DVB Webinar on TV Hacking Solution
The DVB Webinar about the new DVB solution to avoid Smart TV hacks took place on May 9th. You can now view the recording of the Webex presentation here:
You can download the PDF of the presentation on the right.
The key addition to the specification for “Signaling and carriage of interactive applications and services in Hybrid broadcast/broadband environments” (TS 102 809) is an authentication mechanism.
Background
Today’s connected Smart TVs that support interactive services have more in common with the computer in your home than the television sets of yesterday. This means that they could be at risk of being manipulated via the broadband interface. In addition, academic research has demonstrated that such an attack can also be initiated via the terrestrial RF input. In demonstrated cases, ‘man-in-the-middle attacks’ were performed by overriding the terrestrial broadcast signal and placing malicious codes in the TV software which enabled the hijacker to control, for example, the webcam and then stream the pictures from the living room back to the internet.
Just a few years ago such an attack on the broadcast channel would have required a truckload of expensive broadcast equipment. Now, with ongoing miniaturization, the necessary devices have become inexpensive and are easily transported. It must be said, that for the time being, there is little real-world evidence of such attacks. However, acknowledging the potential risks, DVB has worked on a comprehensive and appropriate solution providing the necessary protection for consumers and industry.
The updated version of TS 102 809 (currently available as DVB BlueBook A137) enables broadcasters to add authentication information to the signaling of their interactive services. In essence, the television receiver learns the legitimate transmission on each channel and will then identify and reject any subsequent tampering. This provides an extra layer of defense for TV sets and their owners in addition to manufacturers’ activities to improve their products security.
Webinar
You can now learn all about the new security features in a webinar by on May 9th, 2017. The webinar and Q&A time should take around 90 minutes. You can send your questions by the Webex Q&A function during the webinar and questions will be answered in a 3 blocks during the webinar. No need to register!
May 9, 15:00 CEST (Amsterdam, Brussels, Paris time)
Presenters
Robert Esterer – IRT, Germany
Nick Birch – S&T (Strategy & Technology), UK
Nigel Earnshaw – BBC R&D, UK
Agenda
1. The hazard
– Published research work
– Analysis within the DVB specialist groups
– Examples in related domains
2. The DVB solution
– Presentation of TS signing solution in TS 102 809
3. Deploying the DVB solution
– The technical and commercial tasks for a market to use the DVB solution
4. Conclusions
