"Dangerous" Kodi boxes - do I smell burning or bullshit ? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2017, 11:24:35 pm
content: Strangely coinciding with reports of threats against developers, Copyright group FACT commissioned tests that show that Kodi boxes can be dangerous"https://www.thesun.co.uk/tech/4913595/kodi-box-warning-after-bad-batch-that-could-put-brit-families-at-risk-discovered-on-black-market/Show us the reports then, and name the exact models.

author: Koen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2017, 11:44:45 pm
content: I didn't understand your introduction at first, this might clear it up for others too :Quote

author: Brumby
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 16, 2017, 11:51:57 pm
content: Hardly an independent report, is it?Is it catering to a vested interest ... or are we meant to believe it is truly objective?

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 16, 2017, 11:59:31 pm
content: Well, I believe that the cheap ones you get from china are likely to be sketchy, but I don't believe at all that the group gives a rats about anyones safety. Proof would be good. But all they want to do is scare people away from it.

author: hermit
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 12:15:35 am
content: I'd think the real danger is downloading pirated material. Might want to turn on you Kaspersky? Oh wait, their excuse for the hacked NAS contractor box was malware it didn't catch?

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 12:25:01 am
content: The Sun isn't really known for its quality reporting.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 08:29:34 am
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on November 17, 2017, 12:25:01 amIt’s not even actually reporting. It’s just crudely assembled words.The sun is flammable too. Put it too close to the daily mail and it’ll catch fire from the chain reaction of hate.

author: Assafl
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 09:37:37 am
content: https://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/guides-and-advice/electrical-items/iptv-boxes/"Are IPTV boxes safe?From our investigations, some IPTV boxes are potentially dangerous. They pose a risk of electrocution or fire as they haven’t been subjected to standard safety checks. It’s impossible to tell from the outside whether a modified IPTV box is electrically safe."Does it matter if it runs Linux or Windows?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 09:40:56 am
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on November 17, 2017, 12:25:01 amIt's also in the Independent and several others

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 09:54:20 am
content: "The only way to guarantee that a product is safe is to buy a known brand product direct from a reputable manufacturer."It is absolutely unheard of that known brands like HP or Microsoft or Toshiba to use power supplies that catches fire. There were never recalls or anything like that."Check that there is a CE mark "Because CE marks are known for good fire extinguishing properties."In June, the European Union issued a recall notice for the OTT TV Box 4K, a Chinse-made Android TV box, or Kodi-box due to a "serious risk of electric shock"."I know I'm not a British, buy even I notice that they have problems writing down a name of a country. Even my browser addon noticed it.BTW:

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 09:59:32 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 16, 2017, 11:24:35 pmExactly, if it was a public safety risk then they should be naming the boxes so people can disconnect them and negate the fire risk, as it stands it's all just so much Circumstantial Rumour And Poppycock, never mind the legal uses of Kodi.But FACT, BSA and all the other copyright protection organisations are industry funded with nice cushy salaries so it's not in their interest to promote public safety or present the truth when there's a well paid crusade to be embarked on.The Sun is also complicit, a suspicious person might posit the theory that they also have a vested interest in printing such FUD because old Rupe (thanks 'stralia, you can have him back now) makes a metric shit tonne of money out of Sky TV which I believe (don't watch it, don't have a Kodi 'box') is one of the services that's regularly pirated over streams?

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:02:34 am
content: Quote from: hermit on November 17, 2017, 12:15:35 amhttps://www.theguardian.com/technology/2017/oct/26/kaspersky-russia-nsa-contractor-leaked-us-hacking-tools-by-mistake-pirating-microsoft-officeAccording to Kaspersky’s report, the contractor was using the company’s home antivirus software when it detected a piece of malware attributed to the “Equation Group” (the security firm’s internal codename for what is believed to be the NSA’s hacking team) on 11 September 2014.Some time after that,the contractor apparently disabled the Kasperskyantivirus software, the company says, but is unable to pinpoint the exact date as that information is not logged. On 4 October 2014, it appears that the contractor turned the antivirus software back on –because he had downloaded and installed some malware while trying to pirate Microsoft Office.BTW:https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/11/10/cia_kaspersky_fake_certs_ploy/Quote

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:04:51 am
content: Quote from: bd139 on November 17, 2017, 08:29:34 amThey're incendiary, whenever they print a story about benefit scrounging immigrants buying houses next door to hard working upper middle class bankers in the home counties and listen for the explosions.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:06:52 am
content: Quote from: CJay on November 17, 2017, 09:59:32 amThe name of the TV box is in fact in the article. Also, scroll up.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:10:00 am
content: Quote from: NANDBlog on November 17, 2017, 10:06:52 amMhmm, I posted a few seconds after the RAPEX report was posted. I refuse to read the Sun though, disgusting rag.I think it's actually the power adapter that's the problem, not the box itself and I'm pretty sure that's not explained properly in the article?

author: mikeselectricstuff
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:12:04 am
content: Quote from: CJay on November 17, 2017, 09:59:32 amNot to mention that they have form for illegal activity in this area, like facilitating the hacking of competitors' services to to put them out of business (https://www.amazon.co.uk/Murdochs-Pirates-hacking-Ruperts-skullduggery-ebook/dp/B009VA1NVU), though this is just a case of them parroting the bullshit they are fed

author: Mjolinor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:12:55 am
content: "The only way to guarantee that a product is safe is to buy a known brand product direct from a reputable manufacturer."^^^ is untrue.The only way to guarantee that a product is safe is to make it yourself.

author: janekm
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:14:40 am
content: Well... despite the intentions of that group, I would say a reminder that there power supplies coming with unbranded equipment should not be assumed to be safe may actually do the public some good...

author: Mjolinor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:19:26 am
content: These Chinese USB / 5v power bricks are often collared by customs and refused entry. There are quite a lot of prosecutions about them. Generally the Chinese are learning that it is better to just specify the supply needed or just supply a USB cable so the LV directive (56005?) doesn't apply at all.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:24:02 am
content: Quote from: Mjolinor on November 17, 2017, 10:12:55 amActually no, especially if you are not an expert in the area who have access to necessary safety tests. You can easily miss safety related things and there won't be any QA to catch that.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:30:45 am
content: If you make it yourself, you just limit the risk of your skill to (a) yourself, (b) anyone in the same building as you and (c) the guy who comes along and tries to pull you off your bench and (d) the guy with the broom handle who tries to get that guy off you on your bench

author: Mjolinor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:32:54 am
content: OK, With the caveat that if you can't cook then get out of the kitchen.

author: gnif
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 10:44:16 am
content: As a Kodi Developer, I find it funny that my code could be classified dangerous! LOL

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 11:23:59 am
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 17, 2017, 10:12:04 amMhmm, I remember those days well, they ran/run a significant 'counter espionage' operation too, infiltrating several hacker groups who were involved in the hacking of Sky's Videocrypt encryption, they also controlled one of the most popular PayTV hacking boards as well as making available exploits which helped (if not directly) put the competition out of business (OnDigital).I'd be very surprised, actually amazed, if they weren't still running similar operations.

author: bd139
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 11:36:21 am
content: I'd completely forgotten about that. Total asshats.

author: abraxa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 12:35:50 pm
content: Quote from: hermit on November 17, 2017, 12:15:35 amI really, really don't want to derail this thread but I just want to provide a little more insight on this. Please readhttps://wikileaks.org/vault8/releases/- the important bit starts with "Digital certificates for the authentication of implants are generated by the CIA impersonating existing entities". Essentially, the CIA did malicious things in a way that Kaspersky got the blame instead of them. That's all I wanted to say.

author: edy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 02:58:41 pm
content: Perhaps someone can clarify this but my impression as to the popularity of Kodi boxes (aside from being easy to use and attach to a TV like a set-top box) is that "streaming" illegal content is more legally "safe" than someone who is downloading it through Torrent or File-Sharing services.A few years ago there was a ton of activity from various legal entities in the USA who participate in Torrent "hives" and also themselves put up "honeypots" to attract downloaders and thereby grab IP addresses of people they saw downloading their copyright material. This would eventually follow up with legal letters to their ISP's asking the users to cough up money for settlement, otherwise face conviction. In Canada, at least, these threats from US law firms never quite got anywhere and most people took them as a sign that they should either use a VPN to hide their IP or stop downloading altogether, so the movie and music industry got their point across. Not to mention the disappearance of a number of once popular Torrent sites.... vanishing in thin air.... Torrenting became less attractive due to the risks.However, people's attraction to copyright content didn't wane... It just changed over to another method that had a bigger legal loophole. That is, "streaming" content from websites or other online sources (facilitated by tools such as Kodi) which never keep a local copy of the file. The legal pressure then supposedly shifts to the provider of the copyright material (the website) and not the user accessing it. Kodi essentially does the same thing, not allowing for people to technically keep the content they are watching (although I am sure there is software to let you side-copy the stream as you are watching it).So if people from most countries outside the USA who were Torrenting stuff and getting letters from lawyers were not enforceable, then "Streaming" which is even less "serious" (if you can call it that) would be even less risky? I believe that is another reason for the popularity of streaming either with Kodi or just simply going to any number of websites and just loading the embedded video and watching it (even YouTube has full length free movies on their that somehow escape detection, not sure how)....Ghost in the Shell on YouTube"FREE"...I think I know how they get around copyright detection... The speed is slowed. Change playback speed to 1.25x and notice it sounds normal.Ghost in the Shell on YouTubeFOR PURCHASE:Nevertheless I wouldn't trust any Kodi (or other) no-name media box. I've seen several friends have their "Android Boxes" stop working after a year simply because they can't update it, the firmware is impossible to find, the software gets updated and/or Kodi version is changed and channel doesn't support an older Kodi version... but some people will keep buying them every year or two because they are cheap and save them more not having to buy movies. But if it bursts in flames and burns down your house, you will wish you had bought those movies or relied on a more expensive system (like a dedicated Linux Media PC) rather than some cheap no-name box.... Or just watch it on YouTube where, as far as I know, there is no legal culpability at all for the user.

author: Mjolinor
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 03:21:46 pm
content: It surprises me that Amazon have not done or been forced to do, anything about Kodi on the Fire TV box and dongle. They are by far the best available of the ones that you don't mess with and I am sure the sales would fall through the floor if they stopped Kodi working on it.

author: SeanB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 03:49:18 pm
content: Funny thing is the legit set top boxes were never known for reliability either in the beginning. Amstrad ( I know, not exactly the best ever, but a British company that made the junk on shore in most cases), Sky and all the other set top boxes were not too reliable at all, with them generally failing after a year or so of purchase ( generally just out of warranty) and with the repairs being a simple case of replace a bag of capacitors, or in some of them the bag of capacitors and a few other parts. There were whole cottage industries that sprang up to do these repairs, and many also dabbled in the other kind of upgrades, that involved changes to access methods.In the extreme case a sky box that would be free to use, and would ignore all upgrades and disconnect methods, and which did not need a smart card either, all the work being done by reprogramming the existing firmware on the on board processor ( mostly to get rid of poor original coding to get the space needed) to have the smart card functions on there as well.Here the stock faults on the decoders were a few poorly specced capacitors, that would die with time, leading to poor decoding in the beginning ( long channel lock up times, and audio dropouts) and then lead to hum on vision after a while, then to a hum bar across the video and audio hum, along with no pass through. Change the 2 capacitors and all was well again, but most users would have gone and paid for a service exchange decoder instead. Then there was the 40 pin PIC micro in a small pcb with a long DIP socket, used to emulate a good data stream to the main decoder chip, plugged into the board with the chip plugged into a socket next to it.

author: Mr. Scram
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 05:04:13 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 17, 2017, 09:40:56 amIt doesn't matter. Newspapers should verify and fact check news. Blindly copying a paid for report is not proper journalism. They should know better.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 05:34:37 pm
content: Quote from: edy on November 17, 2017, 02:58:41 pmIt looks like it's heavily cropped on all sides as well. I would not watch such crappy quality even if I got paid for it.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 05:45:14 pm
content: Quote from: mikeselectricstuff on November 16, 2017, 11:24:35 pmTotal BS ofcourse and typical scaremongering from anti-piracy organisations.

author: tszaboo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: November 17, 2017, 05:47:12 pm
content: Quote from: Mr. Scram on November 17, 2017, 05:04:13 pmWhat is this, 20 century? I see "articles", which are just translated, telling me to shop in Best buy.