Virgin media possibly getting serious on dodgy boxes? - Page 27

19-10-2009, 10:28

Query

Is this actually going to be uncrackable or is it just urinating in the wind? as soon as it is in place coders will be on the case so it needs to be pretty special. In modern history the only wide used tech device thats been uncrackable upto now is the PS3

TheDon · 19-10-2009, 11:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by zing

Query

Is this actually going to be uncrackable or is it just urinating in the wind? as soon as it is in place coders will be on the case so it needs to be pretty special. In modern history the only wide used tech device thats been uncrackable upto now is the PS3

There's really no such thing as uncrackable, the best you can do is make it as hard as possible, and make it dynamic enough to update when it is eventually breached.

Nagra 3 has been in use in other countries for a couple of years and has remained secure, so it seems to be able to withstand the attempts to break it, obviously being used in the UK there will be added focus on trying to crack it, but, it seems like it's pretty secure.

Kymmy · 19-10-2009, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

Nagra 3 has been in use in other countries for a couple of years and has remained secure, so it seems to be able to withstand the attempts to break it, obviously being used in the UK there will be added focus on trying to crack it, but, it seems like it's pretty secure.

I don't think that there will be added focus for such a limited market as the UK as the D+ and other sat market is europe wide.. If that was the case then NDS would have fallen a bit ago...

Hiroki · 19-10-2009, 11:49

So is the card thing actually happening or is it a bluff by virgin?

Also are the test areas just to see if anyone can compromise the system or are they there just to see how people take to the cards?

Still can't help to think that this is a bluff by virgin

BenMcr · 19-10-2009, 12:59

It is happening

Begize · 19-10-2009, 13:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by zing

Query

Is this actually going to be uncrackable or is it just urinating in the wind? as soon as it is in place coders will be on the case so it needs to be pretty special. In modern history the only wide used tech device thats been uncrackable upto now is the PS3

I'm pretty sure that Sky's NDS hasn't been cracked yet. There's been rumours of people breaking it and being paid off or threatened by Murdoch's lawyers or stories about someones brothers mate knowing someone who has a cracked Sky box, but nothing concrete as far as I know.

TheDon · 19-10-2009, 13:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroki

Also are the test areas just to see if anyone can compromise the system or are they there just to see how people take to the cards?

Neither.

It's to test how well VM's systems cope with the migration to n3.

You don't want to do a largescale rollout and suddenly find you have issues with the backend equipment, so you do small test areas first. Standard roll out practice for anything.

---------- Post added at 13:13 ---------- Previous post was at 13:12 ----------

Quote:

Originally Posted by Begize

I'm pretty sure that Sky's NDS hasn't been cracked yet. There's been rumours of people breaking it and being paid off or threatened by Murdoch's lawyers.

From what I know it was close to being cracked once, and sky responded extremely quickly with new cards (that was the last new card roll out from sky in 02 I think?) and the latest set of new cards from them is to prevent softcams from being used to card share.

So yeah, it hasn't ever been completely cracked.

Kymmy · 19-10-2009, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheDon

From what I know it was close to being cracked once, and sky responded extremely quickly with new cards (that was the last new card roll out from sky in 02 I think?) and the latest set of new cards from them is to prevent softcams from being used to card share.

So yeah, it hasn't ever been completely cracked.

Hmmm, new cards would only change the keys unless they changed the whole encryption, so instead of a crack it was probably a master key was leaked..

Hiroki · 19-10-2009, 13:25

Ah thanks for answering

Are we sure that this is going to be nagra 3 and not the start of the change over to iptv?

Btw a bloke who sells them around my end offered me one of his dodgy boxes for Â£30 today so it looks like they are running scared now haha

Sirius · 19-10-2009, 13:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by BenMcr

It is happening

Indeed and its good news

TheDon · 19-10-2009, 13:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroki

Ah thanks for answering

Are we sure that this is going to be nagra 3 and not the start of the change over to iptv?

Btw a bloke who sells them around my end offered me one of his dodgy boxes for Â£30 today so it looks like they are running scared now haha

It'll be nagra 3 based, but they could do a whole world of stuff in combination with it as well. Even on an iptv system they'll still want to encrypt the channels.

They are definitely running scared, many of the sites that sell dodgy boxes have slashed their prices since this was announced, they know that as soon as it's rolled out they'll be left with a load of doorstops so are trying to shift them fast.

BenMcr · 19-10-2009, 14:03

It's also going to start happening a lot sooner than some people on those 'other' forums think it is

GazzaB · 19-10-2009, 14:27

This is the best news I have heard in ages! Bit like christmas coming early. Long overdue, Virgin should have been onto this much earlier and the problem wouldn't have got as widespread as it has.

Be interesting to see how it affects subscriber numbers next time Virgin release them

Stuart · 19-10-2009, 14:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobboEdin

What justification do you have for that statement? The website is clear that you will receive a separate card for each box:

http://allyours.virginmedia.com/html/help/smartcard/

You are, of course, assuming the Virgin don't get it wrong somewhere..

RobboEdin · 19-10-2009, 15:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuart C

You are, of course, assuming the Virgin don't get it wrong somewhere..

Of course I am but I get fed up with people ALWAYS assuming that things won't go smoothly. Of course, time alone will tell.

Then we'll get the odd person on here saying they didn't get all their cards and everyone will think that the problem affects everyone........

I'm looking forward to all the cable stealers getting upset in their fora.