RedFox

RedFox developed out of SlySoft, a software operation previously associated with St. John's, Antigua and Barbuda. SlySoft built its reputation around utilities that accessed protected optical-media content. Its best-known application, AnyDVD, operated as a driver and background decryption tool for DVD media, later expanding to HD DVD and Blu-ray formats. By removing protection transparently, the software allowed other applications to play, read, or copy discs without directly handling the original encryption barriers. The company became especially notable during the transition to high-definition optical media. In February 2007, SlySoft offered an AACS circumvention capability intended to work across available discs rather than relying only on a fixed database of known keys. In November 2007, it announced that it had defeated BD+, the protection system used on some Blu-ray releases. That claim proved incomplete as later BD+ variants required further engineering. AnyDVD HD was updated in March 2008 to handle a broader BD+ implementation, and the company announced another successful update in late December 2008 after a subsequent protection revision. A further BD+ version appeared with the film Australia in February 2009; SlySoft reported support for that revision through AnyDVD HD version 6.5.3.1 in March 2009. These repeated exchanges with disc-protection developers helped define the company's public identity. SlySoft's catalogue extended beyond AnyDVD. CloneCD copied optical discs in raw format, while CloneDVD Mobile converted DVD-derived video for portable hardware such as iPods and PlayStation Portable devices. Game Jackal created profiles for computer games so that a disc did not necessarily need to remain in the drive when launching a game; an enterprise edition added centralized distribution features. The later AnyStream product applied the company's DRM-removal approach to selected online video services, including Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu in the United States, Paramount+, Peacock, and Netflix, according to the referenced material. Commercial licensing was another important part of the operation. In December 2008, SlySoft announced that customers would begin paying for software updates. It later communicated plans to discontinue lifetime licensing, then revised that approach by introducing a structured licensing system in which lifetime support remained available at a higher price. Software could continue functioning after a support period, but it would no longer receive updates. Following the transition to RedFox, prior SlySoft customers were required to purchase new licenses for the successor software. The company's activities attracted sustained opposition from copyright and media-technology organizations. In February 2016, the SlySoft home page was replaced by a message citing recent regulatory requirements. Around 16 February, AACS LA asked the United States Trade Representative to place Antigua and Barbuda on its Priority Watch List, naming SlySoft in connection with concerns over intellectual-property enforcement. The company's forum remained online, however, and its developers indicated that the technical operation could continue. On 2 March 2016, the business reappeared as RedFox under a Belize-based domain and released a new AnyDVD version. The later history is less clear. RedFox continued to be associated with media-circumvention products, but the referenced material does not identify corporate officers, a formal parent company, or a confirmed dissolution date. Its website and software were unavailable from 5 June 2024. The organization should therefore be treated as having an uncertain current status rather than definitively classified as active or defunct.

• 2024

  Website and software become unavailable

  [1]RedFoxen.wikipedia.org

  RedFox's website and software were reported unavailable from 5 June 2024.

• 2016

  RedFox is established as SlySoft's successor

  [1]RedFoxen.wikipedia.org

  The SlySoft operation reappeared under the RedFox name with a Belize-based web presence and a new AnyDVD release.

• 2009

  AnyDVD HD addresses a new BD+ revision

  [1]RedFoxen.wikipedia.org

  After a new BD+ version appeared on the film Australia, SlySoft issued an AnyDVD HD update described as supporting the revised protection.

• 2008

  AnyDVD HD expands BD+ support

  [1]RedFoxen.wikipedia.org

  An AnyDVD HD update enabled decryption of a broader BD+ implementation and supported playback or copying through third-party software.

• 2008

  Paid software updates introduced

  [1]RedFoxen.wikipedia.org

  SlySoft announced that customers would begin paying for software updates.

• 2007

  SlySoft offers broad AACS circumvention

  [1]RedFoxen.wikipedia.org

  SlySoft released an AACS circumvention capability described as working across available protected discs rather than only titles represented in a known-key database.

• 2007

  Initial BD+ cracking claim

  [1]RedFoxen.wikipedia.org

  SlySoft announced that it had defeated BD+, although later protection revisions required additional software changes.

Specialist software provider focused on media access, backup, conversion, and DRM circumvention for optical discs, streaming video, and computer games.

• Optical-disc software

  AnyDVD / AnyDVD HD

  AnyDVD was a driver-based media utility that decrypted protected DVD, HD DVD, and Blu-ray content in the background. It was designed to make protected discs readable to media players and other software, supporting playback, access, and copying workflows. Its handling of successive AACS and BD+ revisions made it RedFox's most recognizable product line.

• Streaming-video software

  AnyStream

  AnyStream was designed to download video from selected subscription platforms while removing or bypassing the services' digital-rights-management restrictions. The referenced service list included Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, HBO Max, Hulu in the United States, Paramount+, Peacock, and Netflix.

• Optical-disc copying software

  CloneCD

  CloneCD copied optical discs in raw format. It was part of the earlier SlySoft catalogue and remained associated with the product family that RedFox inherited.

• Video conversion software

  CloneDVD Mobile

  CloneDVD Mobile converted DVD video files into formats suitable for portable devices, with examples in the reference material including the iPod and PlayStation Portable.

• Game-disc management software

  Game Jackal

  Game Jackal created profiles for computer games so that a game could be started without repeatedly inserting its original disc. The enterprise edition added functionality for distributing game profiles to client machines.

• 2016

  Reform the operation as RedFoxStrategy

  Background

  SlySoft's website closed amid regulatory pressure, while its forum and technical infrastructure remained available to the development operation.

  Action taken

  The business adopted the RedFox name, used a Belize-based domain, released a new AnyDVD version, and required customers to obtain new licenses.

  Aftermath

  RedFox continued the earlier product direction, but its corporate identity, management, and ownership were not publicly established in the supplied material.

  Source

• 2011

  Revise the lifetime licensing structureStrategy

  Background

  SlySoft initially communicated that its lifetime licensing option would be discontinued, then removed those announcements and adopted a more structured licensing plan.

  Action taken

  The company retained a lifetime option at a higher price while distinguishing the period during which updates and support would be provided.

  Aftermath

  Software could continue operating after the support date, but it would not receive later updates unless covered by the applicable license.

  Source

• 2008

  Introduce charges for software updatesStrategy

  Background

  SlySoft had previously provided updates under an earlier licensing approach, but announced that customers would be charged for updates beginning in December 2008.

  Action taken

  The company changed its commercial model so that continued software updating became a paid feature.

  Aftermath

  The change preceded later revisions to the company's support and lifetime-license structure.

  Source

1. 1RedFoxen.wikipedia.org