MobiTv and HowardForums *Situation is now resolved*

**Moderator HF 25** · 03-07-2008, 04:57 PM

And now our friends at Engadget Mobile

http://www.engadgetmobile.com/2008/0...hould-instead/

**Urban Strata** · 03-07-2008, 04:59 PM

Sorry if this is a re-post, but did you see MobiTV's response on Digg?

http://digg.com/security/MobiTV_to_H...2281#c13462281

MobiTV here -

This is a very serious issue for us.

We are a technology company that serves paying subscribers, content partners and carriers. Our responsibility to each of these important stakeholders is of the utmost priority.

So where does this leave us in light of this entire Digg thread?
Well, we’re actively implementing additional measures to address this initial unauthorized access. We are also using this as an opportunity to further enhance our security.

Here’s the thing: our outreach to Howardforums.com and other websites was an effort only to remove the specific information and NOT to interrupt or shutdown the valuable service these sites provide to mobile users worldwide.

**WiredGuy** · 03-07-2008, 05:01 PM

Screw Mobitv, they need to hire more competent coders. Who the hell uses them? I hope they go bankrupt soon.

**droobie** · 03-07-2008, 05:01 PM

Give me a break. If their C&D actually succeeded and things like 'caches' didn't exist, they would've probably not bothered to improve upon their protection methods.

Whoever manages Network Security for MobiTV should be ejected.

--Droo, @Network

**w4lker** · 03-07-2008, 05:03 PM

What's hilarious is that the big networks are going to find out what MobiTV is doing with *their* content. (Because it's not MobiTV's content, is it?)

And MobiTV is going to end up on the pointy end of about 50 C&D's -- they're going to get a taste of their own medicine! (The difference being that MobiTV is actually in the wrong, whereas HoFo is not.)

You'd think that they could just patch their security, but it's not that simple. They'll have to be able to authenticate every stream request to Sprint databases in real time, transparently to the user. That kind of thing is complex!

How long does everyone think that MobiTV will stay in business? Days? Weeks? Months even?

**howard** · 03-07-2008, 05:06 PM

okay guys. I just had a conversation with the president of MobiTV. He had this to say:

Howard, great catching up today. Again, we're big fans of the sight and our intention was never to bring your entire sight down or to "censor the Internet" like we're being accused. The irony is that is quite the opposite type of company we are and as one of the leaders in new media, we couldn't be more supportive of the rights of sights like yours. Please know that our first priority is always to fix any security issues with our system and we're doing that. Additionally, we also have a responsibility to our content and carrier partners to reduce the impact of any breaches to the system once they occur and that was really the basis for the correspondence you had with our legal team.

I look forward to continuing to find interesting and vibrant insights from HowardForums.

Best regards,
Paul Scanlan
Cofounder, President

So I guess everything is okay now. Thank you all for your support! Never doubt the power of the community!

**droobie** · 03-07-2008, 05:07 PM

Originally Posted by w4lker

You'd think that they could just patch their security, but it's not that simple. They'll have to be able to authenticate every stream request to Sprint databases in real time, transparently to the user. That kind of thing is complex!

Complex because they released the product without having this authentication in place. There are several other content providers on cell networks that are successful in protecting their product.

--Droo, @Network

**droobie** · 03-07-2008, 05:09 PM

Originally Posted by howard

So I guess everything is okay now. Thank you all for your support!

That's very good news. I'm glad that he is apparently of sane mind, even if he doesn't know the difference between site and sight...

--Droo, @Network

**KG4PEQ** · 03-07-2008, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by howard

So I guess everything is okay now. Thank you all for your support!

...as everyone who paid for a premium membership today as a show of support now sends e-mails demanding a refund....

**BrianK** · 03-07-2008, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by howard

okay guys. I just had a conversation with the president of MobiTV. He had this to say:

So I guess everything is okay now. Thank you all for your support!

Well, at least a cooler head finally prevailed over at MobiTV. That's fan-freaking-tastic news.

**JwY** · 03-07-2008, 05:12 PM

Originally Posted by Urban Strata

Sorry if this is a re-post, but did you see MobiTV's response on Digg?

http://digg.com/security/MobiTV_to_H...2281#c13462281

Muahaha. Excellent.

**CoRupT** · 03-07-2008, 05:12 PM

Howardforums: 1

lawyers: 999948730

**KG4PEQ** · 03-07-2008, 05:13 PM

And Howard, I think I speak for all of us when I say I appreciate you sticking to your guns, standing up for what's right, and going to bat for all of us. You rock!

**replaced** · 03-07-2008, 05:13 PM

lol does that mean we won the war?

**corys00** · 03-07-2008, 05:14 PM

What's more surprising is out of 795,000 registered users, only a mere 200 are Premium? Come on folks, it cost less then a trip to Starbucks (And maybe soon a gallon of gas).