UNF**K.EXE - A .WMA CONVERSION HACK

Have any of you out there ever heard of a hacker-created program called... (unfuck.exe) - forgive me please, I'm not just making this name up.

It was created back in 1999 to get around the .wma file-format's rights'-management 30-day expiry thingee. I'm assuming that since it was made way back in '99, that some one may have heard about it. (I've just discovered it's existence myself).

If you do a global web search, you're very likely going to find some information on it, as well as several independent articles written on the subject.

I followed a few links myself - one led to a page that gave me an error message ("page not found")- but after I pressed "Refresh", *another* small screen popped-up, superimposing itself OVER the 'page not found' screen! In the popup screen were three links to three files: (I got them all)

unfuck.exe - 82,096 bytes
unfuck_setup.exe - 254,209 bytes
WMA Audio Codec.exe - 632,328

From what I can gather, you don't really need the .wma codec unless you want to convert a "protected" wma into a freely-playable wma. I do believe that one of the articles I read, said that the unfuck.exe program simply outputs the original wma into a *standard* pcm wave file! (You can then compress it into any format you wish). Another article went on to say that "yes", M$ is aware of the file, but were reportedly 'unconcerned' about it. The author of that particular article also said that perhaps M$ *IS* concerned about it, but is just trying to play it down before the file gets too much publicity!

Any experiences, guys?

You don't really need the unfuck.exe file if you have the unfuck_setup.exe. I ran the setup, and it neatly put unfuck.exe (exactly the same filesize as the original, 82,096 bytes), as well as a few other files into my Window's <Program Files> directory. It even comes with it's own UNinstaller! (Which works like a charm, deleting everything if you don't want it).

After clicking 'Help' --> 'About', I got the message,

" unfuck.exe Version 1.0
c.1999 SHIT Industries "

*Obviously* the work of a hacker!

(I wish we could insert small .jpgs or .gifs into this forum, because I could send you a small screen shot.)

Anyway, although the program seems to be simplicity in itself, I can't get it to work. I tried a variety of 'protected' wmas with it, but couldn't seem to get the program up and running. (I'm probably just neglecting to do something simple that I'm not aware of.)

WMAs are such a pain in the ass, don't you agree? For example, if you go to rioport.com, you can actually download some currently-available files that are *already dead* !! That's right, there are a whole slew of readily-available files there, which, after downloading and trying to play them with either WMP 6.4 or 7.0, give the message, "This promotion has ended. Thank You." Kee-Rist, *why* don't they take these dead ducks off the site then???

(If you do a quick web-search on "unfuck.exe", you're bound to come up with something....)

Regards,

-- KlingonAgent --

 

Well, I don't really look at it that way, Ghostdog - I just see it as a lil' pebble in Mr. Gate's shoe. Y'know, just something to bug him - I'm very fond of anyone who bugs Mr. M$.

So I take it you've never heard tell of this thing then?

There's a very upbeat & helpful text file that comes with the installer:

(I'll make this brief)
---------------------
" -- How the fusk UNFUCK works

You first have to register the file before unprotecting it. So, if you get an "error playing file" error:
1) first register the file by trying to play [it]....2) a browser window will pop up, choose yes, open from location....music starts.....stop music....3) then load it into unfuck.exe !!!

"Lots of people complained it didn't work .... this is why:

"Infuck.exe uses a work-around; the file must actually be registered first. But it always registers the first time you listen to it.

"Unfuck.exe.exe takes an already registered WMA file and outputs it as a WAV, then re-encodes it into an unprotected WMA file.

"Do this within the timelimit and you have an unprotected WMA file. "
-----------------------

...(and there's more info in the file)

So apparently, you either have to be sure that your computer gets the 30-day license from the website you are downloading from, or that the license already resides on your hard-disc (usually an .asx file?).

And yeah, I guess you can't convert an already-expired wma - it has to be current, but you can do the switcheroo in the first 30 days.

(Actually, that would have been a much nicer, gentler name to use than unfuck. It should have been called, "Switcheroo.Exe")

Anyway, I'm learning dribs and drabs about this thing as time permits - I really don't have the time necessary to tweak it.

Best Regards,

-- KlingonAgent --

 

*** Update! Update! Update! Update! ***

YOWSA YOWSA !! This thing actually *works!*)

(In the words of the Klingon Language, "KAPLAT!" ("Success!")

I just did a short test on one of my "current" .wma files which I had simply named "17.WMA". It's 4:45 mins long.

(1) I fired up Windows Media Player 6.4 and began playback. Then I pressed "Stop".

(2) I double-clicked on the "Switcheroo.Exe" program ('unfuck' is too harsh).

(3) I loaded-in the 17.wma file.

THAT'S IT !!!

Automatically, switcheroo started processing the file (with a little progress screen visible). The new file, which had been renamed to "17(unfucked).wma" quickly appeared on my desktop! (C:\Windows\Desktop).

I then loaded-in the new file with WMP. It sounded *absolutely identical* to the original!

(You can easily move the file into a new folder and rename it to something sensible).

The original .wma file was 4,603,488 bytes.
The new .wma file became 4,602,385 bytes.

This small reduction in size tells me that all that nasty drm stuff has indeed been stripped out!

This program is a super-simple, no-frills, bare-bones, workhorse kinda program that simply performs a task.

Somehow, I guess the default operation for 'switcheroo' is to create a new .wma file. Sure, I can now use an outboard program to convert to standard .wav. But it would be nice if I could figure out how to directly make switcheroo simply stop at the wavefile point, before it re-encodes to .wma again. All of this stuff must be done in RAM, because I don't see a "17.wav" file anywhere on my hard disc.

<<Yes, yes, I know I'm a "skunk" for trying out this software. But I think self-expiring wma files are stinky anyway!>>

End of story for now. (Are you *sure* you don't want to test this little puppy out for yourself, Ghostdog?)

-- KlingyPoo --

 

Hmmmmmm....

I sort of suspect there are a bunch of folks out there (here) who just aren't saying nuttin'. Unlike Captain James T. Kirk, who "Boldy goes where no one has gone before", some folks here (a show of hands isn't necessary) just don't want to get tromped on by the big guns over at M$. Understandable.

Seems you can't unf### a wma if it incorporates the 'Windows Media Rights Manager V7' system, presumably designed to thwart such hacks as I have been discussing above. (That is, you *must* use WMPLayer 7.0 or any of several other 'compatible' players that incorporate the V7 system, to play back these newer wma versions; plain ol' WMP 6.4 won't do).

The program will unf### everything else though.

Pity really, the unf###.ini file was so easy to modify too.

OK, now engaging Cloaking Device.......

{{{ }}}

-- K.A. --

 

Sounds definately interesting little piece of software, just like "our" dear StreamBox VCR which **cks up RealNetworks' nice little world domination plans pretty easily. I'm tempted to add the tool to our site, but maybe this time it's better not to draw too much attention from Big Boys to our little site -- so, just use the google as A_Klingon told you to do if you want to give this tool a little road test.

Would be nice to know who developed the original version and why we haven't seen anything similiar that would crack the WM7/8 DRM system. My guess is that Microsoft's format isn't just popular enough, so crackers just don't bother spending their time for nothing

 

The identity of the original author is definately an unknown.

The gentleman who took unf##k.exe and wrapped the nifty little installer/de-installer around it (unf##k_setup.exe) even says in his help text file, that he hopes the original author will email him sometime.

"I am not the programmer. I do not know who (s)he is. My thanks go out to the programmer, maybe someday he'll contact me at : ...... "

I expect that eventually you'll stumble across a wma or two that you'll want to keep beyond 30 days...... this program will help. (I had to say 'bye-bye-' to Paul McCartney's "Vanilla Sky" tune because the file had expired.)

I hope the author is studiously working to crack the newer V7 drm system.

"Steady as she goes, helmsman; Zulu, set in a course for the nearest Starbase; Scotty I'm going to need warp power; Engage, Warp 6.

Whoooooooooooossshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!!

-- K.A. -

 

I get funny ideas all the time regardless of whether I'm reading threads or not, especially when I'm stripping the drm out of copyrighted wmas.

Ghostdog, I too would never-never recommend making my own wmas either. But to answer your question, a great many (most?) wmas are severely copyrighted (not all) which is why you have 30 days only to listen to them. Who would use the format? Well, plenty of people it would seem. An increasing number of hand-held devices (the type that also play mp3s), now have wma support. Many PC software players also incorporate it now (WinAmp comes to mind).

Where do you get 'em? All over the place. (They're like pimples - you never know where you're going to find the next one). You can start at http://music.msn.com/download/.

Why would anyone *want* them? FREE PROMOS, silly! Well, also because some pretty big names are putting out a few freebie tracks. (Paul McCartney, and even some old-time rockers like Ozzy Ozbourne, Eric Burdon (Animals), Warren Zevon, and 6 million others.)

I *hate* WMAs!!! Which is why I LOVE to strip the drm out of them. After which, they become true 'collector's items' of sorts.

Later.......

--The Stripper-

 

Peter: What site are you referring to? Are you the author behind the UNF**K or?

 

Peter,

Thanks for adding afterdawn's link to your site. (And *thank you* for your own site as well!). Yep, your page is where I found the orig. unf**k files (in a pop-up no less!).

There's lots of cutting-edge conversations going on in here.

Disclaimer: Yes, it's true, one must never-never *never* unprotect a protected wma file. That would be a terrible sin, and you'll feel just *awful* afterwards. After listening to an unf***ed file last week, which would have expired ages ago, I tossed and turned in my bed for *days* afterwards, riddled with guilt at the terrible thing I had done.

(not) ;-)

I am now paranoid, and only listen to these wmas on headphones with the volume turned *w-a-y* down in case there might come a knock on my door, and they come to drag me away......

-- K.A. --