Comcast routers broadcasting free Wi-Fi to neighborhood

[A Guy]

Comcast customer Ronaldo Boschulte didn't know exactly what he was getting when the company swapped his malfunctioning modem for a new one. The cable modem doubles as a Wi-Fi router—that much he was expecting. But he didn't realize the router would, by default, broadcast a public Wi-Fi network that anyone with a Comcast account could connect to.

“I didn't know it had a hotspot," Boschulte told the St. Paul Pioneer Press in Minnesota.

Source

A Guy

 

[andrew129260]

That's a fantastic security risk. Thanks comcast!

Just goes to prove you should buy your own router. And preferably modem as well.

 

[Computer0304]

Good job comcast.

 

[techtitan100]

luckily we got Wi-Fi early last year and I haven't seen no such network named xfinitywifi in the list of available wireless networks

 

[Layback Bear]

They must have one hellofa security department at Comcast.

 

[OvenMaster]

"Lying on his family room floor with assault weapons trained on him, shouts of "pedophile!" and "pornographer!" stinging like his fresh cuts and bruises, the Buffalo homeowner didn’t need long to figure out the reason for the early morning wake-up call from a swarm of federal agents.

That new wireless router. He'd gotten fed up trying to set a password. Someone must have used his Internet connection, he thought."


SWAT Team Raids Home Because Guy Had An Open Wireless Router | Techdirt

 

[King Arthur]

Referring to the above, I agree with the police that the lesson to be learned is that network equipment should be properly secured. Just like how you wouldn't be giving the keys to your car willy nilly, one should do their best to ensure their stuff won't be misused.

 

[Layback Bear]

OH I think it's a little over kill with the S.W.A.T.
If you sent a S.W.A.T. after every unprotected router we wouldn't have enough S.W.A.T.
Comcast is going to driving law enforcement crazy.
I think I'm protected. I even removed my antennas from my router and covered the ports with aluminum foil.

 

[Fantail]

Maybe he was tipped off by the crowd of ex-surfers from Barns & Noble.

 

[ThrashZone]

Not that difficult to test all you need is a cell phone or laptop and see what's offered as wifi connections,
Pretty crazy default settings,
I will never ever use Comcast even if it were free and that has nothing to do with this issue
This was the first thing I tested and still do with U-Verse,
Cheers.

 

[matts6887]

That's a fantastic security risk. Thanks comcast!

Just goes to prove you should buy your own router. And preferably modem as well.

For sure!!; I would not trust getting any such unit from the cable company; even if it is one of the newest all in ones. Because if you didnt know the hotspot was there then you could be broadcasting your network for anyone to gain access to. Hackers, others, you name it. Just the reason even if you get a separate modem and a separate router; you should still thoroughly check the configuration page for any hotspots and disable them and secure them.

 

[Computer0304]

You could try turning off your router to check for any other networks to disappear other than your primary network.

 

[UsernameIssues]

My guess is that the wi-fi offered to other comcast users is isolated from the network of the home owner using a vlan setup. I would also guess/hope that the internet facing IP address is different* from the one that the home owner has...

...but all of that is just guessing since my brief search into this did not find many details.

This hotspot arrangement appears to have been in place since 2010.

*should prevent the whole swat team thing. Comcast should tell the authorities that the offending traffic came from the hotspot side of the location and they should be able to pass along the Comcast account name used to access the hotspot. Of course, the account credentials could be stolen.

 

[Computer0304]

Yeah why won't Comcast take the blame? It was them who made the hotspots in the first place.

 

[A Guy]

Yeah, this is Comcast basically offering hotspots to their users via other users routers. It is separate from your network, and it's security. They are apparently not even using your bandwidth, but rather the systems bandwidth. This is by design no doubt, so not something to "fix" for them. It's a bit sneaky, but it is their equipment albeit using your electricity. A Guy

 

[UsernameIssues]

Other ISPs do this too: Cable WiFi® | Internet access brought to consumers through a collaboration among U.S. Internet service providers

While it may be your electricity, if you use it while out and about, then it might even out.

 

[Britton30]

If this is to be the norm, Comcast owes it's subscribers a hefty discount for helping to spread their signal. I don't use the service when I'm out and see no need to be semi-forced to provide free service to anyone else.

It is their equipment, but subscribers have a right to control who gets the service they are paying for.

I weaned myself from there high equipment charges and bought my own modem, which was paid for within 7 months of the rental fee to use theirs.

 

[Computer0304]

Or you could completly turn off your power. Once i had a power outage and only my primary network disappeared.

 

[Computer0304]

Other ISPs do this too: Cable WiFi® | Internet access brought to consumers through a collaboration among U.S. Internet service providers

While it may be your electricity, if you use it while out and about, then it might even out.

Wow they're explaining it like it is a good thing...

 

[UsernameIssues]

Other ISPs do this too: Cable WiFi® | Internet access brought to consumers through a collaboration among U.S. Internet service providers

While it may be your electricity, if you use it while out and about, then it might even out.

Wow they're explaining it like it is a good thing...

For the sake of discussion, go ahead and list some of the reasons why this should not be done.

I'll play the devil's advocate.