The smartcard is a chip-enabled plastic card similar to a current credit card. On the chip, you can observe electrical contacts. The chip is put into the decoder when the card is loaded, allowing the CAM to obtain the decryption key. Subscriber ID, subscription details, invoicing details, censorship filters, and so on are all kept on the chip.
We won’t know what’s inside unless we hack into the chip, because everything is kept hidden. Each chip will include non-volatile memory (no battery required), computer programs, and a small central processing unit (CPU).
The system’s security is determined by a few factors:
- the encryption algorithm’s secrecy
- the keys’ secrecy
- the hardware’s secrecy
So, first, let’s look at the algorithm. An algorithm is a set of instructions for accomplishing a task, in this example, scrambling and descrambling a digital signal.
Some CAM companies create their own algorithm and rely on it being kept a secret. That’s like to putting your door key behind a brick or under a flower pot: once the secret (that the key is in the brick) is revealed, you’re out of luck. This is how DVD security works.
Keeping the key with you is a far better strategy (a secret key). Everyone understands how your door locks operate (you insert the correct key and turn), but that only works if you have the key. If your lock (algorithm) is broken, you’ll notice it soon and replace it. Pay-TV viewers would, of course, have to remember the key and punch it into their decoder – inconvenient, but safe.
Irdeto 5 CAMs are used by Foxtel. These utilise 3DES encryption, which is a fairly complex encryption method that is impossible to crack without the use of a large number of supercomputers. 3DES is a well-known algorithm that has been thoroughly verified and proven to be secure when properly implemented.
What about the decryption key’s security? This information is saved on the smartcard’s chip. It’s not looking good. As though it were hidden inside a (extremely thin) brick. 3DES is a symmetric-key algorithm, which means it encrypts and decrypts with the same key. If hackers are able to access the card and retrieve the key, they can use it to create cloned cards.
This brings us to the hardware’s secrecy. Chris Tarnovsky demonstrated how to take the chip from a smartcard and read the electrical impulses in a YouTube video posted by Wired magazine four years ago (see below).
The next step is to reprogramme the card so that it displays its stored data (including the decryption key). Modern cards are better, but so are the methods for getting into them.
The card doesn’t even need to be opened. Many digital TV viewers split the expense of a Pay-TV subscription among tens or hundreds of people using tactics like card sharing or internet key sharing.
Just type in terms like “Irdeto 5 hacks,” “Sat Universe,” and “MOSC” into Google (Modified Original Smart Card).
Pay-TV piracy/hacking is happening now, just like modding Xboxes (overriding the built-in security mechanisms of the Xbox and Xbox 360 videogame consoles), rooting Android devices (gaining “superuser permissions to your Android device’s software), and jailbreaking iPhones (gaining root access to Apple’s operating system).
The information is available and simple to obtain. Anyone attempting to use the material must, of course, be technically competent and courageous.
Is it being carried out on a large scale? In areas like China or South America, perhaps. A lot of the gear that allows or facilitates unauthorized access to IT systems (for example, ATM card skimming, which is the illicit copying of data from the magnetic strip of a credit or ATM card) appears to be coming from such areas.
The Chinese government is attempting to put an end to hacking and the mechanisms that enable it. In my perspective, the skills required (to hack these smartcards) are far beyond the capabilities of most would-be thieves and hackers.
Besides, it’s far easier to simply download any application or film via the peer-to-peer file-sharing technology BitTorrent.
Is it possible to hack DirecTV cards?
DirecTV, the satellite television behemoth, dealt a crushing blow to signal pirates on Sunday night, when it broadcast a carefully crafted electronic signal from its orbiting satellites, destroying thousands of hacked smart cards that had allowed pirates free access to hundreds of channels of programming for the previous four years.
According to satellite TV underground sources, on “Black Sunday,” the vast majority of illegally reprogrammed DirecTV access cards, which once had a street worth of several hundred dollars each, were wiped out.
Is it possible to receive free satellite television?
Free to Air satellite television channels are unencrypted and legally accessible to the general public. The consumer purchases and installs receiving equipment in order to watch a limitless number of channels from all over the world, covering a variety of genres.
Is it possible to hack a Dish satellite?
We won’t offer you any hints, but it basically entails hacking a Dish satellite receiver in order for it to decrypt the satellite signal without authorization. It’s really simple, especially if you buy hacking techniques from a third party.
How can I get my DirecTV receiver unlocked?
To obtain a PIN reset, the account owner must call DirecTV at 1-800-531-5000. Make sure you have the box’s Receiver ID (RID) so they can reset the right one.
Is it possible to utilize a satellite dish without a signal?
Satellite receivers intended for Free to Air (FTA) transmissions are known as FTA receivers. Because the transmissions are not encrypted, anyone with an FTA receiver can access them without having to subscribe to a satellite television provider. The dish acts as an antenna for receiving satellite communications.
What else can I do with my old satellite dish?
Since I opted to cancel my satellite TV subscription, my satellite dish has been mounted on my patio.
The patio used to be a haven of leisure for me, where I practiced my morning yoga, but since the dish was left there, it began to rust and get filthy, and just looking at it destroyed my tranquility.
I didn’t want to throw it out right away, so I looked for ways to rescue what was left of it.
When I went online, I discovered a variety of hacks and strategies for repurposing my old satellite dish.
I gathered all of the material from various sources and prepared a handbook for anyone interested in following in my footsteps.
You may make a birdbath, garden art, high-range Wi-Fi receiver, signal booster, antenna mount, dcor piece, outdoor umbrella, or even a solar oven out of your old satellite dish.
Which satellite offers the most number of free channels?
Eutelsat is the satellite company with the most subscription-free channels, with over 400 across Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East, and over 300 in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Is it possible for me to build my own satellite dish?
It’s now easier than ever to build a satellite dish and receiver. Many organizations would prefer that you rent the equipment and hire an installation to install it. Modern satellite systems, on the other hand, can be installed with a few tools in addition to equipment purchased from major vendors.
