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'Breaking Bad' Ultra-HD First Episode Leaked As 4K Netflix Hacked

"Breaking Bad" fans now feast on almost 18GB torrent after pirates have successfully hacked Netflix's ultra-high-definition video technology.

This is the first time that 4K Netflix content has been bypassed by pirates, leaking the pilot episode of "Breaking Bad" on private torrent websites, Tech Times reported. The content is protected using the High-Bandwidth Digital Copy Protection 2.2 (HDCP) system which the pirates will not be able to crack supposedly.

iON uploaded the copy of series' first episode to a private website which has been downloaded a few times already. More leaks are expected in the future when it reach public providers, according to publication TorrentFreak.

The first ultra-HD leak reportedly has a video resolution of 2160p, with bit rate of 41.3Mbps. This, however, would mean that the copy will not run smoothly on average computer with a regular Internet connection. Digital Journal said it requires high performance processors to play.

It is not yet clear how the HDCP security has been broken, but Netflix said it is investigating the incident. A spokesperson of the streaming company told TorrentFreak, "We, like other content providers, are actively working on ways to protect content featured in our site."

According to Toronto Sun, it is not yet confirmed whether the copy is still available to download or whether the pirated copy is legit. If it is, then hackers seem to have found a way to breach the HDCP system and more 4K contents are at risk of being illegally downloaded.

Netflix's 4K content is not available online and in order to access them, a sign-up for the service's family plan at $11.99 per month is required. "The Blacklist" and "House of Cards" are among the limited titles of 4K content that Netflix offers.

Netflix added 62 episodes of "Breaking Bad" in 2014. The drama, produced by Sony Pictures Television, stars Bryan Cranston who played the role of a chemistry teacher-turned-meth dealer.


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