How to download/save "anti-leech" HTTP files (deezer & imeem)

This article is written to introduce tools that can download "hard-to-download" (anti-leech) files from the internet.

What's "anti-leech"? That means you cant directly download the file using any download manager and browser.

I always got questions from other users asked me "How to download music and video from imeem,deezer?"
I've found the solution of it. A few tools can do the wonderful job on those files.



NetworkActiv PIAFCTM (Freeware)



Download link: http://www.networkactiv.com/PIAFCTM.html


Its a http packets sniffer and it can capture packets coming to your NIC and reconstruct the packets into readable http files on file mode.For some reasons,the tool didnt work on some network interface cards,all you need to do is install the tool with its packet driver of the installer.


Example of how to download from imeem/deezer:
1. Start the tool,and select the connection that you are currently using.Its recommended to listen on Raw Sockets (Sockets in left column)
2. Click Start to capture,then find and play the song or video you want
3. Let it play until the song/video is fully loaded(buffered) in the browser or "Files Processing" returns to 0 ,then click Stop to capture
4. Find the file in the folder you specified (Tip: Sort the files by file size)

This tool work on most anti-leech sites like imeem,deezer.

WebVideoCap (Freeware)



Download link: http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/web_video_capture.html


Free capture tool from Nirsoft. It works like PIAFCTM but it only works on some media type files. The advantage of it is the ability to capture mms,rtsp .wmv files.You can also run it on USB drive because of its light-weight size. It supports 2 capture methods: Raw Sockets and WinPcap.
Before starting to capture,its recommended to select the option "Keep the captured files opened until the capture is finished" in Advanced box or the captured file will be corrupted and unreadable.


Example of how to download from imeem/deezer:
1. Start the tool,and select the suitable capture method.Its recommended to listen on Raw Sockets.
2. Click Start to capture,then find and play the song or video you want
3. Let it play until the song/video is fully loaded(buffered) in the browser,then click Stop to capture
4. Find the file in the folder you specified (Tip: Sort the files by file size)

This tool work on most anti-leech sites that streaming flv files like imeem,deezer.



Effetech HTTP Sniffer (Commercial)



Download link: http://www.effetech.com/sniffer/


Like its name,a HTTP sniffer but it can save HTTP files.It requires WinPcap installed in order to work.It works like PIAFCTM but it can also sniff URLs at the same time.It can capture most of file types unlike WebVideoCap.


Example of how to download from imeem/deezer:
1. Start the tool,and select the adapter that you are currently using in the menu.
2. Click Start to capture,then find and play the song or video you want
3. Let it play until the song/video is fully loaded(buffered) in the browser,then click Stop to capture
4. Right click on the URL(usually the one with biggest file size) and save the file.

This tool work on most anti-leech sites like imeem,deezer.


(Not recommended) SoftX HTTP Debugger 4.3 (Commercial)



Download link: http://download.cnet.com/SoftX-HTTP-Debugger/3000-2218_4-10611766.html


This tool can sniff HTTP URLs and also save HTTP files,but i do not recommend using this tool to save HTTP files.It sometimes crashes the browser or lags the browser after saving bigger files.
But it's worth a try if other tools dont work.


Example of how to download from imeem/deezer:
1. Start the tool,click debug program and select the browser that you are currently using.
2. Find and play the song or video you want
3. Let it play until the song/video is fully loaded(buffered) in the browser
4. Double click on the URL(usually the one with biggest file size) and right click on the preview window and select "Save Content Decoded" to save the file into proper format.
5. After saving,click debug program and detach the browser from the program,then close the program

Step 5 is important because it can reduce/avoid the lag caused by the debugger

This tool work on most anti-leech sites like imeem,deezer.



Additional deezer/imeem download tool - Freezer 1.4 (Freeware)



Download link: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Download-Managers/xsmith-Freezer.shtml


xsmith made a small tool that can download songs from imeem,deezer & jiwa.fr.This tool is fantastic.You dont even need to wait the song is fully loaded(buffered) in the browser,once the program detect the file and start to download it,you can move to next song.It can save multiple songs at the same time. Only supports imeem,deezer & jiwa.fr.


Example of how to download from imeem/deezer:
1. Start the tool,and change the proxy of browser to localhost:8800
2. Find and play the song you want
3. Once the program detect and start to download,you can move to next song

This tool work on imeem,deezer & jiwa.fr.




Thought:

In my opinion,its quite impossible to protect http files,even with anti-leech technique.Some of packet sniffers like PIAFCTM,Effetech Sniffer and SoftX Debugger can save and reconstruct the packets into valid http files.If you can see and hear the sources,you can save it.

Which one(s) is/are your favorite(s)? Please leave comments.