Hacking Digital Satellite TV

1
Hacking Digital Satellite TV

• Nabil Ahmadiyeh

2
Topics

• How Digital Satellite Systems (DSS) work
• Hardware/Software
• The Law
• Ethical Issues
• Loopholes
• The Future

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Background How Satellite TV Works
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Methods to get free DSS programming

• Reprogram an actual access card
• Use a PCB (Printed Circuit Board) that emulates
  an access card.
• Emulating an access card with a PCB is a more
  complex solution, but also a much more robust
  solution. Emulation requires emulation software,
  a PC to run the emulation software on, and an
  access card programmer/loader.

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The Law

• Pursuant to both American and Canadian
  Federal Law - the reception of satellite TV or
  cable TV services without the authorization of
  the satellite or local cable operators is
  unlawful.

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Methods DSS providers use

• Datastream updates
• Datastream updates are new software which is sent
  to the access card to attempt to close previously
  discovered vulnerabilities. Datastream updates
  can be repaired by programming the access card
  again.

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Methods contd

• Tier Wipes
• Tier wipes are updates which are sent down to
  reconfigure unsubscribed access cards. Tier wipes
  can be repaired by programming the access card
  again.

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Methods-contd

• Looping
• Looping utilizes the ROM program in each access
  card. Instructions are sent down which causes
  unsubscribed access cards to enter an infinite
  loop. Which the card is stuck in this infinite
  loop it can not be written from or read to in a
  normal manner. Looping requires the use a piece
  of equipment called an unlooper to repair.

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Methods-contd

• EEPROM corruption
• EEPROM corruption is the most dangerous type of
  ECM. Instructions are sent down that detect
  unsubscribed access cards and damage the EEPROM
  on the access card.

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US Satellite TV Footprint
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Ethical Issues/Conflicts with the Law

• What exactly is considered breaching the
• law and where do we draw this line?
• DirecTV fries access cards they suspect as
  unauthorized.
• Grey areas infringement on privacy, freedom
  of choice, cultural relativism

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Reasons People Decode the signals

• Fun
• Profit
• Knowledge

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Conclusion

• Recommendation The law should allow people to
  own equipment such as card programmers and
  loaders without having their privacy infringed
  upon.
• The Future Pirates will continue to decode
• the signals, and the battle between them
• and the DSS providers continues.

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Credits/References

• http//www.outpost9.com/how-to/hackfaq-television.
  shtml
• http//www.tech-faq.com/satellite-tv.shtml
• http//electronics.howstuffworks.com/satellite-tv1
  .htm
• http//www.legal-rights.org/DTVBOX.html
• http//www.securityfocus.com/news/6402