Yesterday, when I was in a ‘personal security’ type mood, I wondered about a company that deals in surveillance products making the new analog/digital TV Converter boxes.
Thanks to MC, a computer security expert friend of mine, who hooked me up with a top security expert whom I emailed. This was his prompt reply:
“A DTV converter box is not connected by wire (cable line or phone line) to anywhere (like the cable company headend or telco central office) so there’s no way to send any covert audio/video “down the line” (to anyone).
But, since a DTV converter box must be connected to an antenna, a unit modified with a microphone and/or tv camera could transmit covert audio/video… If it were connected to a rooftop tv antenna, the signal could be transmitted well over a mile away.
Many different household appliances could also be modified this way. I don’t think DTV converter boxes will be heavily targeted as a covert surveillance platform, but the outdoor antenna connection does make it a tempting target.”
Ad that thoughtful email to this article, which states that about 85% of US households already have satellite dishes. Of those 15% who do not (and will be affected by the February change-over) some will switch over to satellite/cable, most will get the boxes, and 3% will quit watching television altogether.
So, there you go. My academic question about personal privacy and security has been answered!
