How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
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Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#2> Nagrastar says Tarnovsky used the code to create a device for reprogramming Nagrastar cards into pirate cards, and gave the cards to pirates eager to steal Dish Network's programming. Tarnovsky was also accused of posting to the internet a detailed road map for hacking Nagrastar's cards.
> Nagrastar says NDS had an obvious motive for these antics: Their own chip, the so-called P1 or "F Card," had already been thoroughly cracked by pirates, and the company wanted to level the playing field with its competitors.
How does increasing piracy of your competitor help you?
Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#3> Nagrastar says Tarnovsky used the code to create a device for reprogramming Nagrastar cards into pirate cards, and gave the cards to pirates eager to steal Dish Network's programming. Tarnovsky was also accused of posting to the internet a detailed road map for hacking Nagrastar's cards. > Nagrastar says NDS had an obvious motive for these antics: Their own chip, the so-called P1 or "F Card," had already been thoro…
My guess is that it makes it harder to acquire content. That is, if we are two competing providers, and my network is compromised, then I no longer can give an exact number of users for whom the content is being licensed and I will be made to pay a premium for the unknown.
Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#4> Nagrastar says Tarnovsky used the code to create a device for reprogramming Nagrastar cards into pirate cards, and gave the cards to pirates eager to steal Dish Network's programming. Tarnovsky was also accused of posting to the internet a detailed road map for hacking Nagrastar's cards. > Nagrastar says NDS had an obvious motive for these antics: Their own chip, the so-called P1 or "F Card," had already been thoro…
It's going to be near the top priority when buying a copy protection system. If there are two options and one has been cracked, you choose the one that hasn't been cracked.
If on the other hand both have been cracked, the first system now has a chance since it's not totally outclassed.
Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#5> Nagrastar says Tarnovsky used the code to create a device for reprogramming Nagrastar cards into pirate cards, and gave the cards to pirates eager to steal Dish Network's programming. Tarnovsky was also accused of posting to the internet a detailed road map for hacking Nagrastar's cards. > Nagrastar says NDS had an obvious motive for these antics: Their own chip, the so-called P1 or "F Card," had already been thoro…
> How does increasing piracy of your competitor help you?
Pretty easy. Assume I'm an end consumer of the competitor's client stations... and my contract is up for renewal while at the same time I can get a cracked cardfor a hundred dollars, I'd be a fool to renew the contract.
Also, the competitor's client stations may decide to drop the competitor (and come to your company), especially if there is a fundamental unfixable flaw in the system.
Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#6> Nagrastar says Tarnovsky used the code to create a device for reprogramming Nagrastar cards into pirate cards, and gave the cards to pirates eager to steal Dish Network's programming. Tarnovsky was also accused of posting to the internet a detailed road map for hacking Nagrastar's cards. > Nagrastar says NDS had an obvious motive for these antics: Their own chip, the so-called P1 or "F Card," had already been thoro…
TV networks want to buy the smart card system that's best at preventing piracy, in order to get the lowest piracy.
If your competitor's system has lower piracy than yours, TV networks will choose their system over yours.
Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#7[deleted]
Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#8I remember these from the 90's, we knew someone who dealt them. There was a little card/PCB type hybrid thing and every now and then they'd change something about the encryption and you'd have to go back and get the card re flashed. Eventually they got killed off altogether iirc.
Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#9So in the early 2000's, I worked for a firm that was hired by a major satellite TV provider to investigate Smart Card hacking.
It was a very eye opening experience for a recent grad and would be happy to write up some of my experiences if people are interested.
Re: How to Reverse-Engineer a Satellite TV Smart Card (2008)
#10So in the early 2000's, I worked for a firm that was hired by a major satellite TV provider to investigate Smart Card hacking. It was a very eye opening experience for a recent grad and would be happy to write up some of my experiences if people are interested.
I would love to read this write up.