Around 200 people were illegally able to watch television through Dutch provider Ziggo after two Groningen residents hacked Ziggo subscription smartcards.
Translation by Traci White
RTV Noord reports that the hackers sold the illegally accessed signal for a lower price than a legitimate subscription to around 200 people. Ziggo says that the piracy went on for more than three years and cost them 150,000 euros. The cracked code was discovered last year.
The two suspects – two men, aged 49 and 40, from Groningen – will appear in court on Monday. The older of the two men worked as a technician and would carry at repairs at addresses with poor signal reception. The younger man is allegedly the one who hacked the smartcards, and he is also accused of selling Dreambox cable box receivers on Dutch auction site Martkplaats.
The Public Prosecutor declined to say how the men came into contact with their clients or how the suspects gained access to the Ziggo smartcards. The case came to light thanks to an anonymous tip from Ziggo. The two suspects could face a four-year sentence and fines of up to 82,000 euros.
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