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VideoGuard (sometimes referred to simply as NDS), produced by NDS, is a digital encryption system for use with conditional access television broadcasting. It is used on digital satellite television systems – some of which are operated by News Corporation, which owned about half (49%) of NDS until its sale to Cisco in 2012 (becoming Cisco Videoscape division). [1]
Conditional Access Module Various types of CAM. A conditional access module (CAM) is an electronic device, usually incorporating a slot for a smart card, which equips an integrated digital television or set-top box with the appropriate hardware facility to view conditional access content that has been encrypted using a conditional access system. [1]
A VideoGuard card slot, as well as a second smart-card reader are fitted to the front (these are for the Sky viewing card and other interactive cards). All share an identical user interface and EPG , with the exception of Sky+ HD boxes which have used the new Sky+ HD Guide since early 2009.
The decryption cards are read, and sometimes updated with specific access rights, either through a conditional-access module (CAM), a PC card-format card reader meeting DVB-CI standards, or through a built-in ISO/IEC 7816 card reader, such as that in the Sky Digibox.
Hackers discovered methods of preventing Sky from killing or deactivating their cards. The simplest of these attacks relied on the fact that Sky was using EPROM technology for its smartcards at the time. Thus by modifying the decoder to limit the write voltage to the card, it was possible to stop cards being turned off over the air.
Cisco Videoscape (formerly NDS Group and currently known as Synamedia) was a majority owned subsidiary of News Corp, which develops software for the pay TV industry (including cable, satellite and others). NDS Group was established in 1988 as an Israeli start up company. [1]
In such a case, only the smart card reader normally in the CAM is fitted and not the PCMCIA type CI slots. Even if the Common Interface has been created to resolve cryptography issues, it can have other functions using other types of modules such as Web Browser , iDTV ( Interactive Television ), and so forth.
Additional packages including the multiple channels alongside one or more of Sky's premium channels were available from £11.99 to £19.99. [8] The channels were encrypted using NDS Group's VideoCrypt system, [1] and viewing them required a monthly subscription payment, a decoder and a valid viewing card.