[voytec]

If this "protected area" even exists [1], both dd(1) and this thing seem not to touch it. So no difference here.

[1] Never heard of it and I've erased and recreated partition tables on SD cards multiple times with no "bricking"; maybe it's a feature of cards supplied with "encryption software"?

[red_trumpet]

From [1]:

> Content Protection for Recordable Media (CPRM), the content protection technology used for SD standards, is key to enabling a distribution system for music, video, etc. CPRM provides a high level of protection against illegal copying.

Sounds like someone intended to sell movies on SD cards, replacing DVDs/bluerays.

[1] https://electronics.stackexchange.com/a/316421

[voytec]

Ok. So this area has to be accessed by some special commands and is not exposed as part of a block device.

The "SD Memory Card Formatter for Linux" mentions this non sequitur seemingly to confuse users and cause FUD.

[GauntletWizard]

I've linked elsewhere: https://www.engadget.com/2010-12-08-mod-systems-download2go-...

Mod Systems was a Toshiba-funded "Video Rental on SD Cards" startup, whose primary product was a set of bizarre fraud cases.