DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies

DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies
Kevin Poulsen, SecurityFocus 2003-07-17

In recent months the satellite TV giant has filed nearly 9,000 federal lawsuits against people who've purchased signal piracy devices. But some of those devices have legitimate uses, and innocent computer geeks are getting caught in the crackdown.

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous (1 replies)

People should nip this in the bud now, Just boycott direct tv. Make them hurt and i mean hurt bad....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous (1 replies)

After reading this I have just phoned DirectTV and cancelled my subscription. I'm a security guy myself and thought about purchasing a smart card writer for creating a custom two-factor authentication system.

This actually sounds like mail fraud to me and/or extortion. Sending out mass letters ...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-21
Anonymous

Dish Network is starting a similar campaign. I'd go with local cable out of those two....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

I find this article both infuriating and depressing. I hate seeing the strong arm tactics of the bullies. This seems to be a reoccuring theme lately. Are they that hungry for money that they don't realize this tactic will scare off new customers. I think I'll stick with cable tv. How depressing....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Tommy Ward

It is unfortunate that the mainstream press isn't reporting on this issue. Given enough publicity, a truly effective action could be taken, and that is a boycott of DirecTV. I have been advocating such action for quite awhile against the RIAA for their assault on the rights of consumers. I stopped...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

Excellent well balanced article! You have done your homework, thanks for the thorough article. Even if only 25% of the accused aren't guilty, that still means thousands are being harrassed into settlements illegally by the DTV extortion campaign.

AM...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

I just want to say that this article by Kevin Poulsen demonstrates fantastic journalism. He obvioulsy researched his topic very well. I'm familiar with the topic and unfortuately, most of Mr Poulsen's colleagues just spew DirecTV's press releases. Thank you for the unbiased article....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
John Reeher

As a techie who once concidered exploring the use of smart cards to secure medical records before the release of HIPPA, I am APPALLED at this article. I am glad now that I didn't. I am a security professional and work to secure private information and it's unfathomable to me that I could be harras...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

AWESOME ARTICLE!

One of the most accurate I have read.

Kudos to you!

...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

They got me in their dragnet as well. Not only do I not own a dish, but the excessive foliage in my backyard prevent me from even signing up if I wanted to.

I got a reader/writer and an emulator board to look at smart cards used for PKI systems at my work.

Now I'm on the hook for escalating ...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous (1 replies)

I wonder if the NFL would be interested in the tactics of DTV. I imagine that the exclusive contract for NFL football is an enormous reason that they are the biggest satellite provider. I am going to contact them and request that they offer their service to other providers....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous (1 replies)

Like who? DishNetwork? They're the only other big player and they're owned by the same company as DTV, no? Hence the monopoly pushing down possible hacker with a heavy thumb. I work for a security company that tests smart cards with cryptographic keys. I also pay for DTV. I've purchased a smar...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-23
ISleepy

They are not owned by the same company. the FCC squashed the merger in January for being a monopoly. DirectTv is Owned by Hughes Corporation and Dish Network is owned by Echostar Intl. ...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

Seems like the local cable company could put this to use to thier advantage....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
upset in the midwest

Having delt with this problem first hand - If anyone get DTV now, they might as well understand who they are giving money to. DTV should have to answer with words instead of dollars. Explain to the society why they are suing with nothing more than conjecture. One day DTV will pay for this....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

Nice article. Well written and accurate. There aren't many written like that anymore. Most writers just take a press release and reword a little.

These suits are an example of carpetbombing to get rid of a few bugs. No investigation was EVER performed before sending the letters out. They can't prov...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

Dell sells DVD writers and software that is made to rip DVD's down to the hard drive. Shouldn't we be suing Dell too? After all, they are suggesting that I can Burn my own DVD's! If we don't stop them know, next thing you know Hollywood will be out of business. I mean... they only made $110,31...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Dave -- Cambridge Engineer

Yet another case of the DMCA gone wild. Sure, it you can PROVE someone is stealing from you, sue them. I have a major problem with their approach in that simply owning such a device is considered evil (since there's no proof of "misuse"). One step away from forbidden knowledge. It's easier to th...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous (1 replies)

Good writing guys! I think the thing you missed here is....Not 1 case has yet made it to trial! Thats right...as you might have guessed...If Direct TV senses you have a very strong defense, they simply drop the case just before trial! I think that shows their true colors!...

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DirecTV dragnet snares wealthy couch potatos 2003-07-19
Anonymous

Sure they might not take it to trial, but what about the thousands of people who just pay up? They are thinking in terms of Return On Investment - bilk as many out of $3500 as possible, and try not to spend it in litigation....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

Nice article and well written.

However, wish the article included some other facts. DirecTV is run by Hughes Electronics (GMH) which is owned by General Motors (GM).

Personally, I will never buy another GM vehicle since GM has allowed this to happen. Hope others feel the same way.

Also, I...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-17
Anonymous

Nice article.

From a recent poll consisting of approximately 160 people, about 60% of those receiving letters from DIRECTV or being sued by DIRECTV were DIRECTV customers. Even a dog is smart enough not to bite the hand that feeds it.

...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Alan

I have never owned DTV and certainly never plan on it especially now. I am frightfully concerned to see this happening, it to me suggests what is to come from the RIAA regarding peer to peer file sharing. I agree, boycott DTV and RIAA (don't buy CDs), spread the word....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous

No criminal act until someone actually tries to steal the service.

This would be like, booking someone on murder charges because they were is a sporting goods store that sold guns.

Big money after more money . . . greed.

When will someone protect the people from corporate giants, instead of...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous (4 replies)

First of all, I would like to say this article was very well researched and articulated and I enjoyed reading it, even though it infuriates me even more.

I am familiar with this topic and have been following it for awhile now, and with a good portion of the articles i read one thing is always lef...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous

One thing that most people are not aware of is that it is NOT a criminal law suit. It is a civil suit filed by DirecTV. This gives DirecTV some different abilities to pursue the individuals. I am not sure of the fine points on this, but I am under the same magnifying glass on this. I have spoken...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous (1 replies)

I too have been caught up in the DTV sueing machine. You are guilty until proven innocent in DTV's eyes. I did buy an unlooper, however, I'm a software eng. and had legitimate use for it. I WAS a DTV subscriber (DishNetwork now, diff. company) and have tried to prove my innocence. It fell on deaf ea...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-28
Anonymous

Hi,

I work in the Coin operated video games business and 6 years ago I bougth a programmer to try to use in a country outside USA. We were trying to use the games with cards instead of coins. by this time it was too expensive, but today it is very common to use ISO cards to put the credits and j...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous

In a civil lawsuit, you don't have to PROVE without a reasonable doubt....

You only have to show the "preponderance of evidence" which is a MUCH lower standard....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-25
Anonymous

Most here seem to be missing the issue upon which DTV stands. The piracy act states that simply owning such devices to enable piracy is illegal. Some of said devices are part of an ISO standard (7816). I do understand how they assume guilt if you in fact own a device to enable piracy of their signal...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies (Jamming the Man) 2003-07-18
T G (1 replies)

Can someone answer me this, I must have missed it in my fit of rage. How did DirecTV get the names, addresses and what they purchased for all of these people? Isn't that some sort of breach of privicy? Also I would like to say this was a well written story, I've directed as many people as I can t...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies (Jamming the Man) 2003-07-19
Anonymous (1 replies)

They got the names, addresses, other info of people from the dealers who had been busted. Apparently most of these dealers kept records with customer info and dtv seized this info and started sending out letters....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies (Jamming the Man) 2003-07-19
TG

I understand that part, but how does DirecTV get the list from Law Enforcement? So if I asked for the list of people that purchased stuff from these websites am I going to get a list of their charges, addresses and phone numbers and maybe even credit card numbers? ...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
rage against the machine (2 replies)

It appears to me that this article touches on a far deeper issue.

A while back someone said that information is dangerous, that ideas where dangerous, and that the masses should be dispossesed of both for their own happiness. I can't remember if it was trosky, lennin, or stalin, perhaps it might e...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous

How do you square that with the fact that the products they want to sell you are technological?

...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-23
Anonymous (1 replies)

" further the agendas of bussiness greed which would deprive the average citizen of the right of free technology"

Free technology? my my arent we in a dream world..this is a business and stealing satellite tv is outright theft, has nothing to do with greed its call business.

Do you get free li...

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I can 2003-07-23
qb

That is not a good comparison.

More accurately local bar and the moment you exit the bar, you are arrested in the parking lot for drunk driving. Regardless if you are drunk or even driving. The fact that you visited the bar makes you guilty. psht

...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous

Great article. Company's don't care anymore and are greedy. I have canceled my DirecTv service and will be going with cable shortly. I think it would be different if you purchased an IRD that was hacked to receive DTV but to sue people who purchased smart card products for what they "can" be used...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous

so...if I am looking to harass someone I know should I buy a card reader from one of these sites and use their name?

This is sad...and pathetic, much like the Recording Industry...

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Downed market... 2003-07-18
Anonymous

I think the market being so weak right now, most companies are looking for ways to boost your income. I know comcast has been coming around, threatening audits. I have high speed internet and some guy knocked on my door saying, what the hell, you are stealing cable, thats illegal. I pointed at th...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous

What ever happened to being innocent until proven guilty? Isn't that what this country is based on? It should be up to DirctTV to prove that these people did, in fact, commit a crime. Otherwise, DirectTV is the one committing the crime. Is it not up to DirectTV to protect their product?...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-18
Anonymous

I think cable is the way to go. I may buy something someday that could be used in concert with some other thing and be able to possibly steal something from this over zealous company. This scares me now and boy, just think if they win these cases....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-19
Anonymous (1 replies)

It seems to be a new revenue stream for these companies. At least SCO had the sense not to sue their own customers for stealing what they had already purchased. It must be stopped. This is what class action was made for. I hope they get themselves sued into chapter 11....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-19
tom

should i throw away all of my recordable media(floppys even) just in case !!!!...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-19
Getreal

If your company broadcasts a service into the airwaves, tough shit if somebody intercepts it. Cry about it.

If they fail to continuously implement new encryption methods which can't be reverse engineered by anyone who can read, too bad for DirecTV.

The money that DirecTV MIGHT have receiv...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-19
teqron (1 replies)

If you do so choose to go to DishNetwork you might want to be informed that they purchased DirecTV last year so you (technically) would still be supporting the Red Team on that move. Unfortunately I would go with your local cable company. The good thing is that I dont watch tv so I only support my...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-20
Rydman313

Sorry, Tegron, but Echostar/Dishnetwork DID NOT buy out DirecTV. The merger was blocked by the FCC and the legal powers-that-be in Washington D.C. late last year. In fact, Dishnet had to pay the stockholders of DirecTV what amounted to a huge consolation prize of several million dollars.....At this ...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-19
Rydman313 (1 replies)

Don't forget, not only can a simple purchase of so-called "pirate devices" reserve a victim a place in DirecTV's ever-growing fan club, they've publically stated they plan to go after forum members of websites that cater to the community, as well........

Also, the majority of the 8,500 plus lawsuit...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies USE R.I.C.O. !!! 2003-07-21
Dr. Julius No

Those who are squeaky clean should gather together and file a Civil R.I.C.O. action.

I feel Direct TV, is using "muscle"

to extort from individuals who'm it

has no proof of wrong doing.

This is an organised enterprise

involved in Extortion. That's what

Civil R.I.C.O. is for....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-20
Tommy Tutone (1 replies)

If this type of blackmail is permitted it will just snowball into a even bigger monster.Whatever happened to proof that someone commited a crime.The only reason they are doing this is they can't secure their service in Technology era.The same thing happened with C-band for years.i think they should ...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-21
Anonymous

echostar hasn't stooped to directv's level?

http://www.innermatrix.net

I'm just waiting for the laws that actually outlaw reading of information next....

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-20
Anonymous

I said it before and I will say it again. There is no such thing as Intellectual Property. Intellectual property would require ownership of information and upon that information entering your brain, an ownership by 3rd parties of parts of your very mind. Intellectual property, "stealing air" and oth...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-21
Anonymous

this is a truly horrendous situation

i'm seriously aghast at this

such a blatant violation of rights, something that is so obviously wrong, and it continues.

i would ask for everyone write to your local media and ask for them to begin publicly covering this travesty of rights.

this must be s...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-21
Anonymous

the Dish is good for just one thing....toast POPCORN...

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Maybe Cuba can help 2003-07-21
Anonymous (1 replies)

let's all pitch in and get Castro to jam the signal for us (he apparently does this on a contract basis for other countries)....

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Maybe Cuba can help 2003-07-23
Anonymous

But then what would we all watch?...

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Here's an idea: 2003-07-22
Anonymous

If you are a security professional who has been considering use of custom smartcard equipment, have a look at this page:

http://www.eurosmart.com/B-Members/B01-Members.htm

and drop each of them an email asking if they are aware of what DirectTV has been doing - insinuating that all smartcard users...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-22
Azezal (1 replies)

Whatever happen to America's Innocent until proven guilty? Does this rule no longer apply to corporate America's victims?...

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corporate power 2003-07-23
qb

It doesn't apply to corporate america or government went it comes to the almighty dollar and a "We are losing billions" campaign. Just like The Mentor and other included in the BBS raids. Land of the free, home of the corporation with the freedom and power to rape the populous and supported by the c...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-23
The Truth Hurts (4 replies)

The truth is almost all of those being sent letters are thieves, why would any sane doctor risk losing his profession by buying a smartcard programmer etc. from a satellite piracy website? Cost? Sure doc, we all believe that line!!!

The time has come where piracy will be dealt with and if you bou...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-23
Anonymous

DTV moles are everywhere....

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so i went to google and searched for... 2003-07-23
oo7@efnet

...("smart card" reader writer flashable). i wanted a smart card reader and writer that i could flash the atmel chip. the first four results are sites that sell dtv hacking hardware, as well as the piece i was looking for. this item isn't stolen, it isn't illegal to buy, so i purchase it. why sh...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-23
Anonymous

Nowhere in the article does it mention that the good doctor ordered his equipment from a website that specifically sold "Piracy" equipment. He bought a smart card programmer from the web. I guess if you make assumptions about the equipment you would think something like: "A smart card programmer ...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-25
Anonymous

Well, Not exactly smart guy - though I have no doubt you are omniscient, you might want to hold your tongue.

I work for a hightech company (won't metion the name but it is one of the largest in the country) and bought one of these devices for the purpose of testing the security features of our s...

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It seems you NEED to be a techie.... 2003-07-23
SkyTVUser

I've gone to those sites and they confuse the hell out of me.

Are DirecTV worried that the pirates could develop an off-the-shelf system that non-technical people can buy?

Music/software piracy is popular because it's easy - as far as I can tell, DirecTV piracy is not.

DirecTV's methods may...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-23
Anonymous

Looks like DirectTV is just as bad as the RIAA and MPAA.

Glad I haven't bought into satellite yet. And to think, I was actually looking at a setup for my house...

Glad I saw this first.

DTV - You suck!...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-25
Anonymous

Anyone ever hear of a P.A.S.S device? They were once available at local computer stores such as CompUSA. I purchased one in an attempt to protect my PC. The device was faulty out of the box. Upon minimal study I soon learned enough about ISO 7816 standards to simply purchase the least expensive devi...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2003-07-25
Tom Mitchell (1 replies)

It is interesting they cannot develop a security system to thwart people from using a simple card programmer. I have the dish and you never hear about them having a problem. So is Direct Tv Hughes General Motors Oh yea that is who owns them. The people who have ripped the U.S. governement off for...

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Satellite Specialist screwing do not call list 2006-03-18
Do Not Call List

I got a call from a fellow named Tom Mitchell at 602-454-2184. The problem is I'm on the do not call list. A complaint with the Feds was made.

Same guy, anyone know?...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2006-02-11
Ron

In 2002 I purchased a device that my son stationed in Korea asked me to get. Not to long after that I was being harassed by a law firm in Chicago representing DirecTV and they had a judgement signed in Federal court against me for stealing a signal from them, which I wasn't. After exhausting all m...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2008-02-14
Anonymous Channel (1 replies)

Personally I see this as just another ploy to protect the Old boys club at Hughes Aircraft the old parent company. The technical gurus that want that grab for power that they had lost then and clamor for more.

I lost money on DirecTv also straight out of my bank account in the middle of negotiatio...

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Re: DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2008-04-08
Anonymous

Our own Justice system lost here as well. Using a court to file a suit you know to fraudulant is a felony. Using the US mail to get money from people under fraudulant reasons is mail fraud. Our justice system was shown proof of these crimes and looked the other way. Directv and the RIAA created a lo...

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DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2008-06-25
Anonymous (1 replies)

I've seen direct TV... it's not worth pirating..

I can't believe this guy sent in the money... never bow to threats people. 3500 $$ buys some good lawyer advice. Smart card technology is everywhere and has a zillion different uses, like tracking your every move. suckers.

By by all corpora...

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Re: DirecTV dragnet snares innocent techies 2008-10-02
Anonymous Channel

From what I see if these companies are so desperate now what going to happen when recession hits hard and Depression becomes a reality. DirecTV has the audacity to email me after the previous encounter with them and asking to come back. What to get ripped-off again. I don't thinks so. DirecTv comes ...

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