StreamFab General Query Do streaming privider notice downloads?

[peter777]

With all the complicated procedures and innovations surrounding DRM - do streaming providers actually notice whether, what and how much you download from them (and bypass DRM)? If so, why don't they stop it?

[weavermovies]

"LIVE!..... FROM NEW YORK!.....

IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!!!!!.....


I mean..... what other explanation can there be?.....

That must have been the cold opening and since he forgot the tagline segue..... I'm just helping out.....

Right?

[peter777]

"LIVE!..... FROM NEW YORK!.....

IT'S SATURDAY NIGHT!!!!!.....


I mean..... what other explanation can there be?.....

That must have been the cold opening and since he forgot the tagline segue..... I'm just helping out.....

Right?

eh?
Sure, they do it, because generally they know...
But I meant, if they can localize downloads by user

[Chameleon]

if they can localize downloads by user

What does this even mean?

[peter777]

in other words, as a streamfab user, can i be identified by a streaming provider via ip address?

[Germania]

in other words, as a streamfab user, can i be identified by a streaming provider via ip address?

All customer can "be identified by a streaming provider via ip address"
If you logged-in of course they can see "what and how much you download from them"

It is not forbidden to download films, most of them offer this via an app.

> (and bypass DRM)? If so, why don't they stop it?

Decrypting the video is after the dl, on your PC, so the provider can't notice this.
Some providers use hidden markers to identify the source when sharing untouched videos in net

[Dog]

The one thing that occurs to me that they might notice is that you are constantly downloading videos but never watching them. When you watch via their app or a browser, it's my understanding that the app/browser grabs the decrypt key. If you don't have a plan without commercials, then the app/browser will occasionally pause what you're watching and stream a commercial (they typically don't re-render every video on their site to add commercials, then re-render again every time old commercial slots expire and new ones are purchased - not sure how this works for off-line viewing, though). Since this activity is essentially "missing", they know you are downloading stuff, but nothing beyond that from their point of view. As for your IP address - yes, they have your IP address (or the IP of whatever proxy you're logging in through) - that's how the everything on the internet works (the bits for any site have to be routed somewhere - and if it's to you and your IP address then whatever site you are browsing or downloading from definitely knows that). Further, if it's a pay site, they have the information for whatever account was logged in for the purpose of pulling the download. Should any service make note of this and ask you about it, you can claim your account, and even your network, were hijacked, but that is one of those excuses that might work once, but probably not twice. And since you don't watch the stuff via their app or a browser, that is why nothing you download typically shows up on your "continue watching" or "previously viewed" lists for most services.

[MrMayor]

The one thing that occurs to me that they might notice is that you are constantly downloading videos but never watching them. When you watch via their app or a browser, it's my understanding that the app/browser grabs the decrypt key. If you don't have a plan without commercials, then the app/browser will occasionally pause what you're watching and stream a commercial (they typically don't re-render every video on their site to add commercials, then re-render again every time old commercial slots expire and new ones are purchased - not sure how this works for off-line viewing, though). Since this activity is essentially "missing", they know you are downloading stuff, but nothing beyond that from their point of view. As for your IP address - yes, they have your IP address (or the IP of whatever proxy you're logging in through) - that's how the everything on the internet works (the bits for any site have to be routed somewhere - and if it's to you and your IP address then whatever site you are browsing or downloading from definitely knows that). Further, if it's a pay site, they have the information for whatever account was logged in for the purpose of pulling the download. Should any service make note of this and ask you about it, you can claim your account, and even your network, were hijacked, but that is one of those excuses that might work once, but probably not twice. And since you don't watch the stuff via their app or a browser, that is why nothing you download typically shows up on your "continue watching" or "previously viewed" lists for most services.

I would agree they would know who you are because you have to login with an active account and it would not surprise me if they know you download something thru the service app But do they know if you are downloading something thru this or another similar programs. I believe this program has been around for at least (I think) 5 years and it would not surprise me if the services haven't already purchased this or similar programs to try and determine if they could notice any differences between the program and regular browser/app usage/download. With not too many people mentioning their account was banned, makes me think 1) enough regular users (not of this service) do the same as what this program does. 2) CDN server doesn't log enough info or the logs are too big to go thru.

That all being said, I'm surprised that the other services haven't done the same thing D+ has done, which is if you DL (lets say) 40 items yesterday, and 40 items today. When you go and try using it tomorrow, you will probably noticed a message saying your account was temporary banned for "too much activity in a short period of time". If you lookup the error message it gives, it points to the user having a bad internet connection at the time.

[Dog]

I would agree they would know who you are because you have to login with an active account and it would not surprise me if they know you download something thru the service app But do they know if you are downloading something thru this or another similar programs. I believe this program has been around for at least (I think) 5 years and it would not surprise me if the services haven't already purchased this or similar programs to try and determine if they could notice any differences between the program and regular browser/app usage/download. With not too many people mentioning their account was banned, makes me think 1) enough regular users (not of this service) do the same as what this program does. 2) CDN server doesn't log enough info or the logs are too big to go thru.

That all being said, I'm surprised that the other services haven't done the same thing D+ has done, which is if you DL (lets say) 40 items yesterday, and 40 items today. When you go and try using it tomorrow, you will probably noticed a message saying your account was temporary banned for "too much activity in a short period of time". If you lookup the error message it gives, it points to the user having a bad internet connection at the time.

On first blush it seems that either of the problems in #2 could easily be addressed. For the first part, simply have the CDN servers log the necessary info - but this leads to the second part of the problem. For the second, keep each log file (or DB node, or whatever) small enough to ensure whatever automated search methods are being employed don't take too long per file or batch of records (which would also keep memory requirements down). I think the real problem with the second issue would be a lack of sufficient machine resources to run the necessary searches and comparisons in a timely manner when compared to the amount of actual daily usage. For now, it may not be worth the expense or trouble of implementing the necessities - or making use of them if this is already possible. Much like CallerID being designed to allow the caller to spoof their ID (seriously, how not-forward-thinking can an industry be?), I wonder if much of the software 'infrastructure' that exists for streaming was never designed to deal with what we do - it probably wasn't considered too likely when the software back-end stuff was being designed and 'patching it in' now may not be easy...or at least not worth the expense in the eyes of the corps. I'm basing this on the idea that all streamers are using some kind of 'commercially available' back-end package and not brewing their own. If they *are* each building their own back-end software, then I'd guess the only reason they aren't doing this is that they don't see it as a problem that warrants addressing right now.

[Chameleon]

The download police are on their way to your house. Erase your hard drive immediately. KEEP THE PORN.