IP: Re: DirecTV vaporizes hacked smart cards: : Good Morning SiliconValley Fri Jan 26 12:00:14 EST 2001

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2001 08:58:59 -0500
>From: Ballman <Ballman@usna.edu>
>
>Dave,
>I'm a bit skeptical DirectTV story below.   There are a number of ways SAT 
>pirates avoid the
>ECM signal.  They can simply keep the card out of the receiver (reducing 
>the chance of being
>connected when the bullet hits),  "ECM bullet blockers" are now on the 
>market as are line
>switches.  Some of the pirate companies claim their cards have never been 
>"ECM'd" due to
>anti-ECM programming.  The cards aren't permanently damaged by the ECM, 
>they  can be
>"unlooped" and reprogrammed in about 5 seconds if the pirate has an 
>unlooper/programmer.  The
>unlooper/programmer hardware is available for about $200 on the 
>internet.  DirectTV recently
>suffered a major blow when pirates discovered how to hack the new "HU" 
>type SAT cards.
>DirectTV has switched to exclusively selling systems using the "HU" type 
>smart card.  My
>point here is that not all pirated DirectTV SAT cards will be effected, 
>only the least
>sophisticated user will lose his pirated service. Even those who did lose 
>their programming
>will send them back to the pirate programmer for reprogramming and be 
>pirating again within
>two weeks.
>
>DirectTV has done the pirates a great service by being so 
>predictable.  They always send the
>ECM bullet just before or sometimes during major sports events. Of course 
>this allows pirates
>to prepare...
>
>Jerry



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