Oops – looks like MobiTV doesn’t protect URLs to their content?? I’m guessing the fix isn’t easy either given that they’re trying to get HowardForums to remove the information regarding the publicly available URL and threatening takedown orders, DMCA violations, etc.
HowardForums is a great place. Howard has managed to amass a wide array of wireless knowledge that is often the source for how to do things your devices weren’t intended to do. Being in the wireless business myself, I even have to say that it’s caused me several security fire drills over the years… but in the end, you’re left with a more secure product/service and the benefit of knowledge. (I’m one for publishing security holes, if you can’t tell.)
http://www.howardforums.com/announcement.php?f=57 (While it’s online)
http://digg.com/security/MobiTV_to_Hofo_Take_down/ (DIGG)
Hang in their, Howard – we’ve got your back.
UPDATE (3/7 2pm pdt): The Associated Press just picked up the story. What’s more interesting here likely isn’t the fact that the content is unprotected (they’ll find a way to do that, trust me) – it’s the fact that MobiTV is trying to get Hofo to take down a link to publicly available content. They’re stating that the method in which the link was retrieved is what’s not authorized at that the ‘fruits’ of those labors are illegal. I’m not a lawyer, but I’m not sure I’ve seen something tested in court along these lines – have you?
2nd UPDATE (3/7 5pm pdt): Well, it looks like everything’s ok in HOFO land for now. MobiTV’s president stepped in and apologized (jees, do you think the fiery heat turned up by everyone this afternoon had anything to do with it?) Aside from that, I feel like the guy’s still a blithering idiot (he spells web ’site’ as ’sight’) – but hey, that’s what spell checkers are for, right? Still, based on Howard’s “I guess everything’s ok now” comment, I can’t help but think that something’s still lingering under the surface here… I wonder if we’ll ever know. Kudos to Howard for standing up to ‘the man.’
