Oceanside Man In Trouble Over DISH TV Hack - Free To Air TV Forum, FTA Keys and Downloads, Dish Network, Nagravision 3

skinnykid · #1 (**permalink**) 24th July 2009, 11:21 AM

SAN DIEGO - A North County resident and two Florida men were indicted for allegedly trying to hack new encryption codes used by the DISH Network satellite television service, it was announced Monday.

Jung Kwak of Oceanside, along with Phillip Allison, 35, and Robert Ward, 54 -- both of Seminole, Fla. -- are charged with conspiracy to violate the Digital Millenium Copyright Act, according to Assistant U.S. Attorney Mitch Demblin.

The 33-year-old Kwak is the owner of Viewtech Inc. of Oceanside, which imports free-to-air satellite receiver boxes and sells them to the public through retailers.

Though free satellite programming is limited, the boxes marketed under the "Viewsat" name are popular because owners can download code to mimic DISH Network smart cards, allowing free viewing of the service's channels, Demblin said.

However, in late 2007 and 2008, DISH Network sent subscribers smart cards with a new encryption code, which meant owners of Viewsat boxes would no longer receive free programming, Demblin said.

The prosecutor alleged that in March 2008, the defendants decided to hire computer hackers to determine the new encryption code in order to save the market for their boxes.

Kwak bought a special microscope to analyze the smart cards and paid $20,000 cash for photographs of a purported new smart card, Demblin alleged.

Kwak also allegedly offered $250,000 to obtain the memory of such a card, he said.

The prosecutor did not divulge whether the defendants made any progress.

Demblin has filed a motion to hold Kwak without bail. A hearing is scheduled Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge William McCurine Jr.

FlaRon · #2 (**permalink**) 24th July 2009, 01:03 PM

Mr. Jung Kwak is the CEO of Viewsat.

This arrest is a continuing effort by the satellite provider to take down the manufactures and coders.

Several manufactures have been taken to court over the years and the provider has yet to win a case (I believe).

Quote:

Viewsat CEO out on bail // 2009-07-15
The owner of Viewsat, Mr. Jung Kwak has made bail! His motion for bail was granted just 2 hours ago and the hefty sum of half a million dollars was set by Magistrate Judge William McCurine Jr.
He is now free to fight this case from the streets. While this is good news for Mr Kwak, unfortunately, this is only the beginning of what is sure to be a long & fierce battle.

Quote:

Viewtech Announcement

July 17, 2009

Viewtech is very pleased to report that its founder, Jung Kwak, has been released on bond. The government had initially sought to detain Jung without bail, but Jung and his legal team were able to convince the Federal Court to release him pending trial, in part, because the indictment was erroneous and overstated in several important aspects.
Jung is obviously grateful to be a free man again, and is looking forward to continuing to work with his legal team to establish his innocence of these false accusations. Viewtech stands solidly behind Jung, and has reason to believe that this criminal case was instigated by Echo*/D.N, as part of their unlawful campaign to destroy the legitimate FTA industry under the ruse of combating a small minority who allegedly commit satellite piracy.
Viewtech remains ready, willing and able to support and protect the legitimate FTA industry and all of you who lawfully use Viewtech’s products. Thank you for your continued support and patronage.

What is interesting is that.... Phillip Allison, 35... also known as "thebroken" was a coder and had his day in a Florida court. He was given a "Final Judgment". Now seems like the Fed's have him but I believe more as a witness.

Robert Ward, 54... Was known in the FTA community as..DSS Guy.. who was one of the people who was involved with releasing "coder" fixes.

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