Simple hack keeps Netflix Watch Now from tracking your minutes?

Remember how back in the day -- before software developers got wise to this sort of thing -- you could extend the life of some shareware indefinitely by simply winding back your machine's calendar every so often? Well according to tipster "Livesunkept" (a pseudonym, we suspect), a similar jury-rigged hack is all it takes to vastly extend your monthly allotment of viewing hours for Netflix's new Watch Now streaming video service. Normally Netflix keeps track of how long you've been watching, and correlates that number to the fee you pay each month, subtracting from your bank of minutes based on your subscription level (i.e. an $18 plan might give you 18 hours of streamed viewing). Always looking for a way to beat the system, Livesunkept discovered that if you disconnect your network adapter after a given movie has finished downloading (usually 15 to 20 minutes), and then clear your cache and cookies before reconnecting it at the end of the flick, Netflix will only charge you for a few minutes of viewing time even though you rightfully owe about two hours worth of credits. Now we don't really have time to watch movies around here -- thus no Netflix / Blockbuster subscriptions -- so we haven't been able to try this workaround out for ourselves and verify that it works. That's why we have commenters. So if you're a member of the Netflix posse, please do us a favor and report back after you've given this hack a whirl -- don't tell anyone else, though, or you'll risk ruining the supposed loophole for all the hard-working cheats and cheapskates out there.

[Thanks, Livesunkept]

[Korey @ Mar 5th 2007 11:39AM]

Tried it and it works well =]!!!!! Dont know how long this will last though now thats its been posted. I was told about this last night and tried it. Thanks HaX0rs

[wildd86 @ Mar 5th 2007 11:44AM]

This feature isn't supposedly available until June 2007...So how did someone get to give it a try?

[CowboyGA @ Mar 5th 2007 11:49AM]

I don't see how these companies turn a huge profit. I'm a tech savvy guy, but I don't know anyone who uses these services. I know they're still considered new, but how many Engadget users (whom I suspect are the prime candidate pool for the companies) actually pay for downloadable movies?

Between quality disc movies and an occassional bitorrent, I just don't see the need.

[Matt @ Mar 5th 2007 1:15PM]

These download services are good for rentals: the price is comparable Blockbuster/Hollywood and you don't have to leave the house. Definitely not worth it for purchasing movies, however, as the price for a purchase is usually the same as buying the physical DVD, you don't get the extra features, and if you uninstall the software from whatever service you're using you lose the movies you bought.

How do they make money? I'm not sure that they do. While they don't have to worry about purchasing and shipping and maintaining physical media like Netflix or Blockbuster, and bandwidth and storage is cheap these days, I would imagine the studios are raping them on the licensing fees.

[paul34 @ Mar 5th 2007 12:35PM]

I consider myself pretty tech savvy as well.

But you know, I got pretty tired (pretty quickly) of waiting over a week just to get a single movie. I also got tired of never having anything on TV to watch (any quality programming).

For the few shows that are worth watching, I use BT (its not like the DVD is available anyway so this isn't all too shady).

Otherwise, I get DVDs from Netflix. No more questionable quality from torrents, no more waiting a week for a slow torrent to finish (or, never finish due to lack of seeders). Plus, my selection is vast. So now, I can rent DVDs of my no-longer-shown favorite TV shows, so I always have some "TV" to watch when I want!

I really like it, and I think its totally worth the price. I've been with Netflix for several months now, and don't regret it whatsoever. I was with Blockbuster Online previously, but that was a rather frustrating and money-wasting experience. Netflix has changed all that :).

[simon @ Mar 5th 2007 11:59AM]

I know its all about freedom of information and we're acutally "helping" Netflix by showing them where the vulnerabilities are and all... but have you ever considered that by disseminating information like this you are:
1) Providing the RIAA with evidence that people will try to steal other people's creative works without paying
2) It's essentially the same argument that defence lawyers use when the guilty walk free on technicalities

How about we try something revolutionary: you use it you pay for it.

I'll get off my soapbox now - flame on!

[Jason Daniels @ Mar 5th 2007 12:07PM]

Cowboy, this isn't a pay-to-download service. You pay to have them send you the movies (DVD disks) to your house. This is what netflix is. However, the new service allows you to ALSO download movies for those times when all disks are in the void of the US postal service, for example. So when you are paying $18 for 3 disks at a time, you can ALSO watch 18 hours of streamed video at no extra costs. It's their way to combat blockbuster's subscription service (which lets one go to the store and change movies instead of having to ship it and wait).

I really hope they plug this hole quickly. The dl service is a bonus, legitimate thing. I would be pissed to see distributors pull support from it because some jerks don't think an extra 9 movies for free is good enough. Le sigh.

~Jason

[Peter @ Mar 5th 2007 12:47PM]

I think the secret Netflix hope is that you will watch a good portion of your movies online which will save them the shipping costs.

If you normally watch 12 discs a month by mail, but you switch to 9 by mail and 3 downloaded, they just saved 25% on shipping. It's also fewer discs they have to keep in their inventory.

[Jeff @ Mar 5th 2007 12:19PM]

VERY nice sample screen there. Brilliany. Absolutely brilliant.

I wonder though... too subtle? Who else caught it?

[Eric V @ Mar 5th 2007 12:36PM]

Nice catch Jeff, I didn't notice it. lol

I really wish Netflix's Watch Now feature supported Macs, being that I have a Mac Mini hooked up to the good ole HDTV and not a Windows based machine.

I don't know about some of the other Netflix users out there but for me I've never come anywhere near my alloted 18 hours of online play. To be honest I'm not sure there are 18 hours of movies that I'd care to watch based on their current library of films. Hopefully that will change and Netflix will be able to stream newer movies.

Nice hack! Kudos++ to the Liar Liar!

[Jonathan @ Mar 5th 2007 3:04PM]

Brilliant! You are a genius.

[mike @ Mar 5th 2007 12:42PM]

You can get early access to the Watch Now feature by following a few simple steps:

How to Win the Instant Watching Lottery:
http://www.hackingnetflix.com/2007/01/the_netflix_ins.html

There are a couple of hacks for Watch Now floating around, but some of the get billed after a delay.

Be sure to use the "Back To Browsing" button so you don't get over-billed for Watch Now movies.

- Mike K
http://www.hackingnetflix.com

[undersaur @ Mar 5th 2007 12:57PM]

Doesn't work.

Wait 24 hours and you will be charged for the length of the entire movie, regardless of how much you watched. Same thing also happens if you copy the temp file and watch it directly in Windows Media Player.

[tlarkin79 @ Mar 5th 2007 2:08PM]

Why are we encouraging users to try to steal?

[bambooben @ Mar 5th 2007 3:59PM]

I have been using Netflix for a while and am really happy with it. No more driving out of my way to Blockbuster, and no return dates to try and remember. I actually did the "hack" posted around the net last week to get a jump in line on the watch now feature Netflix has, but was really bumed about the selection. Not really much I haven't seen and is on cable all the time, or else it is stuff I have never wanted to see. And I actually like a WIDE range of movies. Maybe they will get more of a selection as time goes on.

Till then I will stick to the new feature most networks are doing where you can stream the shows that you missed, like Lost and Daybreak, etc. I like watching them like that because they only have 3 30sec. commercials the whole show, and they are usually funny ones.

[hornerea @ Mar 5th 2007 4:41PM]

Theft by any other name....

[magical pig @ Mar 6th 2007 1:07PM]

...would smell as sweet.

[Austin @ Mar 5th 2007 6:54PM]

I've been using this service for a while and there really seems to be no point in hacking it. I have a 3 disc deal, giving my 18 hours of online watching. if i watch a movie every day, every fourth and fifth day i would have to watch online. that gives me about 8 hours extra a month (thats if you return them together which you don't have to) so i can watch two movies a day a couple times a month. isn't that getting a bit ridiculous? how many more movies can you watch?

[Fred @ Mar 5th 2007 7:35PM]

You know Netflix will plug this hole sooner or later. Their business plan has always had downloading as the future, that DVDs are temporary.

There's a reason they're called "Net"flix, and not Movies-by-mail.

[Josh Lankford @ Mar 5th 2007 8:40PM]

@Cowboy

You have to understand that there are many people who have the internet, and who are tech competent, and only tech. competent (i.e. "noobs"). they are the emerging breakthrough market here. Additionally, with a traditional rental service, Netflix is a good thing (the download service is more of a gift to current subscribers and an enticement to new customers).

Netflix is also an easy way to get a DVD, rip it, burn it and all that for only 9.99 a month. This is like...$2 a DVD to burn.

But overall, people want to be legitimate, and not break the law. Netflix is way more legal that torrents for the most part.

Also, @wild
If you read up on it, you'd know it's in beta testing and many have this service of existing subscribers (myself included). Each week, a new number of ppl get the extra service.


I'll admit, i wouldn't subscribe to netflix just for downloads, but the movie selection is great, and worth it.

[Josh @ Mar 5th 2007 11:36PM]

To all you people who are on your soapbox about "stealing":

You have to realize that there is a difference between opportunity cost and marginal cost. If I walk into Best Buy and steal a movie, I have costed the store money that they paid for the DVD.

If I watch a movie on NetFlix for free (which I would have never paid for anyway), the only thing that happens is that I get the benefit of watching the movie. It costs the company, studios, actors, etc. nothing.

Now you will say that, "If everyone does than, no one will ever buy movies." That is categorically false. Those of us who know how to circumvent DRM will do it, but the vast majority of people will still buy the service.

The studios will eventually adjust their prices to maximize their profits by bring us "pirates" back into the market. (This is a classic economic example of the monopolist pricing model).

Until you feel that buying a movie is within your price range, keep enjoying the NetFlix exploit and BT knowing that by doing so, you pose no real cost to the studios.

[Peter @ Mar 6th 2007 8:32AM]

>"It costs the company, studios, actors, etc. nothing."

This is not true. There are storage costs, bandwidth costs, marketing costs and more. Granted they are small for each download, but in the aggregate, it adds up.

>Now you will say that, "If everyone does than, no one will ever buy movies." That is categorically false. Those of us who know how to circumvent DRM will do it, but the vast majority of people will still buy the service.

When I say "everyone" I mean everyone, not just the tech-savy Engadget folks. If the studio knew they would make $50 off the 4 noobs who still couldn't figure out how to download, then they would not produce the film. Would you go to work each day if you knew your boss wouldn't pay you?

>The studios will eventually adjust their prices to maximize their profits by bring us "pirates" back into the market. (This is a classic economic example of the monopolist pricing model).

Do you really believe that pirates are "stealing" because they are poor? They obviously have a computer, a large hard drive, a fast connection and a pile of blank DVDs. Once they have it all set up, even a $5 DVD is too much for them. There are also other costs for the studios besides the physical manufacturing costs.

>Until you feel that buying a movie is within your price range, keep enjoying the NetFlix exploit and BT knowing that by doing so, you pose no real cost to the studios.

If you can't afford it or you don't think it's worth the money, then do without. Why should the studios lower the price when, by pirating, you are showing them there is a large amount of pent up demand? If instead you just ignored product you can't afford you would produce lower demand, which is what truly lowers prices in the long run.

Rationalizing your behavior by saying it doesn't cost anyone or no one is hurt is just wrong.

[ROCKnRIO @ Mar 7th 2007 6:14PM]

Speaking of noobs...I am one looking for a good recommendation for the software to rip & burn my DVD's

Got any recommendation?

[Mort Young @ Mar 8th 2007 12:47PM]

Wonderful country! Complain about the companies that rip off consumers, and then drool over how to rip off the companies.
As was once asked in another (political) context, which you'll remember if you're old enough or able and willing to read recent history, -- "have you no shame?"

[Phil @ Sep 15th 2007 4:22PM]

WHY CAN'T PEOPLE JUST STICK TO THE TOPIC? STOP COMPLAINING AND WHINING, NO ONE CARES!!!!!!!