GitHub user releases tools for downloading HD videos from major streaming platforms
A GitHub user known as Widevinedump has published several repositories containing tools that allow users to download HD videos from popular streaming services, including Disney+, Amazon, and Netflix. According to TorrentFreak, video protection on streaming platforms remains a major challenge for copyright holders. Typically, these services use DRM (Digital Rights Management) tools, with Widevine DRM—owned by Google—being one of the leading solutions in this area. Many major streaming services, such as Amazon, Netflix, and Disney+, use this technology to protect their content.
How Widevine DRM Works
Journalists explain that Widevine DRM comes in different levels. The L1 variant is considered the most secure, followed by L2 and L3. While the latter still protect content from simple downloads, their protection can be bypassed, as pirates regularly demonstrate. Leaks of 4K content are also no longer unique. Although tools for bypassing such protection are usually distributed through private channels, releases often leak within a few days.
New Download Tools on GitHub
Now, the developer Widevinedump has posted a collection of download tools on GitHub, including DISNEY-4K-SCRIPT, Netflix-4K-Script, WV-AMZN-4K-RIPPER, HBO-MAX-BLIM-TV-Paramount-4k-Downloader, APPLE-TV-4K-Downloader, and several others. According to TorrentFreak, the source code appears to be genuine, though it looks relatively old and may not be safe to use. The publication warns that using these tools could result in a ban from the streaming platform or legal issues, as they clearly violate the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA).
Limitations and Risks
There is another serious issue with the dump: most of the tools do not include a Content Decryption Module (CDM), which is required to download 4K content. To access it, users must purchase it from Widevinedump, who states that you can contact him via email.
Only the repository LenovoTB-X505X-L1-KEY contains a free L1 content decryption module that actually works. However, as Widevinedump notes, it likely won’t last long: “Working CDM L1 FOR NETFLIX AND ALL SITES | AMZN-DSNP-Blocked |. Please note, this CDM will ‘burn’ in 2-3 days, so use it while you can.”
Widevinedump claims to be leaking the CDM to “burn” it and “punish a couple of idiots who think they rule Discord.” Apparently, this refers to people who usually distribute such tools privately through closed channels.