Multichoice and your IP

D

Dr Who

Senior Member
Joined
Jun 4, 2010
Messages
646
Hi Al

As I am sure everyone here is aware Multichoice has started an anti piracy division, which may mean problems down the road for a small number of people. The main reason I have never taken a threat like this seriously is because generally it was very hard to force a ISP to part with info.

However the following just dawned on me, I currently have an active DSTV subscription and also a Explora decoder which happens to be connected. Have I not just given DSTV a perfect insight into my online identity?

They know my Name and billing details as I pay them monthly
They know my ID number as I am sure it was one the form
They know my IP address as I connect to their servers
Now they just need to browse around P2P areas and wait for the IP address to be flashed, and bam I become the first person to be prosecuted.

Before I get abused for not securing my IP and using other methods of download the above scenario should not happen to me as I use a 3rd party remote server to download to which converts traffic to html and then downloads zipped versions of the file. However there are many normal people who might walk into a trap like this. Is it as simple as feared above?

regards
 
Alton Turner Blackwood

Alton Turner Blackwood

Honorary Master
Joined
Apr 30, 2010
Messages
27,483
If you have Unotelly you should be covered.

Regardless, I've disconnected my Explorer as the random downloads of episodes was getting annoying when I was busy on the net.
 
R

russellO

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 26, 2007
Messages
413
All too true however, you should be using something to hide your IP, like a proxy. Or a VPN to encrypt all traffic. For proxies - Btguard is brilliant, I changed to TorGuard coz it was cheaper.
 
M

Milano

Honorary Master
Joined
Feb 7, 2004
Messages
16,752
Also, how does the new Multichoice police chief get your IP if you are an MWeb customer? One tentacle of Naspers contacts the other tentacle of Naspers, right?
 
T

Toothless

Banned
Joined
Oct 28, 2015
Messages
1,106
Milano said:
Also, how does the new Multichoice police chief get your IP if you are an MWeb customer? One tentacle of Naspers contacts the other tentacle of Naspers, right?
Click to expand...

True, they do. Check their terms, I am sure they get your permission, much like the banks, where divisions can share your information between one another. MC already has a huge list of people identified in piracy. The only problem they have right now is, legally, they have no grounds to act upon.
 
M

Mobus

Senior Member
Joined
Apr 5, 2007
Messages
953
Interesting point. Technically this would be feasible for them to do. However in order to prosecute they would probably still need an interdict to obtain records from your ISP. The fact that we mostly use dynamic IPs means they would have to prove beyond a doubt that your IP wasn't reassigned between their logged explora IP and the alleged CR infringement IP spotted in the P2P network. They might just send you a cease and desist letter as a scare tactic. Point is, if they want to target you, they'll target you regardless. Having your IP logged via your explora makes it only marginally easier for them to scare you.

Also consider if they would really want to prosecute their own customers? And odds are, if you have DSTV already, you are only downloading other/additional content - for which they have no mandate to protect (not their battle, not worth their legal cost). My guess would be they will target a few big fish, make a big media thing out of it and scare off the small fish hoping to gain a few more subscribers. They'll also clamp down on sport streaming, as sport is their stronghold compared to other legal competition in SA.
 
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