Tuners "Scrambling" their maps.
#16
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I agree with the second one though, as long as the vendor tells the customer they will lock/scramble the ECU and the customer agrees to that there's no issue.
#18
Unless it alters the boot loader (which is not part of the current reflash kernel) I don't think it works. But I haven't come across it though.
BTW, if ECUTek uses any proprietary custom ECU code, such as live tuning and other things, I'm okay with their desire to protect that. If their intent is just to lock a person into using only one product to tune their cars, then I would have a huge problem with it.
As long as the ECU uses an Init code, unlocking the ECU won't be all that difficult even if they changed the recovery kernel. I am under the impression that the recovery code is not able to be overwritten or altered. But I have not invested the time to try to figure out every aspect of the internal workings of the hardware. Subaru ECU's work differently as the reflashing kernel is part of the flash, so if its altered or damaged, you would basically have an unrecoverable ECU (using standard methods)
BTW, if ECUTek uses any proprietary custom ECU code, such as live tuning and other things, I'm okay with their desire to protect that. If their intent is just to lock a person into using only one product to tune their cars, then I would have a huge problem with it.
As long as the ECU uses an Init code, unlocking the ECU won't be all that difficult even if they changed the recovery kernel. I am under the impression that the recovery code is not able to be overwritten or altered. But I have not invested the time to try to figure out every aspect of the internal workings of the hardware. Subaru ECU's work differently as the reflashing kernel is part of the flash, so if its altered or damaged, you would basically have an unrecoverable ECU (using standard methods)
However, I do think it is worth noting that, long term, this is a losing battle. Being one of the largest car markets in the world, virtually ever car maker is going to do as Mitsubishi has been doing quite awhile and conform to SAE J2534 to sell in California.
ECUs are going to be reflashable. And vendors locking things, particular for users who want to keep their cars street legal, are going to start getting pressure from multiple directions. They are already finding out that if users want data bad enough they can get it. Now, with reflash capability becoming a legal requirement, 'intellectual property protection' (however you want to take that) may lead them to more regulatory hassles as well.
-jjf
#19
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So, I'm guessing half the guys that responded on here are using pirated software and you don't understand the need for a tuner to lock his code.
#20
But no matter how much I think that the only really worthwhile tunes are custom ones, canned tunes, both purchased and pirated are a reality. Still, I think you are being a little unfair to the posters here. Most, including MJ, seem quite sympathetic to the motives of the tuner, and even the tool makers.
My only point was that, if software, music, and movies are any indication, copy protection is a losing battle. Also, because of new emissions related laws, the copy protection itself might bring tuning and tuning tool activities squarely into the regulatory bulls eye - which is probably not where the people protecting their work (and profits) now want to be.
-jjf
#21
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Why should they get to collect money for something thats general knowledge? The answer is they shouldn't so they keep the information from becoming general knowledge. You just don't see many of the "tuners" posting tutorials do you. My personal opinoin is that mail in flashes without logging is a waste of money.
#22
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I've known about this scrambling for quite a while... and helped people unscramble their roms.
What people are doing is basically changing the rom id in the hex address F52 to another different rom id or a rom id that doesn't exist at all.
I used a hex editor to undo their scrambling, but you could easily set it up in OpenECU to do the same thing.
In a sense this scrambling and locking is kind of pointless from my point of view, and hence why I don't lock any of my customers out. It is all about technique and the actual tuning process.
What people are doing is basically changing the rom id in the hex address F52 to another different rom id or a rom id that doesn't exist at all.
I used a hex editor to undo their scrambling, but you could easily set it up in OpenECU to do the same thing.
In a sense this scrambling and locking is kind of pointless from my point of view, and hence why I don't lock any of my customers out. It is all about technique and the actual tuning process.
#23
Well, to be completely honest, I've known about the scrambling for quite some time. But as I started hearing about additional tuners doing it, and of course, assisting many tuners in what it is, and what it takes to fix a scrambled map, I felt it was something worth discussing.
Its interesting to note that there could be some regulation in the industry, but there has been for quite some time, yet manufacturers and vendors are still selling test pipes, and catless exhausts, and servicing cars that are driven in where its clearly not a legal car.
My whole point is, I would rather not see the industry get scrutinized, but in some respects, its probably necessary.
To get back to the point of the scrambling, I am very sympathetic to people wanting to protect their work, but they really shouldn't do this to customer cars. At the least its an inconvenience, but at the worst, it could use a wrong definition and someone unaware of this could do alot of damage.
Its interesting to note that there could be some regulation in the industry, but there has been for quite some time, yet manufacturers and vendors are still selling test pipes, and catless exhausts, and servicing cars that are driven in where its clearly not a legal car.
My whole point is, I would rather not see the industry get scrutinized, but in some respects, its probably necessary.
To get back to the point of the scrambling, I am very sympathetic to people wanting to protect their work, but they really shouldn't do this to customer cars. At the least its an inconvenience, but at the worst, it could use a wrong definition and someone unaware of this could do alot of damage.
#24
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I really hate the idea of a vendor trying to restrict my access to my own property. People are protective of their cam designs too, but that doesn't cause them to put locks on the valve-cover or make you sign a EULA when installing cams. It only happens with software, because for some reason customers let vendors get away with it. From my point of view, a tune is a service (not a product) and there's no claim of a tuner to anything in/on/part of my car after I handed over the cash.
So bottom line - I'd rather "defend" my ECU for myself and retain control over my own property.
So bottom line - I'd rather "defend" my ECU for myself and retain control over my own property.
What I am going to attack is this concept that everyone tries to do...they try to make an analogy between software and just about any other engineeering example...which I will continue to contend cannot be really done. The fundamental difference here is that if I as joe schome have your cam design...what can I really do with it?
Can I cheaply go and knock out a production line that uses a design that I copied from your cams? Sure I can if I have a lot of money (corporate espionage) or cheap labour (see Megan Racing et al.)...but i am sure most of us on here aren't financially able to do that...or can approach someone who is.
For software when I give you my code...you have all the tools to easily reverse engineer, and produce your own version of my code right there on your system...for free. Or if your not technologically gifted you can find someone you can approach with it and they can do it for you...and some of them would probably do it for free (look at the ECU dissassembly being done on this board and activematrix for example)...or for a cost low enough that quite a few on this board can easily achieve.
The only cost is time and if you are determined you have enough of that...so software (and certain electronic media) actually does have to be treated differently in certain circumstances.
#25
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Why should they get to collect money for something thats general knowledge? The answer is they shouldn't so they keep the information from becoming general knowledge. You just don't see many of the "tuners" posting tutorials do you. My personal opinoin is that mail in flashes without logging is a waste of money.
Last I checked that can't be said about tuning. The mere fact that they make money from tuning cars proves that what they know can't be simply general knowledge.
I'm curious as to what you do for a living (you can see what I do in my profile)...whatever it is I am going to ask "why do you get paid for it". Cause whatever you do I am sure I can go search on the internet and get information on it and side step you to (being super sarcastic here)
Last edited by codgi; Jan 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM.
#26
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Define "general knowledge"....I don't think knowing how to tune an engine is "general knowledge"...I consider "general knowledge" to be something that I could go up to any joe/jane schome on the street and ask them and they would know.
Last I checked that can't be said about tuning. The mere fact that they make money from tuning cars proves that what they know can't be simply general knowledge.
I'm curious as to what you do for a living (you can see what I do in my profile)...whatever it is I am going to ask "why do you get paid for it". Cause whatever you do I am sure I can go search on the internet and get information on it and side step you to (being super sarcastic here)
Last I checked that can't be said about tuning. The mere fact that they make money from tuning cars proves that what they know can't be simply general knowledge.
I'm curious as to what you do for a living (you can see what I do in my profile)...whatever it is I am going to ask "why do you get paid for it". Cause whatever you do I am sure I can go search on the internet and get information on it and side step you to (being super sarcastic here)
I'm sure you could find out about what I do on the internet but there's a diference if you ask me a question about how to do this or that I'll give you the correct answer and won't charge you for it.
Last edited by 3gturbo; Jan 19, 2007 at 03:03 AM.
#27
Its interesting to note that there could be some regulation in the industry, but there has been for quite some time, yet manufacturers and vendors are still selling test pipes, and catless exhausts, and servicing cars that are driven in where its clearly not a legal car.
-jjf
#28
Evolved Member
Hi
I read a sugestion that a tuner could flash an unsed section of the ROM with some data, thus giving it a signiture. Each code could be different for each car , or batch of cars. This might be a better idea than locking an ECU, as the lock is fairly easy to bypass. Of course it dosen't help stop the flash being re-used but it might help identify the source car. The code could be over writen, but hiding a sig might prove harder to detect than unscrambling a map.
MB
I read a sugestion that a tuner could flash an unsed section of the ROM with some data, thus giving it a signiture. Each code could be different for each car , or batch of cars. This might be a better idea than locking an ECU, as the lock is fairly easy to bypass. Of course it dosen't help stop the flash being re-used but it might help identify the source car. The code could be over writen, but hiding a sig might prove harder to detect than unscrambling a map.
MB
#29
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Since I'll soon be an MD, its like me being an OB/GYN and after every "tune up" I do on a woman, I promptly send her out with a lock on it....its my "work" and she's not allowed to change it or share it unless I deem it fit. This is obviously not acceptable and neither is locking somebody out of their own property without their permission REGARDLESS of how valuable one thinks their services are.
#30
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If someone sells their car they're welcome to transfer ownership of the tune to the new owner.
-Mike
Last edited by Inn-Tune; Jan 19, 2007 at 09:32 AM.