Over the last couple of days a small furore has erupted a News Corp subsidiary, has been hacking the pay-TV smartcards of News Corp’s competitors, and even News Corp’s own companies – allegations that NDS. I’m not going to speculate on the reasons why a supplier of – the technology that allows paid-TV providers to restrict access to their broadcasts – would want to undermine the security of their own product; but I am going to discuss how such systems work, and how secure they are. A Conditional Access Module (CAM) is a combination of encryption keys, smartcards and electronics and computer code inside a satellite or cable-TV receiver (or “decoder”). The pay-TV provider encrypts the digital signal sent to the subscriber with an encryption key.
The subscriber plugs a smartcard into his/her decoder, which decrypts the signal so programs and films can be displayed on the screen. Some decoders have the smartcard built-in already, so there is no external slot. The is a plastic card with a chip - much like a modern credit card. You can see electrical contacts on the chip. When the card is inserted, the chip is plugged into the decoder, allowing the CAM to get the decryption key. Other information is also stored on the chip – subscriber ID, subscription details, billing details, censorship filters and so on.
We don’t really know what’s there unless we hack into the chip, because it’s all kept secret. Each chip will have it’s own non-volatile memory (requires no battery), computer programs and a small (CPU). The security of the system depends on a few things:. secrecy of the encryption algorithm. secrecy of the keys. secrecy of the hardware. So let’s start with the.
An algorithm is a recipe for doing something – in this case, for scrambling and descrambling the digital signal. Some CAM providers write their own algorithm, and depend on it remaining a secret. That’s a bit like hiding your door key inside a brick or under a flower pot – once the secret (that the key is in the brick) is discovered, you have no security. Works this way.
A much better approach is to keep the key with you (a secret key). Everybody knows how your door security works (you put the right key in the lock and turn), but that only works if you have the key. If your lock (algorithm) is faulty, you’ll find out quickly enough and replace the lock. Of course, Pay-TV subscribers would have to remember the key, and have to enter it into their decoder - very inconvenient, but very safe. Foxtel uses CAMs. These use encryption - a reasonably complex encryption algorithm that’s difficult to crack without employing lots of supercomputers.
3DES is a known algorithm - it has been tested for years and, if implemented correctly, will be safe. And the security of the decryption key?
That’s stored on the chip in the smartcard. Just like hiding it inside a (very thin) brick. 3DES is a, which means you use the same key to encrypt and decrypt. If hackers can open up the card and get to the key, they can extract the key and use it to make cloned cards. This leads us to the secrecy of the hardware.
Four years ago, Wired magazine posted a YouTube video (see below) showing Chris Tarnovsky demonstrating how to extract the chip from a smartcard, and access the electrical signals. Reprogramming the card to display its stored data (including the decryption key) is the next step. Modern cards are better, but the techniques for getting into them are also better. It’s not even necessary to open up the card. Many digital TV watchers use techniques such as card sharing or to spread the cost of a Pay-TV subscription among tens or hundreds of people. And you can buy blank smartcards online from places such as for a few cents each.
There are also dedicated forums online to help would-be criminals access satellite TV and Pay-TV without a subscription. Just Google terms such as, and (Modified Original Smart Card). So just as with (circumventing the built-in security mechanisms of the Xbox and Xbox 360 videogame consoles), (gaining “superuser” permissions to your Android device’s software) and iPhones (gaining root access to Apple’s operating system), pay-TV piracy/hacking is happening now.
The information is out there and is easy to access. Of course, anyone attempting to use the information has to be technically capable and adventurous. Is it being done on an industrial scale? Perhaps in places such as China or South America.
A lot of the hardware which enables or supports unlawful access to IT systems (e.g. – the illegal copying of information from the magnetic strip of a credit or ATM card) appears to be coming from those regions. The Chinese government is and the systems which support it.
My opinion is that the skills required (to hack these smartcards) are beyond most wannabe pirates and hackers. Besides, it’s much easier just to install the peer-to-peer file-sharing protocol and download any program or film you want.
Notorious hacker Chris Tarnovsky opens his underground laboratory to WIRED, providing a peek into the world of satellite television smart-card hacking. This complicated process involves nail polish, a pin head and various acids - so don't try this at home (unless you're Chris Tarnovsky)! Chances are you won't even know what's going on here, but that's not going to stop you from watching this video tutorial on how to reverse-engineer a satellite TV smart card, is it? He uses acetone to strip the chips. He also uses hydrochloric acid to reveal the chip. He burns a hole through the second layer of metal on the smart card. He then uses a micropositioner and a sewing needle to open the data bus and access the control line.
'Well once the expert hacker figures out the chip using these methods it can be reverse engineered with software. Software anyone could use on one of the many FTA boxes out there. Perhaps soon the 'new' Niagra 3 cards will be reverse engineered.:)' did you watch the video? F cards were first. H cards came after. Hu was introduced to phase out the h card. Manga eyeshield 21 bahasa indonesia chapter 34.
Black Sunday hit look it up if you don't know about black Sunday. H cards were bricked and people still get them working. The hu was king. Businesseswere making money hand over fist selling glitches monthly updates. Canadians were a huge customers as direct tv could not sell the service in Canada people waited a long time for some hacker to fix that. The story said he used to be a hacker and direct tv hired him.
He helped design the hu replacement which was the p5. To my knowledge the method in the video is the only way to get into those cards. My point in all of this is that guy is 'they' he was the best ever. I believe he was the one that put out the glitch for th hu. He was the bes, he knew the bes. The hackers you are waiting for have already been beat. Direct tv raided hardware sights that had to do with smart card programming equipment., which is legal.
Directv filed mass lawsuits against anyone they could i dentify as purchasing equipment from the sites they raided. Even if i am wrong and they could crack all the card, why? Everything on theinternet is basically free.why risk jail time?
Kollam, known for its vibrant coasts, cashew factories and fish delicacies would undoubtedly be one of the favourite destinations of any travel enthusiast. Once a Portuguese colony, distinct influences of the European country can still be seen at many places in Kollam.
The beautiful Harbor town of Iravipuram was one of their major centres. The Portuguese has not only left their memories here, but also a part of their culture, traditions, architecture and even names. There are people at Iravipuram who still continue the 500-year-old tradition of sewing the Portuguese handkerchief called the ‘rentha.'
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Though this traditional art form became very popular in India centuries ago, it later got limited to Goa. The spectacular sight of the Chaakara (peculiar marine phenomenon seen along the Kerala coast when mud banks are formed and fish get trapped in huge numbers) during the monsoon season would overwhelm any traveller who wish to experience the distinct features of Kollam. The golden sands on the beach would then become a sea of fish. Fibre fishing boats came much late to Iravipuram and the old ones made with the wood of cotton trees can still be seen here. The natives of the nearby Valathungal village grew cotton tress in large numbers for the fishermen in Iravipuram to make boats. The fish tales.
Neendakara fishing harbour Photo: Kannan Shanmugham Fields were abundant with a type of fish called the ‘half beak’ which could survive in both fresh water and in the sea. From the Arabian Sea, they would swim all the way through the Ashtamudi Lake to reach the small ponds and fields. The western part of Kollam is known for its water bodies which are full of various species of marine life. Fishing is very prominent here and fish export is one of the main industries in the district. The super hit film ‘Meen’ starring yesteryear screen icons Madhu and Jayan was shot at various locations around Neendakara, a prominent fishing harbour. Meanwhile, the cashew industry dominates the southern part of Kollam where most of the cashew offices and factories are located. Mayurasandesham It is on the Kollam beach where the coastal lines of southern and western Kollam meet.
The SN College and Fathima Matha College have become an incredible meeting point of students who hail from both parts of the district. The legends say that Achani Ravi, a prominent industrialist and KP Appan, the renowned writer, used to take their evening stroll on the two sides of the Kollam beach. One cannot talk about Kollam Lake without mentioning renowned poet Keralavarma Valia Koyithamburan who wrote ‘Mayurasandesham.' Iravipuram, Kollam Lake and the nearby Chinta Duraivi Nayakar temple find prominent mention in this literary text.
The Kollam market which was once the centre of the tobacco industry has changed drastically. However, the centuries-old buildings still stand as a reminder of the glorious past. It is said that famous Malayalam writer Kakkanadan who hails from Kollam had planned to write a novel about the Kollam market.
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Though the old Kasaba police station where Vaikom Muhammed Basheer was imprisoned decades ago has been changed into a government office, the old prison cells can still be seen inside it. Jonakapuram Juma Masjid Photo: Kannan Shanmugham Jonakapuram could rightly be called the face of the fishing industry in Kollam. The fishing harbor here, though not huge as Neendakara, is really impressive. The nearby fish market is in fact one of the biggest in Kerala. Two people carrying a huge tuna from the boat to the market is truly an amazing sight. At this day-market at Jonakapuram, huge baskets of fish are auctioned off daily.
One could even buy lots of fish for just Rs 100 from here. The fish available here are fresh as ammonia and other chemicals are never added to make it look fresh. Kollam is known for its fish delicacies, and the natives of Kollam always love piping hot rice with a bowl of spicy fish curry. Fish export is another important industry of the district. 60% of fish like pearl spot, crab, lobster and scampi which are exported are caught off Kollam. The tiger prawns found here is one of the favourites of the seafood lovers all over the world. Thankassery and Mulankadakam.
Memorial for the legendary poet Edappally Raghavan Pillai at Mulankadakam Photo: Kannan Shanmugham The public cemetery at Mulankadakam is where the renowned Malayali actor Jayan rests in peace. Though a memorial is not built there for the legendary actor, the people of Mulankadakam say that Jayan continues to live on in their hearts. However, a memorial for the legendary poet Edappally Raghavan Pillai, who came all the way to Kollam from Kochi to commit suicide, has been built as a result of the efforts of the literary enthusiasts in the district.
Neendakara is known for its huge and equally lively fishing harbour. One has to pay a fee of Rs 35 as entry fee to see the activities inside the harbour. Huge machines crush large blocks of ice and rows of buses are parked outside the harbor to take fresh fish to states like Karnataka. There is a factory run by the Matsyafed outside Neendakara. The Kaitosan obtained from the shells of prawns are used to make Kaiton tablets.
These tablets, which are high in demand, apparently absorb the fat deposits from the stomach. Guhanandapuram Photo: Kannan Shanmugham The regal beauty of Ashtamudi Lake can be enjoyed from the Guhanandapuram bridge. The rows of motor-driven Chinese fishing nets add to the charm of the lake.
A memorial building of renowned ‘Kathaprasangam’ artist V Sambasivan can be seen at his ancestral home, near the Guhanandapuram higher secondary school. It really must be the incredible beauty of Kollam that prompted literary masters like Azhakathu Padbanabha Kurup, Thirunalloor, D Vinayachandran and Kureeppuzha Sreekumar to write extensively about their favourite place.
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