Verimatrix GeoAuthentication™

Clone Detection for Wireline Networks

GeoAuthentication™ is a head-end option to the Verimatrix Video Content Authority System (VCAS) that directly addresses theft of service challenges for system operators. In even the most carefully controlled operational environment, service revenue can be lost through service piracy. Sophisticated attacks on a large scale can involve "clone" STB clients that mimic legal equipment by duplication of MAC address and other theoretically unique identifiers. GeoAuthentication addresses this threat by cross referencing STB or PC client identifiers with information about the physical network connections between the head-end and the subscriber equipment. This physical connectivity information can be gathered from DHCP server option 82 records and other network management databases. Routine analysis of STB authentication requests in conjunction with network topology data generates exception conditions related to changes in location, duplicated credentials or other irregular activity which can then be investigated more thoroughly.

GeoAuthentication extends the security perimeter of the IPTV network by unambiguously linking the STB clients, the physical network infrastructure and the head-end authentication system. With management tools like GeoAuthentication, theft of service in IPTV systems due to client cloning can be reduced or eliminated.

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Product Features:

• Platform OS: Solaris 10, Linux (RHE 4.0), Windows 2003 Server
• Head-end interfaces: DHCP, SNMP, Custom
• GUI: Java based
• Sweep frequency: Operator controlled, typical daily
• Middleware interface: XML-RPC subscriber management interface works in push or pull model compatible with multiple middleware packages
• Networks supported: xDSL, Fiber, Ethernet and other topologies with unique physical connections