In what can only be described as amazing a young man who stumbled across some of Direct TV’s inner most secrets while working for his uncle’s law firm, was able to acquire data about Direct TV’s P4 smart card. This card controls access to the channels people can watch.
The individual pleaded guilty to violating the 1996 Economic Espionage Act. Which has rarely been used and will be sentenced according to federal guidelines.
This type of encryption card has never been hacked according to Direct TV. Thus any information hijacked is a bonanza to Direct TV Pirates. Apparently Direct TV protects the data so tightly that the measures they use mimic how the government protects it’s information. [The Register]
It is this editors opinion that maybe Direct TV should review there security procedures. As I find it highly unlikely the government would be that careless.
P4 has been reversed engineered, expect a hardware fix out with a custom micro. Within thirty to forty five days after the new data stream starts ticking. There will not be a plastic fix offered for at least six months maybe more.
Thanks DrDss