Sky on Demand Wireless Connector MINI calling home to Sky?

NowRetired

Is my Sky on Demand Wireless Connector MINI secretly sending back information on my viewing habits to Sky over my internet connection?


How can I find out if it is and how can I stop it as I leave my modem on 24/7?


Is Sky are now doing this because so many people no longer connect their Sky box to the phone line?

[Deleted User]

NowRetired wrote: »

Is my Sky on Demand Wireless Connector MINI secretly sending back information on my viewing habits to Sky over my internet connection?

:D
First of all, how can anyone here know if Sky are SECRETLY receiving information about your viewing habits?

Secondly, why do you think Sky want to know such information about you personally?

Thirdly, why do you even care if they are?:)

Nilrem

If the connector is being used to watch on demand, whoever supplies the on demand content will know what you're watching anyway*, and if Sky host mirrors for the content inside their own network (a lot of ISP's do for the iplayer as it saves them money) they can get the info from there...Whether anyone does anything with that information other than note that they might need more capacity for some shows on the server or viewing numbers is unknown.

I wouldn't be surprised if Sky log some information from the unit** (IIRC they can from the Sky boxes if connected to the internet), but most likely just general stuff like how many people are using it, and what channels are most watched.

But I don't think they'd be doing it secretly, it would most likely be noted in the user agreement somewhere to cover them legally.

I guess what I'm saying is the possibility is always there with anything connected to the internet or a phone line, but generally any such information is only worth anything for anonymous usage stats (about all the law would allow without specific consent).

[edit]
On second thoughts I suspect the wireless connector mini is just a customised wireless dongle that doesn't actually do anything other than provide the link from the wired ethernet port on the Sky box, to the wireless router, as the Sky box has the ability to access the same services without the connector if wired directly (from memory), so it's most likely a wireless bridge adaptor that can accept power from the Sky box's ethernet port (as it looks to just have the ethernet cable, and power over ethernet has been an option for a few years, and Sky mention only "compatible" boxes can use it, whilst I think most can use many of the on demand features if connected via a wire)


*And quite likely the sort of device/software you're using (as most browsers ID themselves by family and version so servers that need the information can send the right version of a page etc to it).

**It can be very handy to log certain information from connected devices to help if there is a problem (IE logging what it's doing so if/when it crashes the information for the last few actions or what it was doing at the time of the crash can be sent anonymously to assist in fixing problems).

davemurgatroyd

Unless you have otherwise agreed (ticked boxes in contracts etc) then the only personal info that should be provided via the ethernet connection (or phone connection) is whether or not you have viewed PPV/Box Office programmes and if so which ones and "credit checks" on whether such events can be ordered.

NowRetired

Thirdly, why do you even care if they are?

because I am a paranoid OAP who thinks that everyone is out to get me.

penrhyn

Tin foil hats on guys. OP must have read the article about LG smart TVs sending back viewing habits.
If you use an interweb everyone from your ISP to CCHQ, through your Nectar or Tesco Clubcard and the NSA knows loads about you.

Even I know which ISP you use :-

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NowRetired

So that is why I have problems with IE11, my computer thinks it's really Mozilla/Netscape 5.



I know how you did that.

Anyone solved the quote button not working?


Have you heard about the GPS chip in your Sky box?


That's how Sky know that you are using your multiroom box in your holiday villa in Spain.

teddysmum

NowRetired wrote: »

because I am a paranoid OAP who thinks that everyone is out to get me.

..or they could blackmail you for watching smutty films.

NowRetired

or they could blackmail you for watching smutty films

No, I don't care if anybody knows I watch smutty films.


Why should I?

teddysmum

NowRetired wrote: »

No, I don't care if anybody knows I watch smutty films.


Why should I?

Note the smiley in the title of my post.

NowRetired

I would do smileys as well but they also don't work along with the quote button in IE11.


Sometimes I use another browser if I really want to put in a smiley.