At 11:00 AM 9/11/96 +1200, you wrote: >Andy Warren wrote: >>Dave Mullenix wrote: >> >>> I assume that anybody who wishes to compromise the security on a PIC >>> chip for nefarious purposes already knows how to do it, so no cats >> >>I don't follow your logic here, Dave... >> >>Your purposes are -- presumably -- educational only, but YOUR wish >>to know hasn't magically given you the information, right? How do >>you figure that it's any different for "nefarious" persons? I think most of us get a thrill from cracking tough problems and finding creative, unconventional solutions. But our moral values make us reluctant to steal, and inclined to pay others for thier hard work. And we're not privey to the dark secrets of the underworld :( Nefarious characters get a thrill from damaging and theft. They devote the time and effort required to steal or break a system, and network with other criminals. They have no morals to impede there efforts. >If anyone has been down this road and can figure it OK to entrust their >discoveries to others, I know a frustrated product designer who would be >keen to hear from you please. I've collected a few cracking methods that have been posted here and the electronics news group, that I'll post or E-mail as requested. I havn't tried them. I dont think its wise to choose ignorance of evil. Do you trust your competition to do likewise? I thought so. The satallite TV industry makes me think of a girl who says, "no, please stop" with a big satisfied delighted smile. Articles I've read about the satalite pirate industry state it has popularized and made money for the industry in the past. They could stop it but want to get subscribers hooked. Then later, with expensive recievers and no more codez, they'll start subscribing. Seems to me weak security is a feature that benefits big corporate and government thieves and spooks, organized criminals and those wishing to hook customers on cheap, illigitimate service so they can make them pay later. Small developers are those most damaged by this 'feature'. If Microchip understands this 'feature' harms sales more than helps, they'll fix the holes or eliminate them.