ORF and irde*o take action against h*ck

[THE_GUARDIAN]

ORS and irde*o take action against h*ck
Published: 10.40 UTC, January 21, 2011 by Robert Briel

In a joint effort to combat the recent h*ck of the Austrian DTH platform, the technical platform operator ORS and irde*o are implementing ECMs to stop pirate satellite tuners to receive the signals. As a result, over 1.3 million smart cards need to be replaced.

At the same time, the two parties are actively pursuing closure of websites and forums that openly advertise and instruct viewers on how to h*ck the signal.

ORS has taken the first electronic counter measures (ECMs), that should make illegal reception impossible. Every week, a new code will be sent to all official smart cards. But further measure are needed in order to secure the system for the future. This will in volve exchanging older generation smart cards during the next few months.

ORS is the Austrian facilities company that operates the DTH platform of public broadcasters ORF. The recently launched AustriaSat platform from the M7 Group also makes use of the same technical infrasture and is also believed to be affected by the h*ck.

When the first reports about the h*ck surfaced, ORS denied the system was compromised. Now, the operator has confirmed the leak. “It is true that ORF Digital system was attacked by h*ckers,” ORS spokesperson Michael Weber told the online news service Futurezone.at. “They have illegaly counterfeited the key of a customer card.”

Three generations of the irde*o Cryptoworks (formerly Philips Cryptworks) smarts cards are affected by the h*ck. They are the Cryptoworks generation 4, 5 and 6. These are cards that were sold in reatil in the period between 2003 and 2006. In order to secure the signal again, these cards need to be replaced since they will no longer work after the necessary security update of the system.

Newer generations of the card will be able to continue to receive the signals. About 1.8 million of these newer cards have been sold. NOTE – We have contacted irde*o for comments and will publish it as soon as possible.

[THE_GUARDIAN]

ORF begins exchanging cards

published: 09.11.2011, 14:43 TODAY!

The Austrian public ORF begins replacement of old access cards with new cards Cryptoworks by irde*o company. The event aims to provide better programs against unauthorized reception. ORF Cryptoworks system was broken in late 2010.

ORF was trying to create and prepare user-friendly replacement card, which will begin testing in mid-November. Replacement cards ORF will be done in several stages - starting with the oldest series of cards from the years 2003 and 2004. Viewers will be informed by letter of exchange on customer lines and websites ORF. In exchange, the TV card will charge a fee of € 14.90.

Replacement of old cards should be completed by 2014. The process does not affect viewers who receive broadcasts from Austria Austrian cable and IPTV networks or DVB-T multiplexes.

Decoding ORF cards are designed for reception of the Austrian public television ORF1 and ORF2, including regional broadcasts and HD mutations, as well as ORF3, ORF Sport Plus and the commercial channel ATV, Puls 4 Austria and ninth The cards ORF is also provided pay-TV Austrias Luxembourg media group M7 Group. The company also provides high-definition programs - but they provide Austrian customers with only the new irde*o cards.