svcrcrack.zip

 StreameBox VCR 1.0 BETA 2 Crack (January 1, 2000)
 [note: i've added an extra e to some file names to throw off the search engines.]


Part I - StreameBox VCR and Reverse Engineering


StreameBox VCR is a brilliant example of reverse engineering; it will take the address of a real audio file (or in fact a long list of such files), decode them, contact the proper realaudio servers, and (cough cough) bully the server into sending it the raw files which it then saves to your harddrive.

As a historical note, StreameBox VCR used to be a program called "xfilegete," which is available on the web and seems more stable than this beta version of StreameBox VCR, but it does not know how to negotiate with many of the newer realaudio servers, wheras StreameBox VCR does. Be warned that it is still a beta and sometimes crashes. It's also not the easiest program to use, but on the other hand, it's the only program that knows how to reach through space and time and suck the life out of those realaudio streams, so you've got to love it.

Of course RealAudio doesn't want you recording their streams using this program, because they don't want you using another program to access realaudio files, and more importantly don't want you being able to save their real audio streams (it's probably more accurate to say that the stream distributors may not want you to record them, and RealAudio has assured them that they will be protected).

To make a long story short, sometime around 12/7/99, RealAudio was able to obtain an injunction on StreameBox, preventing them from distributing the StreameBox VCR program (www.streamebox.com for more info). It remains to be seen the outcome of this litigation.

I'm not a freedom-of-information fanatic, and I'm not advocating that you use StreameBox VCR or this crack. No information on this page is illegal, but using the original StreameBox VCR program at this time may be. At a minimum it's morally questionable. This crack is provided for informational purposes only. Use it to develop a deeper understanding of the fractal beauty of this situation: RealAudio cracks the sound waves, StreameBox cracks RealAudio, we crack StreameBox. As always, if you use the software, and you can afford it, buy it.


Part II - How to use the crack


Note: This crack is made for StreameBox VCR 1.0 BETA 2; it probably will not work for other versions.

StreameBox VCR has (at least) two places where it tries to phone home to its mommy. The first time is when you run the program for the first time. It asks for user information and then tries to register you. It also stores your user information in the Windows Registry, which is how it decides whether this is your first time running the program. The second is more pernicious.

Every time you want to download a file or realaudio stream, it tries to call home and ask its mommy if it's okay. Theoretically i guess the idea is that the StreameBox server will be able to say no to you if a) you haven't registered your version of the program or b) if the author of the stream doesn't want you to record the stream (hmmm... why would we want this program then?).

As far as I know, the StreameBox server is currently approving all file download requests. BUT with the injunction against StreameBox, it seems inevitable that their server will soon be shut down, rendering the uncracked version of this program inoperable.

Anyway, we can't have that. So run svcrpatch.exe to fix the program from trying to register you and your download requests. If you are the paranoid type wary about trojan cracks, or if streambox comes out with a new version that this crack doesn't work on, read the story below to find out what the crack does - it's quite trivial really. Thankz go to perfx for the awesome patchfx utility.

Lastly, StreameBox VCR Beta does not come with an install program, you just run the executable from wherever you want. We include a file uninstallsvcr.reg, which won't help you get rid of the executable, but will remove all traces of the program from your registry when you run it. It's just one line, take a look at it.


Part III - Story of the Crack


I am *not* a cracker - it's probably been 15 years since i ran a debugger, and i've tried to forget there was such a thing as assembly language. But there exists a rich subculture of crackers in our midst. It's one of the most beautiful, startling things to discover. We forget about the TMRC and the cryptographers, and the people who cracked the HP41C calculator (old school crackers should learn about them!). These are people who are looking at the insides of the insides of the insides.

Anyway, the crack for this proggie was trivial. It *could* have been made very tricky - any program that can assume an internet connection can be made quite tough to crack, but we got lucky here. So I'll tell you about how the program was cracked for the benefit of the real newbies who are curious. Everyone else can change the channel now. But before i do i want you to search the web for some tutorials by 'the keyboard caper' a cracker who founded the phrozen crew. not to learn from, but to just read the words and enjoy the spirit of this person. there are more sophisticated complex essays on cracking, but i want you to get a feel for how happy these tutorials can make you. at least they did that for me.

Okay here goes the story of the crack, which will be of interest only to a person who has never cracked a program before.

That's it, probably not of much practical value to you newbies like me, but maybe it will show you what you can accomplish in an evening with some luck and perseverence, even if your skills are extremely limited like mine; and don't underestimate the amazing feeling you'll get the first time you make it to the bitch's nest.

If you're interested in recording realaudio streams you might also want to check out http://www.phase-one.com.au/fravia/soucli_1.htm, which talks about a different method involving cracking realplayer to get it to let you record streams as you listen to them.


Part IV - Download

The crack is available here: svcr1b2crack.zip.