- Cable theft
Cable theft refers to the practice of cable subscribers obtaining service without paying. [ [http://www.timewarnercable.com/Corporate/customerservice/cablethefttypes.html Types of Cable Theft] -
Time Warner Cable ] With the advent ofdigital cable , cases of people obtaining illegal service are rare. Digital cable is more secure and is very difficult to crack. Old cable equipment used ananalog signal that was scrambled by tuning the signal so the picture was unsteady, just asMacrovision does at an attempt to copy a video. The equipment would descramble the signal so that it can be viewed by the subscriber. It also is addressable, meaning that it can be remotely controlled by the company's technical staff. The first case covered by the media was when 317 subscribers were caught in1991 [ [http://www.hackerscatalog.com/Services/TECH_Notes/three.html Technical Notes: BULLET BUSTER] ] when the company they subscribed to sent a "bullet" (a video signal that turns off the equipment) to theircable box es. The boxes were modified, but possibly belonged to the cable company. Months later, an episode of "The Simpsons " airedHomer vs. Lisa and the 8th Commandment where Homer steals cable and watches aPay Per View boxing match with his friends at his house.Active Passive and Premium Theft
Most cable companies identify cable theft as one of 3 groups. [ [http://www.cabletheft.com/ cabletheft.com - You're paying your bill-why aren't they? ] ]
Passive "Theft"
Passive "theft" is when a customer has service that they are not paying for but that they did not actively cause. Examples of this are moving into a new home or apartment where service is still active, or if the cable company does not disconnect your service even after you are no longer paying for it.
Active Theft
The difference in Active theft is
Intent . the subscriber has knowingly made an illegal connection.Premium Theft
When a customer has a level of service that is greater than what they are billed for that is known as premium or trap theft. This includes subscribers who use descramblers and filters as well as subscribers who remove filters from their line in order to receive additional analog services.
See also
*
Pirate decryption
* In developing countries "cable theft" may also refer to the scavenging ofcopper products. [ [http://www.southafricalogue.com/cape-town/cable-theft-in-south-africa.html Cable theft in South Africa] ] [ [http://www.journalism.co.za/opportunities/forum-on-cable-theft-2.html Forum on cable theft] ]References
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