Video encryption - ApsaraVideo VOD - Alibaba Cloud Documentation Center

This topic describes the video encryption feature of Alibaba Cloud. Video encryption is a technology used to protect video content security, designed to prevent videos from being illegally downloaded, hotlinked, or redistributed. Through encryption technology, even if video files are downloaded locally, they cannot be directly played or distributed, effectively protecting video copyright and content security.

ApsaraVideo VOD supports multiple encryption methods, including the following three types:

Encryption type	Principle	Scenarios	Limitations
Alibaba Cloud proprietary cryptography	Uses Alibaba Cloud's proprietary encryption algorithm to encrypt video data. Each media file has an independent encryption key, avoiding large-scale security issues caused by a single key leakage.	Suitable for scenarios with high security requirements, such as online education, finance, and industry training.	Only supports decryption and playback using ApsaraVideo Player SDK. MP4 format videos are only supported on iOS/Android platforms with Native player SDK. Web Player SDK supports playback of proprietary encrypted videos on mainstream mobile browsers.
HLS encryption	Based on the AES-128 encryption algorithm to encrypt video content. Keys are managed through envelope encryption technology to ensure key security.	Suitable for scenarios requiring wide compatibility but with relatively lower security requirements.	Keys are easily stolen, with lower security compared to proprietary encryption. Requires a higher technical threshold, including self-built key management and token issuance services.
Commercial DRM encryption	Based on commercial digital rights management (DRM) technologies such as Apple Fairplay and Google Widevine, providing high-level encryption protection.	Suitable for scenarios with extremely high copyright protection requirements, such as exclusive dramas and paid content.	Higher usage cost, charged based on the number of License calls. Higher integration complexity.

Video encryption covers multiple terminals, with compatibility details as follows:

Client	Playback method	HLS (M3U8) Alibaba Cloud proprietary cryptography	HLS (M3U8) license encryption	MP4 Alibaba Cloud proprietary cryptography (MP4 license encryption)	Live FLV Alibaba Cloud proprietary cryptography	HLS (M3U8) encryption	HLS (M3U8) DRM encryption
Web client	UrlSource-based playback	❌	❌	❌	❌	✔️	❌
	VidAuth-based playback	✔️	✔️	❌	❌	✔️	❌
	VidSts-based playback	❌	❌	❌	❌	✔️	✔️
	UrlSource-based live streaming	❌	❌	❌	❌	✔️	❌
	LiveStsSource-based live streaming	✔️	✔️	❌	❌	❌	✔️
Native (iOS/Android/Flutter)	UrlSource-based playback	✔️	Supported only in ApsaraVideo Player SDK V6.17.0 or later	Supported only in ApsaraVideo Player SDK V6.8.0 or later	❌	✔️	❌
	VidAuth-based playback	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	❌
	VidSts-based playback	✔️	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	✔️ Note Not supported in ApsaraVideo Player SDK for Flutter.
	UrlSource-based live streaming	❌	❌	❌	❌	✔️	❌
	LiveStsSource-based live streaming	✔️	✔️	❌	✔️	❌	✔️ Note Not supported in ApsaraVideo Player SDK for Flutter.