Family claims hacker taking control of cable box, sending threats

FOX59 Indianapolis ^ | Mar 27, 2014 | Yvonne Man

[HiTech RedNeck]

Thanks. I actually had a verbal job offer but the company that says it wants to hire me, is now playing rope a dope with the budget. Even the head hunter is losing patience. Why did they bother the head hunter for a job they are not going to follow through on, or will drag their feet on? I bested 5 other candidates.

But this one might be more convenient. It will be in my geographic area. The other one would require me to lodge out of town during the week.

[kaehurowing]

“They’re baaack. . . .”

[BuckeyeTexan]

Go to bed. You have an interview tomorrow.

:)

[dfwgator]

[HiTech RedNeck]

Got to get my brain good and geeky beforehand. G’nite.

[BuckeyeTexan]

The pic at the site shows text that has been entered into a search-text field on the box’s software user interface.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Also shows customized text labels for lists (favorites, etc.) Seems like a software hack not a line-of-sight remote control.

[BuckeyeTexan]

Of possible interest ping

[GeronL]

They even did it with cops and media there? Weird

[chuckles]

Can be done with bluetooth from very close by. It’s a neighbor within 100 ft.

[firebrand]

There was a hacker in Starbucks Wednesday scaring us all. The technology will soon all be connected, even the electronic lock on your door. Computers not connected to the Internet can be invaded, but you knew that.

He got everyone’s attention by telling the barista that soon there will be technology that tells the person using the cash register how frequent a customer you are when you use your credit card or your Starbucks card.

[driftdiver]

Cableboxs for some companies have cameras and mic’s for the cable company to monitor. Linux is not hack proof.

[driftdiver]

Places like target track individuals and can predict what you individually will buy.

[Pontiac]

If they have a smart TV someone could doing this with a smart phone or tablet.

[Justa]

1) Hack into the modem using the ~unchanged default password~.
2) Enable web features.
3) Use their smart-TV’s features to activate the camera.
4) Use the web interface for program searches to display text to victims.

They need to set the password on their cable provider’s modem. If they can’t (hacker already changed it) they need to call their provider to reset the password.

[Darksheare]

It’s someone in the neighborhood with cable internet from same provider.

[Russ]

Could they eliminate this by switching to Direct TV or Dishnet?

[Darksheare]

If that is what is going on, yes.
I’m guessing, obviously.
Cable internet is in behavior similar to a large home network.
Everyone in your neighborhood would be like a computer on that network.

[The Duke]

Sick is right, but I have always heard that the technology exists, where people can peer at you through your TV set, and you would never know it. I wonder if there really is something to that?

You're not going to wear *that* again today, are you? :O

[Mark17]

LOL, I can just imagine some freak watching everything.