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

[Dave Farber <dave@farber.net>]

>Date: Sun, 28 Jan 2001 13:00:46 -0800 (PST)
>From: Kevin Poulsen <klp@well.com>
>To: farber@cis.upenn.edu
>Subject: Re: IP: Re:  DirecTV vaporizes hacked smart cards: : Good Morning
>   SiliconValley Fri Jan 26 12:00:14 EST 2001
>
>
>Mr. Ballman is correct that keeping the card out of the receiver prevents
>the ECM from touching it, but the receiver doesn't work without a card
>inserted, and the ECM is now in DirecTV's data stream. The purpose of
>preserving a hacked card that can never be used is not immediately
>apparent to me.
>
>Mr. Ballman is mistaken in his belief that the cards hit by last Sunday's
>ECM can be unlooped and reprogrammed "in about 5 seconds." As I reported,
>this ECM wrote to a "write once" area of the cards' memory. The cards
>cannot be unlooped in 5 seconds, or 5 years.
>
>K
>
>On Sat, 27 Jan 2001, Dave Farber wrote:
>
> >
> > >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
> >
> >
> >
> > For archives see: http://www.interesting-people.org/
> >
> >



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