Learn how to make a cheap and effective fire starter made from an old t-shirt. To download The Char Cloth video click here and subscribe in iTunes. See Char Cloth in action with the Fire Piston from William Gurstelle.... More...

    Get the Make: Online sent via email
    Enter your email to receive Make: Online each day:



    MAKE Fascination video series brought to you by Dow

    Make: Education

    Important please read


    Subscribe to MAKE Magazine!

    Recent Posts from the Craft: Blog