High Definition TiVo Bash Software Hack Claimed

crazyray writes "Fresh on the heels of Sunday's Washington Post's article about TiVo and the broadcast flag, a group calling themselves the 'HD TeAm' is claiming to have discovered a software-only exploit to enable bash on the new $1000 High Definition DirecTiVo. Prior to this announcement, it was thought that this was only possible by desoldering and reflashing the PROM. Perhaps most interestingly, 'HD TeAm' is offering to release the code to the world if enough donations are given to the Electronic Frontier Foundation."

off like a dress...

[zoloto]

...on PROM night!

and reflashing the PROM

well I have to say that brings back fond memories of prom night. ... oh wait, this is about a PROM?? uhhh... nothing to see here, move along!

Away to Jail with Ye

[ravenspear]

Today the US Senate announced pending legislation designed to curb the growing problem of Tivo hacking. The House is expected to take up a similar bill next week.

Senator Orrin Hatch, chief sponsor of the bill, was quoted as saying "This issue is of extreme importance to the future of America. What kind of message would we be sending to our children if we allowed this kind of wanton hacking activity to go on unchecked? I ask all politicians who value protecting our intellectual property laws to join me in support of this legislation."

Re:OK, dumb question

[Radak]

Run a web server on it for remote programming, extract digital video from it, and most important, IRC from it.

Opening Narration

[irving47]

In 2004, a crack hacker unit will be sent to prison by a civilian court, for crimes they just barely understood themselves. These hackers promptly escaped from the maximum security MPAA holding room to their mothers' basements. Today, still wanted by Jack Valenti, they survive as coders of fortune. If you have an encrypted video stream, nobody else will touch it, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire the HD TeAm!
click click click click...

Re:Fishy!

[Anonymous Coward]

Something smells fishy!

Of course. It's penguin powered, after all.

(Actually, good point there.)

Re:Away to Jail with Ye

[garcia]

He has also opened a Paypal account to accept donations to help fund the mounting legal costs in persecuting attempts at allowing that evil Communist "freedom of information" idea that has been infiltrating our great fascist state.

Yes, this is the proper usage of Fascist. We are allowing our country to be opened to the control of the corporations.

Reading between the lines...

[rdewalt]

"... Perhaps most interestingly, 'HD TeAm' is offering to release the code to the world if enough donations are given to the Electronic Frontier Foundation."

In other words, "We'd like our defense fund paid in advance before we release That-Which-Will-Get-Us-Sued-Out-Of-Our-Lives.

The hack I'd like to see

[AndroidCat]

Skipping commercials is nice, but I'd like a hack to allow a TiVo to record and show good programs. "I wish my television had a control to adjust the intelligence level. I tried the control marked 'brightness', but it didn't help at all."

Re:Opening Narration

[Anonymous Coward]

B.A.: "You know I hate to code assembly, Hannibal!"

*snickers* Great reference!

What's bash?

[Anonymous Coward]

what is this bashing method? And why is there no mention of the preferred bat or sledgehammer to do so?

Re:OK, dumb question

[irokitt]

Two words, man. Nethack.

Re:The hack I'd like to see

[Anonymous Coward]

Skipping commercials is nice, but I'd like a hack to allow a TiVo to record and show good programs. "I wish my television had a control to adjust the intelligence level. I tried the control marked 'brightness', but it didn't help at all."


I can't help much with the good program side, but there is a simple hack to keep it from recording bad programs. Just unplug it.

We'll let you know when Ken is back on Jeopardy so you can plug it back in for 30 minutes a day.

Problem solved.

Re:off like a dress...

[tommck]

You went to the prom??? What are you doing reading Slashdot?

Re:Away to Jail with Ye

[drinkypoo]

Didn't you read the definition you pasted? 5. Frolicsome, playful. Wanton is also defined on occasion as "with abandon", which is the sense in which I most commonly see it (in pornography) :)

Re:Blackmail?

[Enucite]

whitemail?

Re:bash?

[Anonymous Coward]

This [bash.org]ba is bash.