Microsoft, Apple Music Codes Hacked

In recent months, it seems corporate entities have held the upper hand in the great war between big business and underground hackers. The best example of this shift in power has been in the music industry, where conglomerates of major names (i.e. Sony) and protectorate groups (International Federation of Phonographic Industries) have been routinely "cleaning up" the once lawless peer-to-peer landscape.

However, the hackers have finally struck back, releasing two separate programs to whittle away at the digital rights management (DRM) systems put in place by Microsoft and Apple.

Microsoft and Apple have put their own marks on the fight against music piracy. Microsoft is implementing many of its newest software services to protect itself against fraudulent versions of its products, and with the Zune creeping closer to release, the Redmond-based company will do everything to protect that system from being part of an illegal network of file sharing. Microsoft will also want to profit off of Zune file downloads, meaning it will probably establish a program similar to Apple's popular (and legal) iTunes.

The problem for both companies at this moment is the loss of their once invincible DRM, two systems put in place to safeguard music from illegal copying. The two new hack programs have their sights set on both Microsoft's Windows Media DRM and Apple's Fairplay. (Source: news.com)

Neither Microsoft or Apple are particularly surprised by the hack, and have been dealing with similar cracks for three years now. Both companies remain confident that they can repair their protective wares before the leak becomes a flood.

Interestingly enough, it isn't the first time rivals Microsoft and Apple have been at the center of a hack attack. In January, Steve Jobs, Apple CEO, challenged company followers to get Windows XP running on a Mac. The very legal competition saw a successful pair of hackers receive nearly $14,000 USD in prize money for their effort. (Source: bbc.co.uk)

Maybe Jobs should offer those guys another $14,000 to protect Apple music.