Virgin media possibly getting serious on dodgy boxes? - Page 19

spadge101 · 03-05-2009, 20:20

I have three friends who all own dodgy boxes. By and large they are all good people but cannot seem to differentiate between obtaining services that they haven't paid for and more "mainstream" theft such as burglary. One of them recently had to console their mother who had been burgled for the second time. They copy DVD's and all their kids' game consoles are chipped so they don't buy films, CD's or game software. I tackled them over this when they said burglars should be strung up by pointing out they were committing acts of theft on a daily basis. Their response? They offered me a dodgy box to "cure" my "jealousy".

My point here is that activities such as these are so deeply entrenched in the mindset of many of the UK's population that getting serious on dodgy boxes can only ever work as part of a bigger drive to change people's attitudes. I seriously cannot think of anything in my possession that I have not paid for or have not been given as a legitimate gift. I'm not trying to sound holier than though, but i was brought up by good parents and taught not to steal so I don't.

These people just don't see what they do as theft and probably never will. I won't be shopping them to anybody because they have been bloody good friends to me; they know my thoughts on their activities and we agree to disagree on the subject.

This problem is not Virgin Media's and it's not publishers of music's problem - it's society's problem.

Toto · 03-05-2009, 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by spadge101

I have three friends who all own dodgy boxes. By and large they are all good people but cannot seem to differentiate between obtaining services that they haven't paid for and more "mainstream" theft such as burglary. One of them recently had to console their mother who had been burgled for the second time. They copy DVD's and all their kids' game consoles are chipped so they don't buy films, CD's or game software. I tackled them over this when they said burglars should be strung up by pointing out they were committing acts of theft on a daily basis. Their response? They offered me a dodgy box to "cure" my "jealousy".

My point here is that activities such as these are so deeply entrenched in the mindset of many of the UK's population that getting serious on dodgy boxes can only ever work as part of a bigger drive to change people's attitudes. I seriously cannot think of anything in my possession that I have not paid for or have not been given as a legitimate gift. I'm not trying to sound holier than though, but i was brought up by good parents and taught not to steal so I don't.

These people just don't see what they do as theft and probably never will. I won't be shopping them to anybody because they have been bloody good friends to me; they know my thoughts on their activities and we agree to disagree on the subject.

This problem is not Virgin Media's and it's not publishers of music's problem - it's society's problem.

I think you mentioned attitude - hence VM running anti stb piracy adverts on their services.

03-05-2009, 21:21

Quote:

Originally Posted by spadge101

I have three friends who all own dodgy boxes. By and large they are all good people but cannot seem to differentiate between obtaining services that they haven't paid for and more "mainstream" theft such as burglary. One of them recently had to console their mother who had been burgled for the second time. They copy DVD's and all their kids' game consoles are chipped so they don't buy films, CD's or game software. I tackled them over this when they said burglars should be strung up by pointing out they were committing acts of theft on a daily basis. Their response? They offered me a dodgy box to "cure" my "jealousy".

My point here is that activities such as these are so deeply entrenched in the mindset of many of the UK's population that getting serious on dodgy boxes can only ever work as part of a bigger drive to change people's attitudes. I seriously cannot think of anything in my possession that I have not paid for or have not been given as a legitimate gift. I'm not trying to sound holier than though, but i was brought up by good parents and taught not to steal so I don't.

These people just don't see what they do as theft and probably never will. I won't be shopping them to anybody because they have been bloody good friends to me; they know my thoughts on their activities and we agree to disagree on the subject.

This problem is not Virgin Media's and it's not publishers of music's problem - it's society's problem.

There is a difference with having your house burgled and stealing cable. The law is correct it is still theft however someone stealing cable is not entering someones home and going through private and personal belongings are they? Burglary has a psychological consequence where as stealing cable does not

There is however no difference in my opinion between stealing cable and copyright infringement of movies or music

GAL · 13-05-2009, 23:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Toto

I think you mentioned attitude - hence VM running anti stb piracy adverts on their services.

i agree totally with you toto.how can you steer people in your direction of morality and also mine when you have the curreny nembers or parliament taking us for fools Its called.....get what you can whilst you can..our chilgren have been brought up on a ------------------------------------------------------- i'm sorry cant finish this the writing is om the wall. literallly

Oxyg3n · 29-05-2009, 01:18

I DO NOT CONDONE WHAT I AM SAYING HERE, I HAVE TESTED FOR EDUCATIONAL PURPOSES AND IT LASTED NO LONGER THEN 24 HOURS. I PAY Â£90/MONTH FOR THE SERVICES I RECEIVE AND EXPECT EVERYONE ELSE TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES THEY RECEIVE ASWELL

The only way Virgin is going to know whats happening with STB's is by physically going to the house.

The way most boxes run (or atleast should be run) is having the talkback signal cut (either by using a noise reducer that runs at 50dB, or by physically shorting the talkback circuit inside the box)
That way, when Virgin queries the box, it wont get a responce, and thinks "well must be away on holiday or something then"

This also Cuts all VoD services.

As for sending someone round.. not going to work.

The only people that would go to the house is the engineer. When I upgraded to the VIP package, they sent an engineer round to install the V+ box, the engineer admitted to me, he used to do the STB's and sell them on (So thats more theft, since he had to get the STB's from somewhere, and usually from the back of his van, thats been nicely filed up by VM)

So, VM will end up having to employ people to do it, which they arnt going to do, since that means more money lost. Especially for someone at the end of the day who still could turn around n "take a bribe" and still say "nah, they aint got anything illegal in that house"

As for the modems, different ball game.
Virgin could of fixed the problem years ago, by having all there routers (UBR's) talk to eachother, telling eachother what MAC addresses are connected, etc etc.

You cant mac clone a mac thats in-use on your ubr, the router kicks you off. Import that into all routers, and interlink them, the problem goes away, permanantly. So Virgin could be doing more to stop it. BUT THEY ARNT. They do exactly what we do in regards to the HD channels (bitch and moan, but in the end still do nothing)

Zhadnost · 01-06-2009, 11:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Oxyg3n

The only people that would go to the house is the engineer. When I upgraded to the VIP package, they sent an engineer round to install the V+ box, the engineer admitted to me, he used to do the STB's and sell them on (So thats more theft, since he had to get the STB's from somewhere, and usually from the back of his van, thats been nicely filed up by VM)

That's not a surprise, The only time I've ever seen bloke in the pub selling a box, he was wearing a VM jacket and had a VM van.

joglynne · 01-07-2009, 19:24

Quote:

Digital TV box cheat fined

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....ox_cheat_fined

Sirius · 01-07-2009, 20:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by joglynne

http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....ox_cheat_fined

Excellent news

raybo62 · 01-07-2009, 21:12

ha ha there is something else happening soon thats going to knock all the dodgy boxes off....Lets get ready to rumble

joglynne · 02-07-2009, 13:36

...and another report to-day.

Quote:

Sixty Virgin Media set-top boxes were seized by police in a raid in Tilehurst last week. <snip> DC Katie Smith, from Reading CID, said: â€œIt is a serious offence to modify a receiver and police will always look to investigate those responsible under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act.

http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2...p_boxes_seized

Hiroki · 02-07-2009, 14:17

Anyone know if there is any kind of reward for reporting people with dodgy modems/boxes???

Sirius · 02-07-2009, 14:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hiroki

Anyone know if there is any kind of reward for reporting people with dodgy modems/boxes???

It would make sense to have some sort of scheme.

Hiroki · 02-07-2009, 14:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sirius

It would make sense to have some sort of scheme.

Even partial credit would be some sort of incentive

02-07-2009, 14:43

This hang em high sentimentality here sometimes makes me wanna puke. If you were all law abiding citizens that live a totally legal life I would respect the view but sadly some of you are not.

joglynne · 02-07-2009, 15:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by zing

This hang em high sentimentality here sometimes makes me wanna puke. If you were all law abiding citizens that live a totally legal life I would respect the view but sadly some of you are not.

But it's the "some of who are" that get naffed off when we hear people bragging about how they have all the VM services for just the minimum package price when we work dam hard to make the money to pay our way legally.

...and don't bother having ago at me about live and let live or what harm are they doing else I'll be forced to box your ears.