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Blu-ray Update Sent To User Via Credit Card Records
wmoyes writes "Back in September I ran into a Best Buy store to buy a Samsung BD-P2550 Blu-ray player. I didn't give the clerk my name, telephone number, or address, just my debit card. The player has sat happily in my living room without ever being networked or registered. Today I was shocked to find a package waiting for me at home from Best Buy — inside was a firmware update CD for the player. I used to think Windows Update was scary, but Samsung's update service tracked me to my house using the mag stripe from my bank card. Has this happened to any other Blu-ray owners?" Or is there a simpler explanation?
The midget in the back seat of the Lincoln crawls in your basement window at night, and takes inventory of your firmware revisions on all your hardware.
He then runs to the forest to find out what updates you might need.
Don't talk to him, it sounds like he's talking backwards.
BTW, you need to replace that printer cartridge in the computer room on the first floor, and we have photographs of your youngest daughter going to school. Have a nice day, we'll be in touch.
The blueray player used the nearest WiFi access point (it can hack into secured ones). It sent its GPS position, which was cross referenced to your address at the server. It has also been sending information about all the discs you have put in it, whether you played them or not. You haven't put any pirate stuff in there, have you?
In addition, on the HDMI back channel it has been gathering information about what you watch on TV, and reporting that as well. The company sells this information to Nielson.
And you wondered why that player was so expensive.
That's funny, whenever I give people cash for presents, I refer to it as a "federal reserve gift card". The best part is, it never expires! Though I recommend spending it quick because it seems to lose its value over time....
"Thank you for using Stop-n-Drop, America's favorite suicide booth since 2008"
You should switch to Liberty Dollar's (http://www.libertydollar.org/) to show your contempt for the government as well.
Scary?
:)
Not really. What if that player had a tendency to explode after 25 hours of use. Would you want to be notified of the recall?
Basic customer data mining has been around for ages. Pretty much ever since Mr. Drucker asked after your health and crop prospects in the general store.
Or pillow talk after the very first prostitution transaction...depends how far back you want to go.
Note, I'm not defending intrusive data mining.
A similar thing happened to me. I bought a blu-ray player, then one day I came home and found my house ransacked and my blu-ray player was gone. I'm still waiting for Samsung to send my blu-ray player back with the updates. I don't have any problems with these companies being vigilant about their update services. I just really wish they wouldn't spraypaint swastikas on my furniture.
I have nothing compelling to say
Even without credit card part, this story is quite interesting. There are annoying DRM systems. There are pain-in-the-ass DRM systems. But then, miles above all this, there is that ultimate sometimes-go-to-the-shop-and-take-firmware-update-CD-and-unbrick-your-player-again DRM that almost renders any owner of such device as total moron.
839*929
Let me guess, Ron Paul supporter?
Clearly you need help...but as long as you keep cranking out creepy, funny posts like this one, I'm certainly not going to give it to you.
Just once I'd like someone to call me 'Sir' without adding 'You're making a scene.'
The best part is, it never expires!
And it can be exchanged for items not available with other gift cards, like recreational drugs and sex with prostitutes.
Oxymoron.
That's not true. Congress does act. All the time. On really important stuff.
I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.
We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.
Yes, but the question is she your Ex? If that is the case she wouldn't have told you about the fire hazard. Think about it.
Getting around that security problem is easy. Just don't show your driver's license to people with eyeballs.
Wow. That's pretty sad.