Software Piracy Detection Vans
November 8, 2000 12:03 PM   Subscribe

Software Piracy Detection Vans patrol the streets of the UK. Or do they? In the immortal words of the Pythons, "The looney detector van, you mean."
posted by harmful (7 comments total)
 
They can detect software pirates with radar?!? Yeah, right!
posted by Mr. skullhead at 12:17 PM on November 8, 2000


It's people like you what cause unrest.
posted by norm at 1:10 PM on November 8, 2000


I remember reading a posting here about how the CIA has developed a system where they can see what is on a computer screen inside a house by capturing and processing the EMF monitors give off. Kind of the same thing as a heat signature. This posting was funny! Being that stupid, how do you manage to acquire the power and authority to be in a position to make such moronic decisions? Oh wait, all I need to do is cite the latest presidential election for a clear, accurate answer!
posted by Jeremy at 1:14 PM on November 8, 2000


Actually your PC speaker can be made to emit "sound" at this wavelength. If software makers were to take advantage of this, they could indeed use such vans to nab people using unlicensed software.

So as an example, lets say your MS Office 2000 software looks out on your LAN and sees 20 other copies all using the same license. It could set your speaker to chirp in this inaudible frequency.

In theory this could be picked up even miles away and your location triangulated by multiple receivers.

The same technology could be used to embed information such as your password, IP address, and any porn sites you are visiting.

Windows, Mac and Linux systems are all vulnerable to this.

Another interesting scenario is that the software company could use your IP address to tunnel back into your system and cause the speaker to emit some other frequency, say one that would give you brain cancer.

Very scary times we live in.
posted by y6y6y6 at 1:17 PM on November 8, 2000


Unless you disconnect your PC speakers. Free software if you can live without sound!
posted by daveadams at 2:10 PM on November 8, 2000


which is why i always wear my afdb. (remember! shiny side out.) if you need a software solution try this. i'm pretty sure both will defend against most mind control products

and somewhat on topic, i do believe u.k. citizens are used to this sort of stuff.

posted by lescour at 2:12 PM on November 8, 2000


I want me a deflector beannie dammit!

Vans that detect if you have a tv and now illegal software. If their using your tax pounds for this, i'd be mighty upset.
posted by Zool at 3:04 PM on November 8, 2000


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