2023-08-02 16:47:00
Last week, the Anatel (National Telecommunications Agency) announced a major plan to combat the use and sale of pirated TV Boxes in Brazil. The “TV boxes”, also known as “gatonet” and “skygato” will be blocked remotely by the organ, making them useless. That said, There are some questions that we will answer in this article.
Questions we will answer:
What is a TV Box?
First of all, let’s understand what a TV Box is. For those who don’t know, TV Box is a small accessory that basically serves to transform any television into a smart TV, that is, with support for internet connection. When used in this way, the user can access websites and other applications, such as YouTube, Netflix, Pluto TVand even download games and other apps from Play Storeeven using a normal television, like the older tube ones.
TV Box, Chromecast, TV Stick, are some types of technology available
Generally, a TV Box is square, but there are also other formats, such as round and even small, similar in size to a pendrive. To find out about the best TV Box models to buy today, check out our full article by clicking on this link.
Is using TV Box illegal?
Using TV Box just to transform a normal TV into a smart TV is nothing illegal. Use only becomes illegal when it allows you to access channels and other content restricted by subscription in a clandestine way. This can be Netflix movies and series, even closed TV channels.
BTV is a type of “gatonet” very popular in Brazil
To get around the high prices of these official plans, many people prefer to buy a “gatonet” box, which is usually charged only when buying the device, or in some cases there is even a subscription plan, however, well below what is charged by companies TV and streaming.
Why does Anatel want to block illegal TV Boxes?
Combating piracy is an old thing for Anatel itself, as well as for other Brazilian regulatory bodies. For example, the ABTA (Brazilian Pay-TV Association), states that at least 6 million Brazilian homes have clandestine access to cable TV, and this has caused a loss of BRL 15 billion per year companies that own films, series and closed TV channels.
When devices decode pay TV channels without any authorization, this practice is considered a crime in Brazil for infringing at least two laws, the Law (9610/1998) it’s at General Telecommunications Law (9,472/1997).
What are the risks of using an illegal TV Box?
In addition to being technically a crime, using a pirated TV Box can bring other risks to the user. Anatel itself even analyzed some pirated TV Box models and they concluded that the user could put their own security e privacy.
When connected to your Wi-Fi network, a pirate TV Box can control other devices connected to the same network, such as a smartphone, for example. Imagine having your banking applications spied on and even remotely controlled by a hacker. According to Anatel, this is possible.
“Our technicians verified in the tests that the malware, via botnet, allows the remote operation of installed applications and the carrying out of distributed denial of service attacks (DDoS – Distributed Denial of Service), with risks to public and private institutions that use networks of telecommunications.”
How to know if my TV Box is pirated or not?
If you are worried and want to find out if your TV Box is pirated or not, there are some ways to check. The first is check if the device has Anatel certification, which is mandatory for all telecommunications equipment sold and used in Brazil. If the TV Box does not have this certification, it is considered pirated and, therefore, it is important to check if it has the Anatel seal, which must be pasted on it or on its box.
Having the Anatel seal is an indication that your device is safe and legal
Another way to check if the TV Box is pirated is by analyzing how you are watching the contents. To access streaming services and IPTV channels on legal devices, it is necessary to pay a subscription to each one, such as Globoplay, Netflix, Prime Video and HBO Max. If you are watching content from these platforms without being a subscriberis a sign that the signal is a pirate.
Does Anatel know who uses pirated TV Box?
Anatel will not spy on every home in Brazil to find out who uses pirated TV Box or any other type of clandestine IPTV system. This would harm the privacy of Brazilian citizens. So, to contain the use of these pirated services, the agency says that it will “cut the evil in the bud”, for take down the very access centers of illegal IPTVs.
How will Anatel block the pirated TV Box signal?
Anatel will end direct IPTV transmissions at the source
The news that the agency is taking action against pirated TV Boxes has caused concern among users who rely on these devices to access pay TV content at low or even no cost. According to the agency’s announcement, the central servers that provide this type of content will be taken down. This means that access to this type of content will be interrupted and, as a result, many users will be without access to paid channels.
The blocking process will be conducted gradually, with a Minimum 5 million devices being affected. These servers will be identified through reports and, once identified, the IP address of the equipment will be provided by Anatel to the company that makes the internet available. From then on, it is up to that company to block it, ensuring that pirated content is no longer accessible.
Will consumers of pirated TV Box be penalized?
Anatel says it will not penalize the consumer
Although it is technically seen as a crime, Anatel announced that the consumer of pirated TV Box will not be penalized. According to the agency, the objective of the new plan is to punish those who are in charge of commercialization and put an end to the structure of piracy.
According to Moisés Moreira, an Anatel advisor, the agency’s focus is on protecting consumers and not punishing them. Many times, the user acquires the device due to misinformation and may have “the enemy in the house”, stealing his data and harming his telecommunications network. Therefore, Anatel focuses on blocking the IP addresses of these devices to protect both the consumer and the network.
What do you think of this new Anatel plan? Leave your comment below!
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