03-23-2011, 03:29 PM | #16 |
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I think, really, it was done because it was easy, not because it was a challenge.
Also, the NYT is the paper of record so it will get you your 15 minutes for sure. |
03-23-2011, 03:30 PM | #17 | |
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And yes, hitting "View source" would also have gotten you the info. The way it was done, there is no way to plug the hole. They'll have to come up with a completely different method. Last edited by Hellmark; 03-23-2011 at 03:33 PM. |
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03-23-2011, 03:45 PM | #18 | |
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Yes. The "hack" is a case of bypassing the overlay to see the content that's already there.
There's another easy workaround: links referred from Twitter are exempt from the paywall. NYTimes is trying to shut down the Twitter account set to link to all NYT posts as "violating trademark." Which is a fascinating approach, and means that there'll be plenty of other Twitter accounts doing the same thing, just without NYTimes in the name. Quote:
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03-23-2011, 03:58 PM | #19 |
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Removing DRM is actually, well, doing something. From what I'm hearing, you can use perfectly standard browser functionality (View Page Source) to access the content without paying. Whoever set this up (and I hope they only set it up as a temporary feature) didn't seem to realize this, or didn't care. One hopes that someone who can code javascript and css would know about browser View Page Source functionality.
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03-23-2011, 04:43 PM | #20 |
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It seems to me that they almost put less thought into implementing this than the cracker did into breaking it. The way that the paywall works, it sounds like something like Readability would be just as good at "cracking" it.
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03-23-2011, 04:51 PM | #21 |
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How do you "steal" content that the owner is publicly distributing? Are people who access the content via google/etc, which also bypasses the paywall, "stealing" as well?
BTW, this "hack" can also be done by just turning off javascript support in your browser, which many people do for security reasons anyway. If someone puts up a toll booth on only one lane of a multi-lane highway, it's not "stealing" when the drivers change lanes. It just means that whoever decided to implement the toll booth that way wasn't very bright. |
03-23-2011, 04:52 PM | #22 |
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But honest people will, in fact, use the right lane.
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03-23-2011, 04:54 PM | #23 |
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I thought of this, too, but I assumed (admittedly, without a great deal of evidence) that whoever put the paywall up was at least smart enough to prevent the stories from displaying if Javascript was turned off.
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03-23-2011, 04:56 PM | #24 |
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But here's the point: There's nothing dishonest about using the other lane. If the other lane's right there, and there's nothing preventing you from using it. It's no different than if I have a "suggested donation" to enter an event, and people choose not to donate.
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03-23-2011, 05:00 PM | #25 | |
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We bought the family pack. But, that's just us. |
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03-23-2011, 05:16 PM | #26 | |
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I based my comment on my belief that some one would have to enter a 4 line script to get it to work. Something as trivial turning off java script or viewing page source is a different matter all together. |
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03-23-2011, 05:18 PM | #27 | |
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1) Accept Payment 2) Grant Access If you don't even bother to lock up the content, and just hand it over, you can't blame people for accessing it. The problem is, the effort they would've had to put into a serious paywall here is trivial. It's the equivalent of taping the key to your house on the outside wall, right under the security code to turn off your alarm system, with a note that said, "Go ahead. Have at it." |
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03-23-2011, 05:25 PM | #28 | |
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I know everyone here is smirking at their supposedly lame attempts, but I have a feeling they know what they are doing-trying to balance accessibility with some way of pushing their subscription service, and relying on the belief that those who value their services won't try to bypass their obviously easy to jump over gate. |
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03-23-2011, 05:50 PM | #29 | |
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This article also thinks that NY Times knows what they are doing.
Quote:
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03-23-2011, 05:51 PM | #30 | |
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Quote:
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Tags |
cracked, new york times, nyt, paywall |
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