These devices are a symptom of a much larger issue - networks and technology designed to be flexible and resilient and run by professionals (ie. The internet) being repurposed and used by for-profit entities (both the video streaming providers and those who prey on them) with basically no regulation or protections on the technical side. Laws and regulations are insufficient with international networks. NAT ain't enough. TCP/IP wasn't designed for security or copyright - it was designed for sharing and robustness. And both law and practice lag very far behind people exploiting this openness for both innovation and profit.
When you use the wrong tools for the job, this sort of thing happens.
Since we, as consumers, are nearly always seen as prey - walking wallets to be milked and/or dupes who will willingly host a bot net - I have no moral qualms about repurposing their hardware for goodness and justice. There is a poetry in pwning the pwner and giving my family hardware that I can personally vouch for the safety of, because it's my OS and config. What we need education and tools to help the normals recognize the dangers and protect themselves from *all* of those who would exploit their very reasonable desire to not be a tech dork.
I can drive my car safely without being a mechanic - It'd be nice if my relatives could drive a set-top box safely too.
Tom Bortels
npub1rn…d3jhp
2025-12-25 15:55:22 UTC
in reply to nevent1q…fygt
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npub1rn4zj5tz68y4q4cgtw5arwlrcca8wn9h6je2qecz7cgc257pawrq2d3jhpSeen on
wss://relay.momostr.pinkPublished at
2025-12-25 15:55:22 UTCEvent JSON
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