Introduction: Hacking DVD/Videogame Physical Security
*WARNING*
I warn against the use of this instructable for illegal activity. I have provided this information for learning and entertainment use only. I take no legal or moral responsibilty for your actions.
Now that that is out of the way, some backstory. I started this project when my Dad bought dvd's from a Hollywood Video that was about an hour away, brought them home, and found that the cashier had left in the security bar that keeps you from opening the box. After tearing apart one box, utterly destroying it, i figured out a better way.
This is my first instructable. I will be trying to improve my skills as i continue to produce further articles.
Step 1: Gather Your Materials
First off, gather your materials. They are:
A movie with the red thing inside it (image two)
An incredibly strong magnet
A smaller but still strong magnet
The incredibly strong magnet was hard to come by for me. I tried making an electromagnet, but i couldn't get it strong enough. I don't have the money to go out or order from one of those retailers, so i spent two afternoons drilling through an old 3 gig hard drive (i told you it was old). The magnets inside harddrives are amazingly strong, so strong they can chip and break if you let them snap together, so be careful. The smaller magnets i bought at a Storables. Just look for any office supply store and look around the whiteboards.
Step 2: Lets Take a Lookie at That Red Thing
Though very simple in mechanics, the little red thing (from now on refered to as the lock) is made up of two parts. The first part is a small metal block that is wedged into the end of the lock, which i couldn't get a picture of that wasn't in shadow.
The second part, which is shown, is a thin piece of metal which protrudes away from the bar. This is the actual locking mechanism. It catches on a lip of the case, thereby making it difficult to remove.
Step 3: Let's Crack This Baby Open
When you place the smaller magnets on the lock, the piece of metal is pulled back so it is flat with the lock, allowing you to slide it out. Therefore, placing the magnet is on the side of the box is our first step.
The second step is to push down on the actual lock. I do this because some times the small piece of metal gets lodged in the case from previous people trying to pull the lock out. Pushing it back into the case allows the magnet to pull the metal bar flush with the lock.
The third step is to place the strong magnet onto the lock, covering it from view. Try to slide the strong magnet onto the lockface, as pulling on the lock before the stronger magnet has its full grip can conteract step two. This part can be tricky, depending on how powerful the magnet is, as the smaller magnet is attracted to the larger magnet and often becomes unattached from the case. Use both hands during this process.
Pull on the strong magnet, thus removing the lock. Be careful as the smaller magnets will fall off, and i assume you either dont want to spend more money or search around for it. Make sure you can catch it.
Step 4: Ending Notes
So there you have it folks. Simple. Easy. My next project is hopefully going to be a little more complicated: getting into those full-covering anti-theft cases.
One note before you try this. Using the magnet can cause some slight stretching of the plastic cover on the dvds. This damage is minimal, so i would still recomend this method, but if you have a problem with imperfections, be warned.
I again warn against the use of this instructable for illegal activity. I have provided this information for learning and entertainment use only. I take no legal or moral responsibilty for your actions.
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97 Comments
3 years ago on Step 1
Bought a used dvd from library and didn’t notice it was still locked. Tried this and it wiggled the lock, but wouldn’t unlock it. Finally, just broke case and put in another. Found that the locking bar inside was broken - and probably why the library was selling it because it wouldn’t open.
6 years ago
Well, the magnet trick didn't work, but a utility knife did. The case opened up at once. The DVD could not be popped out until the red plastic that prevents the DVD holder to be pushed down enough was not pulled out. No mess.
8 years ago on Step 3
My magnets dont stick to the case! Is there a type of dvd lock that does not use metal? Say an all plastic lock? Any ideas how to open one like that? I have used several types of magnets. I considered taking the dvd back to Target but i bought it 2 weeks ago and no longer have the reciept. Very annoyed as my children are hassling me to watch it! Can you please help?
14 years ago on Introduction
with a magnet
Reply 12 years ago on Introduction
yes
13 years ago on Step 4
I made a tiny tear on my Bourne Ultimatum box and then looked for advice, lo and behold an instructable on this very subject ;) I only needed two dinky little magnets, the type you use to attach a flashing badge bought at a concert/gig. Really amazed it was that simple to disable a disk lock - Cheers!
14 years ago on Introduction
putting the magnets that close to a CD/DVD could erase the data sored on that disk.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
I meant stored, typo
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Possibly, but you must consider the way data is stored on a CD. It is "burnt" in with a laser, and the grooves it cause are read by another laser. Hard drives use magnetism to store data (hence the higher amount of data possible), making them vulnerable to a magnet. I'm gonna have to take an old DVD and magnetize it to see if I still have that data. Will update you with it.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
they won't. CD's aren't like the old floppy disks, and won't be erased by magnetics. They do mess with hard drives because hard drives use magnetics to move the disc-reader head around.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
it could if you run it very fast back and forth over it, but this won't. Just like a hard drive.
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
no, optical disks (CD, DVD, MagnetoFloptical, BluRay, HD DVD, and holographic disks) are affected by magnets, ever. The drives may be affected, but the disks won't.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
Ok thanks for making that clear
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
no problem! hope you found it useful
14 years ago on Introduction
haha shoot ink thats so funny lol
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Yes, now be serious
14 years ago on Introduction
hey next somewon should make an instrucatable on how to take those tan lump things on clothes like at goodys because ive been told by my mom that screwing with them makes them shoot ink
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
well if you can get it out of the store you put it in the freezer overnight then cut it off with sharp scisers
Reply 13 years ago on Introduction
Or wire cutters.
Reply 14 years ago on Introduction
good idea