Comments on: Hacking the hotel through the TV

Modern hotel TV systems let guests view their bill, access the Net and order premium channels. But they aren't secure, one hacker claims.

Cool I'll be watching a lot more movies now!

Cool I'll be watching a lot more movies now!
But I also will say thats d^^ stupid of the hotels
to have the TVs networked like that.

Cool I'll be watching a lot more movies now!

Cool I'll be watching a lot more movies now!
But I also will say thats d^^ stupid of the hotels
to have the TVs networked like that.

Horels = easy hacking.

This is not new; I often brought a custom remote control or my PDA to hotel rooms. Most hotels use a CATV converter that simply restricts what channels you can go to. By using a universal remote you can change to these ?unlisted? channels to see Pay TV and folios of other people.

The author is correct. These systems are very rudimentary and do not use encryption or non-standard signaling. They are modified CATV systems for the most part. Some newer hotels are using broadband modems connected to a scale in the mini-bar to report usage to the front desk. The cable system in a hotel room provides a wealth of (shared) data.

As a long time hacker I have hacked the electronic door access systems and the Premium Television services in hotels as well for personal enjoyment. I think hotels need to take a more serious look at security now that portable computers and electronics are more main stream now. These non-propriety technologies are no longer running in closed circuit isolation.

Horels = easy hacking.

This is not new; I often brought a custom remote control or my PDA to hotel rooms. Most hotels use a CATV converter that simply restricts what channels you can go to. By using a universal remote you can change to these ?unlisted? channels to see Pay TV and folios of other people.

The author is correct. These systems are very rudimentary and do not use encryption or non-standard signaling. They are modified CATV systems for the most part. Some newer hotels are using broadband modems connected to a scale in the mini-bar to report usage to the front desk. The cable system in a hotel room provides a wealth of (shared) data.

As a long time hacker I have hacked the electronic door access systems and the Premium Television services in hotels as well for personal enjoyment. I think hotels need to take a more serious look at security now that portable computers and electronics are more main stream now. These non-propriety technologies are no longer running in closed circuit isolation.

[josh_drucker]

TV signal hacking

Although cable TV is rumoured to be secure, a recent hacking of cable TV happened over here in Belgium. A Belgian TV celebrity got his television show hacked while he was covering the recent Steve Jobs speech. By chance it happened to be that he was recording his own private show at home and thus could register the succesfull hacking TV even though the studios swear the hacking did not occur at their premises.
Here's a digitized version: http://www.brice.org/wp-content/movies/jt_pc_mac.mov
He's still searching for the culprits and how they did it technically.

[josh_drucker]

TV signal hacking

Although cable TV is rumoured to be secure, a recent hacking of cable TV happened over here in Belgium. A Belgian TV celebrity got his television show hacked while he was covering the recent Steve Jobs speech. By chance it happened to be that he was recording his own private show at home and thus could register the succesfull hacking TV even though the studios swear the hacking did not occur at their premises.
Here's a digitized version: http://www.brice.org/wp-content/movies/jt_pc_mac.mov
He's still searching for the culprits and how they did it technically.