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| Virgin Media TiVO Box |
What is Television Conditional Access?
This is where a certain criteria or requirement is needed for you to access certain content on a television, this could be such restrictions as not being allowed to view of watch a certain channel as you need a more upgraded package with the provider. This is a protection mechanism used by service providers to stop customers from being able to access channels they are not supposed to without paying for them, although methods and ways have been uncovered that allow users to do such a thing. With the use of a signal from Virgin, Sky or BT it can be channeled through a encrypted box which acts as the service providers however sends a signal back to the service provider saying that they have the full package. Once this signal has been configured and accepted, all access is given to the person with this box meaning they can watch all the channels for free without them needing to pay for the package. This method of doing so allows for a quick and simple access to channels without having to pay, however since service providers have 'fought back' to stop the use of such boxes and have eliminated most ways of doing so.
The use of encryption and scrambling has been used to stop the use of such boxes to gain access to channels which they shouldn't be able to watch or view. The method uses a complex encryption which has been sent out to all the television boxes connected to the service provider, the encryption updates the box and scrambles the box if it is using the old encryption as it won't be able to update through the service provider due to it not being directly in sync with it's services. Due to the newer encryption scrambling the box, it cannot be used unless the encryption is then cracked and stored onto the box again. This method has eliminated most usage of illegal boxes and stopped the streaming of channels which should not be accessed by certain users.
Another direct method which is used by service providers is to have smart cards which need to be inserted into a television box for it to be able to receive and send signal between the service provider and the box. Without the card it is impossible for channels to be received or watched as the signal cannot be properly accessed. For the channels and streaming to work it is necessary that the smart card is inserted.
