The beginning of the end?

[someone23]

Source: Virgin code update cripples - TV illegally - Detailing World

Virgin Media have applied a code update which has crippled cable boxes across the country which were used for receiving cable TV illegally.

Cable boxes affected include the Eurovox, Nokia Dbox, Starview and Kryptview.

Users receiving cable TV illegally receive the error message ?Please wait?code been updated? and no channels can be accessed.

According to industry analyst Ian Waller, ?The change is causing false keys to be recorded on a ROM7 update, usually only 1 or 2 characters are wrong, this has been happening on ROM10 and ROM11 updates for the last year. A genuine card can handle the change, an emulator can not.?

Virgin Media applied a similar change around a year ago, and it took almost a week for firmware updates for chipped boxes to keep pace.

However, from reports coming in the changes by virgin may not be a simple one off event, but instead being applied on a daily basis.

Although updates are available on the internet which try to keep track of the changes, if the code changes are being implemented on a daily basis this could make it very difficult for firmware updates to keep track.

The result would be a victory for Virgin in their battle against cable piracy, and an end to the widespread use of cable boxes for receiving free cable TV.

UPDATE: Reports in the forums suggest another code update began at 3:30pm today. It looks like Virgin have indeed started to apply daily code changes.

Some people on different forums think that this is the beginning of the end, while others are optomistic. Just wondering what the opinions of users on this forum think, something to discuss while new firmware fixes are in the progress.

[xpl0it3d]

I think that Virgin are truely limited on what they can do. To make something so big to stop all our boxes they would need to send out all new Virgin boxes or create a whole new system that will just get cracked again.

[jfish]

Source: Virgin code update cripples - TV illegally - Detailing World



Some people on different forums think that this is the beginning of the end, while others are optomistic. Just wondering what the opinions of users on this forum think, something to discuss while new firmware fixes are in the progress.

didnt they say the same back in April when they did the key change - the fix has lasted 6 months now.

[melloned]

Had mine 5yrs or so now , it comes in waves , normally pre xmas , this cheeses some people off so badly they bin thier boxes ( watch fleabay for used boxes! ).
Personally , i enjoy tinkering with the boxes , rather than watching half the crap thats on them, (a bit of a hobby if you like ) .
Eventually Mr Branston gets fed up with the earache and loss of custom (as it effects them too ! ) , he stops mucking about , and things quieten down again , Happy Days .
Cheers all!

[nosebleed]

I like watching all the hassle that stirs up when something happens. Same with other media, love the pirate cat and mouse game

[bugaloo41]

Firstly, that "story" relates to the April keyroll not this week.

Secondly, these keyrolls have been happening for years. I recall one of the first circa 4/5 years ago when the forums were going crazy. It happens

There will undoubtedly come a time when it is genuinely "the end". Personally, (and I may be wrong) I can`t see it happening on nagra 1 anytime soon. Until that day though we should all enjoy it while it lasts.

[robocod2000]

Firstly, that "story" relates to the April keyroll not this week.

Secondly, these keyrolls have been happening for years. I recall one of the first circa 4/5 years ago when the forums were going crazy. It happens

There will undoubtedly come a time when it is genuinely "the end". Personally, (and I may be wrong) I can`t see it happening on nagra 1 anytime soon. Until that day though we should all enjoy it while it lasts.

Even if they upgrade to nagra 2 , that's hacked to ribbons too, it's that n3 is the worrying one at the mo but that'll cost them way way too much to update too and that's money they haven't got

[comfm]

Even if they upgrade to nagra 2 , that's hacked to ribbons too, it's that n3 is the worrying one at the mo but that'll cost them way way too much to update too and that's money they haven't got

yep they haven't got the money, they are cutting 2000 jobs, as per below, which i think is common knowledge now, theres gonna be a lot of angry staff looking for work in the next coming months:

Airgin media will start slashing 2,200 jobs from its workforce from next year to cut costs and help reduce the company's debt.

http://www.computerweekly.com/Articles/2008/11/12/233334/virgin-media-to-cut-2200-jobs.htm

[rob6007]

to be honest if it wasnt for the dbox there is no way i would ever go with virgin . and i think most people are the saem .

if this is the end then i would go str8 to sky tv.

i think virgin know this , at the end of the day they are still getting paid so i dont see why they do this.

is it not better getting sumthing than nothing .

[davio1w]

agree there..i'd be off to sky in a flash

[melloned]

I can't recieve sky due to where i live , (next to a forest) , but if the cable battle was lost , i wouldnt bother with either , ( how many repeats can you watch !) , i love the cable box challenge , but know most of the programe
repeats off by heart , how many more agree ?? .
Cheers .

[scareface]

to be honest if it wasnt for the dbox there is no way i would ever go with virgin . and i think most people are the saem .

if this is the end then i would go str8 to sky tv.

i think virgin know this , at the end of the day they are still getting paid so i dont see why they do this.

is it not better getting sumthing than nothing .

The main reason why they are doing it is to show the original pay subscribers that they know this is going on & are prepared to tackle it. Imagine if they did nothing they would surely be an outcry with the risk of them converting over.

[excelence]

i dont no why people do pay for sky or virgin..... i never will id rather get a freeview.. so many programs get played over and over and its so boreing.. the only good thing is sports channels.. if i needed to id watch them online..

allso the p*rn channels are not to bad :O

[caveman_nige]

it aint over till its over guys.. the best brains work outside the industry and they know it... patches are already out for certain boxes instead of the keymaker workaround.. Dk will keep you posted, its the premiere place to be to find this info...

Hang in there and don't worry to much about key rolls for now....

[Papag]

If its the end game I would probable go back to Sky, so RB would lose from me cancelling my broadband connection currently ?18 a month, if others do the same which I expect will do from conversations he better re evaluate his business model to take this into consideration.