BBC plugs iPlayer hack loophole

The BBC has issued a fix for a loophole that allowed hackers to download unrestricted content from its iPlayer online TV service.

In a statement the BBC said it had released a fix for the "unrestricted downloading of streamed TV programmes".

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Hackers have been exploiting the loophole to download content stripped of its digital rights management (DRM) restrictions, which include the automatic deletion of downloaded programmes after 30 days.

The BBC statement added: "Like other broadcasters, the security of rights-protected content online is an issue we take very seriously. It's an ongoing, constant process and one which we will continue to monitor."

The download version of iPlayer was launched in beta form last summer before being joined by a streaming version when the service received its marketing launch on Christmas Day last year.

During the first seven weeks following its marketing launch, around 17 million programmes were streamed or downloaded from iPlayer.

iPlayer has attracted controversy as the initial download version was only available for computers using Microsoft's Windows XP while there were concerns the surge in downloads could potentially cripple broadband networks.