Comcast Makes It More And More Difficult To Opt-Out Of Internet Sharing

[Teegate]

If you rent your router from Comcast you need to know that they are and have been disabling the lock feature that keeps others from using it. This means that people can line up in front of your house and tap into your router with Comcasts blessing and there is little you can do about it. The key here is you need to purchase your own.


http://techcrunch.com/2014/12/07/co...ore-difficult-to-opt-out-of-internet-sharing/

 

[46er]

Given the inexpensive cost of modems, routers and to some extent cable boxes, I can't see any reason to lease them. And whether you lease or purchase, ensure you have adequate security enabled on them. It is amazing how many in my immediate area do not. As far as what Comcast has done, the xfinitywifi is supposed to be on a different IP address and separate DOCSIS data stream from the customers leased router so it does not impact what you are paying for, but it should leave a bad taste in ones mouth.

 

[Teegate]

The problem is that even if you secure them on a Comcast rented router the firmware turns that off.

 

[46er]

The problem is that even if you secure them on a Comcast rented modem the firmware turns that off.

Yep, it is their equipment. They started this some time back. Got to read the fine print.

 

[bobpbx]

From the article: "Sadly, however, there are also complaints of Comcast failing to remove router rental fees even after multiple requests."

I don't see that. They promptly took mine off when I bought a belkin. With my belkin, you need my password to tap into it.

 

[46er]

From the article: "Sadly, however, there are also complaints of Comcast failing to remove router rental fees even after multiple requests."

I don't see that. They promptly took mine off when I bought a belkin. With my belkin, you need my password to tap into it.

What they are doing is using the leased routers as wifi hotspots by setting up a separate IP address and data stream in order to keep things separate from your personal use. What may happen is reduced performance if enough folks hop on the hotspot on your router, but I doubt you will see that where you live. Just keep an eye out for cars parked outside your home. To prevent that, you could line your house walls with aluminium foil, similar to the popular aluminium hats some folks find fashionable

 

[Boyd]

What they are doing is using the leased routers as wifi hotspots

That seems like a really strange idea to me. What's next? Maybe the electric company will install plugs outside your house so people can charge their Teslas and the water company will install public drinking fountains.

Personally I could care less, can't get comcast or any other kind of cable here and you would need to trespass to get close enough for a hotspot anyway.

 

[46er]

That seems like a really strange idea to me. What's next? Maybe the electric company will install plugs outside your house so people can charge their Teslas and the water company will install public drinking fountains.

Not that I agree with it, but it is a pretty novel idea to get coverage without having to negotiate and pay for locating one of their routers somewhere. But given Comcast's political leaning, you have to wonder.....

 

[Boyd]

I don't completely understand the implications of this. Let's say I just moved into an apartment building where a number of people have these Comcast routers. Can I just use my neighbor's wifi or do I need some kind of Comcast login credentials?

Or let's say I have my own Comcast account and want to download lots of big movies. Can I use one computer to do that with my neighbor's internet connection and save my own bandwidth for other things? Or what if I'm up to no good and don't want to be traced back to my own router?...

 

[46er]

Don't know how Comcast has their infinitywifi set up, but from this link it looks like you can get onto the web. How far you can go from there if you are not a customer is unknown to me. I checked my 'wireless network connections' and there is a 2 bar entry for 'infinitywifi', so one of my neighbors is a leasor.

http://www.comcast.com/wifi/default...-+comcast +xfinity +wifi-pmt-b&iq_id=68466625

You can check this map for xfinity hotspots.

http://www.comcast.com/wifi/index.html#maps_block

 

[this_is_nascar]

This is some scary stuff as far as I'm concerned, especially when you consider the criminal element. What's stopping anyone from sitting in from of a Comcast subscribing house and downloading illegal stuff that they shouldn't be downloading? Who becomes liable for that?

 

[46er]

This is some scary stuff as far as I'm concerned, especially when you consider the criminal element. What's stopping anyone from sitting in from of a Comcast subscribing house and downloading illegal stuff that they shouldn't be downloading? Who becomes liable for that?

I would think Comcast, since the connection is not thru the subscriber's IP, but Comcast's wifi address.