# Digital Cable... Do they know what I'm watching? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 3, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324 "2003-01-03T00:32:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/1 "2003-01-03T00:32:49Z")
Since I had digital cable put in my home, I’ve been wondering what kind of information the cable company now collects from me. Do they know what I’m watching 24/7? Can they tell when I put a reminder on a show? That I like watching the Sopranos? Or do they not collect any data of any kind? ---
**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/2 "2003-01-03T00:39:30Z")
I’ve never heard of my cable company being engaged in such activity. I’m sure they would like to know how many people are watching a particular channel. It would help them figure out what to charge and which channels to carry. ---
**Author:** ![ltfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@ltfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ltfire)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/3 "2003-01-03T01:32:31Z")
Along with the digital cable I have, sitting beside me right now is the cable modem I am using to access the internet. They make a big deal of the fact that you can leave the modem on 24/7, so that you can connect immediately at any time. Who’s to say they or anyone isn’t sneaking around your hard drive as you sleep? Is it technically possible? And hey…I think I just discovered a microphone behind the side vents…oh boy… ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/4 "2003-01-03T01:34:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by ltfire \* > \*\*Along with the digital cable I have, sitting beside me right now is the cable modem I am using to access the internet. They make a big deal of the fact that you can leave the modem on 24/7, so that you can connect immediately at any time. Who’s to say they or anyone isn’t sneaking around your hard drive as you sleep? Is it technically possible? And hey…I think I just discovered a microphone behind the side vents…oh boy… \*\* Let me increase your paranoia by confirming that people can be sneaking around your hard drive when you sleep. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 1:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/5 "2003-01-03T01:39:03Z")
I’m soaking in it now! ---
**Author:** ![mangeorge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d78d45/32.png) [@mangeorge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mangeorge)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 1:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/6 "2003-01-03T01:43:10Z")
I have DSL. The techie suggested that I don’t leave it on when I’m not using it. Sound’s like good advice. Besides, how long does it take to get on? Less than 30 secs if my comps off, and just a few if I’m offline, but working. Peace, mangeorge ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 1:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/7 "2003-01-03T01:45:23Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hastur \* > \*\*Let me increase your paranoia by confirming that people can be sneaking around your hard drive when you sleep. \*\* My local cable system got in trouble recently for recording which sites its cable modem customers were visiting. The company, whose name rhymes with Bomfast, claimed it did so in order to “better serve” its clients. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![mister\_me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mister\_me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_me)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 1:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/8 "2003-01-03T01:55:12Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Hastur \* > \*\*Let me increase your paranoia by confirming that people can be sneaking around your hard drive when you sleep. \*\* I second that. I work for a large cable MSO and let me be the first to tell you that it is VERY easy for people to snoop into your system via broadband. I also know for a fact that the broadband providers are VERY interested in the data people transfer via file sharing and email and are now beginning to monitor this quite closely. There are things you can do that are inexpensive and WILL protect you from snoopers. As far as the digital cable monitering - the answer is (as of right now) - no. The technology is now available to do it but the cost outweighs the benifits right now (for monitoring ALL channels watched). I’m not saying that there aren’t any unknowing beta testers out there right now because I’m sure there are, just not with my MSO (that I’m aware of). The two-way monitoring IS USED for pay-per view in many markets right now though. For instance, where I’m located you order PPV with your remote control and the ‘buy’ is recorded into a chip in your digital box. The MSO then sends and retrieves a ‘collection’ signal that matches PPV purchases from the digital box serial number to the number attached to your billing account and automatically adds the purchase price to your bill. Broadband technology is changing every day. As long as there is a broadband line into your home,…well,…then your cable company has a direct link to you 24/7 for video, voice, data and who knows what else to come. ---
**Author:** ![mister\_me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@mister\_me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mister_me)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/9 "2003-01-03T02:04:56Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Mr. Blue Sky \* > \*\*My local cable system got in trouble recently for recording which sites its cable modem customers were visiting. The company, whose name rhymes with Bomfast, claimed it did so in order to “better serve” its clients. :rolleyes: \*\* Wow. If cable MSO’s aren’t allowed to montitor data than every one I know of is breaking the law because it’s common practice. ---
**Author:** ![Alereon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecd19e/32.png) [@Alereon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alereon)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 2:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/10 "2003-01-03T02:16:09Z")
Someone can only go snooping around on your harddrive if you make it available for them to do so. Unfortunately, If you use windows file sharing and make your hardrive available, anyone can look at it and download the contents at will. ---
**Author:** ![hobbes730](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/97f17d/32.png) [@hobbes730](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hobbes730)\ **Post date:** [January 3, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/digital-cable-do-they-know-what-im-watching/146324/11 "2003-01-03T03:50:41Z")
Having a broadband/dedicated internet connection of any sort, including Cable or DSL, makes you extremely vulnerable to hackers. However, you can easily protect yourself by using software such as ZoneAlarm, or by placing any computers using the modem behind a (properly configured) router or other type of hardware firewall.