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Conference noted::hackers_v1

Title:-={ H A C K E R S }=-
Notice:Write locked - see NOTED::HACKERS
Moderator:DIEHRD::MORRIS
Created:Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:Mon Aug 03 1992
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:680
Total number of notes:5456

561.0. "Hacking the Sat." by BPOV09::GRAHAM (Dr. John) Sun Sep 20 1987 01:30

    Does anyone know of any hacks that we're used on VideoCipher II?
    Not that I'm interested in doing it myself, I'm just curious.
    
    						John G.
    
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561.1What I've readMAY20::MINOWJe suis Marxist, tendance GrouchoSun Sep 20 1987 16:2024
My understanding is that several different methods are used:

1. Subscribe to some cheap, protected, service; such as Cable News Network.
   This gets you a cypher key (monthly?).  Then, by reprogramming the
   controller, convince the box that you've subscribed to *all* services.

2. Get together with a bunch of people and subscribe to *all* services.
   This gets you a cypher key and the authorization code for one box.
   Duplicate the ROM containing the box id on all of the conspirators'
   boxes.

3. Fishing expedition -- build something that can generate cypher keys at
   home, then scan through all keys until you find something that works.

These methods have been discussed in open (Usenet and magazine) discussions.
No one has claimed to have broken the cypher itself.

VideoCypher is interesting in that it is a secret means of communication
where one party has absolutely no interest in keeping the cypher secret.
There is probably a more appropriate notesfile for a discussion about
video cyphering, and discussion of Dec products/strategies is inappropriate
in a public notesfile.

Martin.
561.2TLE::BRETTMon Sep 21 1987 15:166
    Without looking it up, I believe one of this years (1987's) issues
    of Cryptologia had an "ad" in it inviting experts to join a group
    of people who were attacking the this cipher from a variety of
    interesting directions...
    
    /Bevin
561.3PASTIS::MONAHANI am not a free number, I am a telephone boxThu Sep 24 1987 08:551
    	Volume XI, Number 2 (April 1987), pp 112-114