Self destructing downloads

[Bill Ridgeway]

Television stations are now making programmes available for download - which
will "self destruct" in x days. I am curious as to how this works and
concerned that either the programmes themselves or the mechanism by which
they "self destruct" may be used as a means of doing nasty things to
computers.

Any info please?

Bill Ridgeway

 

[Ghostrider]

Television stations are now making programmes available for download - which
will "self destruct" in x days. I am curious as to how this works and
concerned that either the programmes themselves or the mechanism by which
they "self destruct" may be used as a means of doing nasty things to
computers.

Any info please?

Bill Ridgeway

There are various ways that this can be accomplished, running from
putting a "time bomb" into the downloaded file that is connected to
a time-stamp or even cookies to using DRM to either block playback
and lock the file. However, would seriously doubt that any mechanism
would wreak havoc with the computer...just the particular media file.
And there are ways to get around the time limit.