VM Crackdown, no box is safe !

[birkenhead]

Not confused what about STBs without a MAC addy?

They all have an ID of one form or another.... anyway its aload of ****, as I said if they wanted to find dodgy boxes they can.

They are not interested.

[Dazzonamission]

Well the bottom line is VM do monitor the networks just the same way we can with some MAC sniffers.
But that alone doesn't get prosecutions they would have to prove you are using illegal equipment within your property to receive subscription channels (Theft of Service)
That would mean them having to enter your property via warrant or otherwise and recovering the equipment,now you can own the equipment that is not illegal,it's just illegal once you screw that F into the back of your receiver and connect onto the network.
VM do not have the resources to investigate all of the suspected cases but will follow up calls to the fraud hotline as these leads have caught out VM staff dealing in such issues.
VM need a high level court case in order to make people consider the implications of getting caught with this equipment (connected to their network).

[bigman2]

I think alot of ppl of getting very confused, we are talking coax connections, not Ethernet (CAT 5).

What connects to your coax connection? Dream, vbox, dbox2, virgin modems, Sub boxes etc..
What connects to CAT 5? PC, Lappy, Linksys Routers, hubs.


They are different.

Software which will sweep the network and collect all MAC connected via COAX CONNECTION, can't remember its been a long time... think the old protocol was ARP. Again they can collect all MAC'S IF they wished.

Sorry mate not trying to get into an argument just a bit inquisitive.

Is the receiver not just a dumb box ? It is like when you connect the VM coax direct to a television and you get a few channels. The television will not have a MAC address. Same goes for these linux boxes I doubt they have a MAC address of the type you are talking about.

Were the instructions you gave for changing the MAC addy not for the ethernet port ? If they were then it hardly matters as the ethernet port will not be broadcast via the coax but via cat5 which should in most cases be connected to a router.

[birkenhead]

Sorry mate not trying to get into an argument just a bit inquisitive.

Is the receiver not just a dumb box ? It is like when you connect the VM coax direct to a television and you get a few channels. The television will not have a MAC address. Same goes for these linux boxes I doubt they have a MAC address of the type you are talking about.

Were the instructions you gave for changing the MAC addy not for the ethernet port ? If they were then it hardly matters as the ethernet port will not be broadcast via the coax but via cat5 which should in most cases be connected to a router.

The point your forgetting how they communicate to modems, they use the MAC address, not the IP. same with the old telepest boxes, Pace 1000, 2000, 4000 units etc... which as embedded modems, they were at one time used for internet access years ago.

I'm sure their are cases were items won't be detected as a MAC (DVB cards)? yet they still will show an ID of one form or other (a trace), which is all they need? the point is IF they wanted to do a sweep they can? the unit we are using will show, more to the point, their own database holds all their own MAC's, if they do a sweep they only need to remove their own MAC addresses, from the sweep.... then what ever is still showing is an illegal device, what ever it is TV or not!!! thats all they need to start quizzing.

What ever it is, it will be associated to an IP address at their end, which will be registered to a home address with a time stamp, these are the same records that would be used if the cops was checking if you were using bad pervy sites.

I'm not saying spoofing the MAC will stop them seeing the dbox, dream or what ever... but if you are worried it can help to throw confusion at their end, if they see two MAC's the same with the same IP, I would blame the software?

If your unsure what i'm saying find solarwinds, download it and try on your own network.... it will show, MAC, IP, OS, host name and platform, also lots more.

I've used this software to audit the corp network (company i work for) with good results, registering of over 10,000 units.

[boocay06]

The point your forgetting how they communicate to modems, they use the MAC address, not the IP. the old telepest boxes, in some areas they used the old Pace 1000, 2000, 4000 units which as embedded modems, and was at one time used for internet access years ago.

I'm sure their are cases were items won't be detected as a MAC (DVB cards)? yet they still will show an ID of one form or other (a trace), which is all they need? the point is IF they wanted to do a sweep they can? the unit we are using will show, more to the point, their own database holds all their own MAC's, if they do a sweep they only need to remove their own MAC addresses, from the sweep.... then what ever is still showing is an illegal device, what ever it is TV or not!!! thats all they need to start quizzing.

What ever it is, it will be associated to an IP address at their end, which will be registered to a home address with a time stamp, these are the same records that would be used if the cops was checking if you were using bad pervy sites.

I'm not saying spoofing the MAC will stop them seeing the dbox, dream or what ever... but if you are worried it can help to throw confusion at their end, if they see two MAC's the same with the same IP, I would blame the software?

If your unsure what i'm saying find solarwinds, download it and try on your own network.... it will show, MAC, IP, OS, host name and platform, also lots more.

I've used this software to audit the corp network (company i work for) with good results, registering of over 10,000 units.

birkenhead how do they get the mac address of the box if NOTHING gets sent out over the coax network? dreamboxes and dboxes send nothing over the coax the mac address that you pointed earlier is the nics mac address. i dont understand your theory. i have used similar software to solarwinds and if a computer is turned off and not sending anything out it will never be detected by any ssoftware. same with the boxes they only receive they do not send anything out.

the only reason they can turn on and off modems or other legit devices is because the devices talk back to VM. the devices let VM know the mac address and in turn VM can issue an ip or preform other tasks with the device.

[birkenhead]

birkenhead how do they get the mac address of the box if NOTHING gets sent out over the coax network? dreamboxes and dboxes send nothing over the coax the mac address that you pointed earlier is the nics mac address. i dont understand your theory. i have used similar software to solarwinds and if a computer is turned off and not sending anything out it will never be detected by any ssoftware. same with the boxes they only receive they do not send anything out.

the only reason they can turn on and off modems or other legit devices is because the devices talk back to VM. the devices let VM know the mac address and in turn VIM can issue an IPA or preform other tasks with the device.

The dbox, dreambox... doesn't have to sent out anything, your think of talk back chips, this isn't the case, they ping ever IP address, then the software (solorwinds example only) interrogates the IP, then returns with the details.

In the same way as you would, if you were using a small program like Ipconfig, if you wanted to know your IP address, you would use a small piece of software call ipconfig, ipconfig interrogates the network card, in turn give you your Ip address.... solarwind is much, much more powerful.

yes your right if the box is off then nothing can be seen, if it on, and the sweep is done? info will be collected.

[boocay06]

The dbox, dreambox... doesn't have to sent out anything, your think of talk back chips, this isn't the case, they ping ever IP address, then the software (solorwinds example only) interrogates the IP, then returns with the details.

In the same way as you would, if you were using a small program like Ipconfig, if you wanted to know your IP address, you would use a small piece of software call ipconfig, ipconfig interrogates the network card, in turn give you your Ip address.... solarwind is much, much more powerful.

yes your right if the box is off then nothing can be seen, if it on, and the sweep is done? info will be collected.

but the box does not send out anything so it will never have an ip, vm will never know the mac or any unique id because it is never sent to vm. so no, even a piece of software like solarwinds will never get any info form the box because the box will never send anything out ever. the box cannot even be directly queried because it has no unique identifier on the vm network like some one mentioned ealier its just a dumb passive device similar to a hub on a network i guess

[birkenhead]

if that what you belive.... OK.

live happy.

[Donnie Darko]

If thats the case just clone the db with the mac from a modem or stb?

If so

Telnet to the DM, and type the following commands:

cd /var/etc
rm init
echo \#!/bin/sh >> init
echo ifconfig eth0 down >> init
echo ifconfig eth0 hw ether xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx >> init
echo ifconfig eth0 up >> init
chmod 755 init
reboot

You need to change the xx:xx:xx to the mac address you want. Then the box will reboot... and the MAC address is changed.

[boocay06]

If thats the case just clone the db with the mac from a modem or stb?

If so

Telnet to the DM, and type the following commands:

cd /var/etc
rm init
echo \#!/bin/sh >> init
echo ifconfig eth0 down >> init
echo ifconfig eth0 hw ether xx:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx >> init
echo ifconfig eth0 up >> init
chmod 755 init
reboot

You need to change the xx:xx:xx to the mac address you want. Then the box will reboot... and the MAC address is changed.

Donnie Darko thats the MAC for the network card not the 'coax network'

[smokey_jnr]

guys if you think that th mac address will be picked up by solar winds then why doesn't someone test this and put the results up..

birkenhead you said that you could detect all peripherals on the network using tis software, so why doesn't somebody who has their ox bconnected to the HOME network run this software and see what results come up.. you can then publish the result son here too....

only a suggestion to stop everyone arguing.. IF there is a going to be a revolt by VM and shut down these boxes we need to work together to come up with a solution to overcome this....

[chongsparks]

guys if you think that th mac address will be picked up by solar winds then why doesn't someone test this and put the results up..

birkenhead you said that you could detect all peripherals on the network using tis software, so why doesn't somebody who has their ox bconnected to the HOME network run this software and see what results come up.. you can then publish the result son here too....

only a suggestion to stop everyone arguing.. IF there is a going to be a revolt by VM and shut down these boxes we need to work together to come up with a solution to overcome this....

This is a great idea,
Also just to let you all know, I decided to switch off my box after speaking again to my mate.

I didn't realy get any more info but they were determined that i believed them for my own good.

"trust me, we are sweeping the system in all areas, different areas at different times/days. I realy recommend that you believe me and disconnect your reciever. I will let you know when you are safe to reconnect it, it will be lasting for about 2 weeks"

That is what i was told last night.

Regards,
CS

[boocay06]

guys if you think that th mac address will be picked up by solar winds then why doesn't someone test this and put the results up..

birkenhead you said that you could detect all peripherals on the network using tis software, so why doesn't somebody who has their ox bconnected to the HOME network run this software and see what results come up.. you can then publish the result son here too....

only a suggestion to stop everyone arguing.. IF there is a going to be a revolt by VM and shut down these boxes we need to work together to come up with a solution to overcome this....

I believe to test birkenheads theory special equipment would be required to connect the computer to the coax on the dbox/dreambox. connecting the pc to the network port of the dbox and testing is a completely different test.

[smokey_jnr]

only a suggestion

can you not connect via a tuner card in the PC..??

[boocay06]

only a suggestion

can you not connect via a tuner card in the PC..??

the DVB/turner card doest send signals/data it only inputs, so i dont think that would work. maybe an old coax network card?, not really sure on that one though. maybe some network guru can help us out here...