TV Licence Wi-Fi detector vans

Whilst technically possible, I would expect it'd be illegal.

There aren't many old detector vans in operation, maybe less than a handful in the country (so I am told from an ex-DTI person). And they could only work with the older CRT style TV's, not flat panels.

This is just scare tactics I suspect. Someone really should bring these dictators down.
 
mcwildcard said:
I happily pay my TV Licence fee, so it makes no odds to me, but surely this is a complete load of baloney?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/08/05/bbc-to-deploy-detection-vans-to-snoop-on-internet-users/
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Half baloney. You can do that on some Wi-Fi networks but they wont be able to see what was being watched or who was watching it. Mostly its just a scare tactic which is why they don't want to go into details on how it works. It sounds like they are just using free software like Wireshark.
 
ov_sjo said:
Whilst technically possible, I would expect it'd be illegal.

There aren't many old detector vans in operation, maybe less than a handful in the country (so I am told from an ex-DTI person). And they could only work with the older CRT style TV's, not flat panels.

This is just scare tactics I suspect. Someone really should bring these dictators down.
Click to expand...

It is illegal for most people but not for them and even then only on certain targets.
 
If your wifi is secured they won't be able to pick up anything will they? This would only work on open networks and you'd not be able to prove who was connected as it could be anyone within range of the the router/AP.

Sounds like BS to me - scare people into paying.
 
Minstadave said:
If your wifi is secured they won't be able to pick up anything will they? This would only work on open networks and you'd not be able to prove who was connected as it could be anyone within range of the the router/AP.

Sounds like BS to me - scare people into paying.
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Jez said:
A nonsense story, the entire point of encrypted networks is that the data is unreadable.
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Not all data is unreadable and many people run outdated security. Chances are if you are running a decent modern wireless you are secure. Also the idea isn't to read the data its to look at the size of the data being sent. Even if the data is encrypted you can see how much is being sent across wireless.
 
If this even does happen, they can't prove anything from it. It's a complete waste of money. Don't watch anything the BBC produces any more and certainly won't be paying the license fee!
 
This just sounds like a new generation of scaremongering.

The disclosure of the controversial new snooping technique will lay to rest the persistent claims that detector vans are no more than an urban myth designed to intimidate the public into paying the licence fee.
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Urban myth 2.0.
 
I'd be very surprised if "we captured some encrypted packets from a private Wi-Fi network, we can't see their contents but the sizes look like this person is using our service so we'd win if it went to court, right?" got anywhere. I don't think capturing packets on a network that you do not own or have permission to use - even if they are encrypted packets - is legal.

So yeah, a bit of scaremongering. It would be easier to paywall iPlayer than it would be to lobby to make this legal and then get any sort of fine to stick.
 
Surely it would be better to simply block known vpns/proxies from accessing their site, then simply have a system of checking IP address to real addresses and then against whether that address has a licence.

Or just make new licence system that includes a 12 digit access code, that you then use to create an account + your details, you can then run X amount of devices from that licence.
 
I think they realise this is pointless, but having a press release about Wi-Fi vans is cheaper than supporting people who can't log in or having to link TV license information to BBC accounts. Ultimately it's a political move - the government want to continue to freeze funding and tie an arm behind their back, so they rightfully point out that the way people watch TV has changed, and this is the result.
 
Pottsey said:
I agree its half scaremongering but there must be some truth as they were able to demonstrate the technology.
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In a closed lab? Out in the real world, outside of exterior brick walls with a van parked a few meters away in the street with other devices also consuming bandwidth on your wifi network plus all the noise from any other wireless networks plus noise on the same frequencies? And basing it on timing of data being sent from the BBC with allowances for latency and jitter across the internet and on your wifi connection? Hmmm...
 
Aside from the odd youtube video I don't even stream any video over wifi only fixed connections.

While you might be able to "match" encrypted patterns in a lab where you can control the circumstances its largely impossible IRL (atleast not without super computer capabilities and a LOT of time). Most users will likely have other programs, etc. running not just streaming so aslong as their security is half upto date nothing to detect.

I suspect what they will do is look for traffic that looks high volume enough to be streaming the bbc at around the time of popular programs and originating "close enough" to an unlicensed address and then hassle them with letters and visits hoping to catch them out then claim the detection vans work.

(PS that copper mesh you might have seen me with isn't to turn my whole house into a giant Faraday cage and defeat the evil BBC snoopers honest).
 
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