Comcast routers broadcasting free Wi-Fi to neighborhood

[Computer0304]

1. It may make you pay additional power.
2. If someone downloads something illegal through the hotspot, the police will assume it was you.
3. A virus could spread through the two networks depending on how it is set up.

 

[UsernameIssues]

1. It may make you pay additional power.
2. If someone downloads something illegal through the hotspot, the police will assume it was you.
3. A virus could spread through the two networks depending on how it is set up.

1) You probably will not be able to measure the difference used. It is one antenna broadcasting two SSIDs. Looking at some of the complaints in various forums - the speed is throttled, so hotspot users could not even heat up the access point with a big download. Also, there is a limit to the number of users per hotspot (I think it is 5).

2) The internet facing IP address is different... so, when the authorities ask the ISP, "Who was using IP address xxxxx on this day, at this time"; the ISP can say that account yyyy was signed on to the hotspot at this address.

3) The networks are definitely separate. So many people tried to hook a wireless printer to the hotspot and print to it from their network that the issue made it into the FAQ :-(


edit:
XFINITY WiFi - FAQs

 

[UsernameIssues]

My turn to post the negatives.

Someone else can play the devil's advocate.

I would turn it off (if the contract allowed same).

I don't want someone parked near my home. Currently, I can ask the police to ask such a loiterer why they are parked near my home and sitting in their vehicle for an unusual amount of time. If I offer a hotspot, I've just muddied the waters on if they should be there and I might have created an invited (attractive) nuisance issue.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Attractive_nuisance_doctrine

 

[AddRAM]

So what does having a Comcast account have to do with it, couldn`t anyone latch on to the signal if they really wanted to ?

 

[UsernameIssues]

It is not a public hotspot. You must sign on with your ISP account before you can "surf".

It is not wide open. Visitors using the same hotspot are isolated from each other.

 

[Layback Bear]

It is not a public hotspot. You must sign on with your ISP account before you can "surf".

It is not wide open. Visitors using the same hotspot are isolated from each other.

Maybe and maybe not. Comcast users would have to trust Comcast that they are isolated. I wouldn't trust them.

 

[UsernameIssues]

It is not a public hotspot. You must sign on with your ISP account before you can "surf".

It is not wide open. Visitors using the same hotspot are isolated from each other.

Maybe and maybe not. Comcast users would have to trust Comcast that they are isolated. I wouldn't trust them.

You are correct. A certain level of trust is required. Or at least a certain level of research should be done. Since this is an opt out process. Most users will not even know that it is happening. I guess that is why the article made the news - even though the service has been rolling out since 2010.

Since I stated why I would not use the service - there is not much reason for me to research this like I was contemplating turning it on. If I were researching it deeper, I would look for reviews from people that know about such things. Maybe Krebs (and his resources) will chime in on this old topic someday. (like that'll ever happen)

I have asked some forum members who are using this service to run some tests for me. If those members find the time to do those tiny tests, then maybe I can post back with a bit more info.

 

[Layback Bear]

The problem is 99.9% of the people using Comcast don't know their rounter/modem is a hot spot. I would venture to say most of them don't know what a hotspot is. So, for them to do a bunch of router tinkering and such is out of the question.

 

[Computer0304]

Well good thing i am not one of those people who don't care about tinkering with their routers.

 

[UsernameIssues]

The problem is 99.9% of the people using Comcast don't know their rounter/modem is a hot spot. I would venture to say most of them don't know what a hotspot is. So, for them to do a bunch of router tinkering and such is out of the question.

I don't understand why you won't blindly trust this company to handle security issues for you. /jk

Just look how well they handled this recent problem.

They obviously know what they are doing. NOT!

 

[ThrashZone]

One thing I like to think about at&t they wouldn't knowingly share my internet connection with others around me
Another customers password or not,
That does seem to stretch the word Public to another meaning,
Pretty wild stuff,
I also though my password was not very strong by at&t default standards but at least Public is off by default ?

 

[Barman58]

This is a known "feature" of BT's UK network - this allows other BT customers to utilise "Spare Bandwidth" whilst not at home.

I am not a BT customer but AFAIK It may be disabled in the router.

Although I am not a BT customer, my phone, (from EE/T-Mobile), comes with an app that automatically will find and log on to any available BT-Home network. I do not actually use the app as I have a good unlimited contract but it is an option

 

[ThrashZone]

I believe it might get the most sticky as far as who's getting priority in the bandwidth being shared,
I for one would not be all that happy if I wasn't getting priority on what I'm paying for and barely receiving as it is and some neighbor or passer by was altering that bandwidth in anyway shape or form,
Cheers.

 

[UsernameIssues]

But the passerby already can impact your bandwidth if they use a hotspot from your neighbor's home. Doesn't cable share bandwidth for all of those that are on a common hub (distribution box)? (Or whatever the equipment is called.) In our area, they put 10 homes to a box.

 

[A Guy]

Cable users do share bandwidth, but I doubt it has any effect on speed. It would take a bunch of online gamers all online at the same time to have any effect. It's possible, but unlikely. Even during peak hours, I don't see much fluctuation.

How do I disable/enable the XFINITY WiFi Home Hotspot feature?

We encourage all subscribers to keep this feature enabled as it allows more people to enjoy the benefits of XFINITY WiFi around the neighborhood. You will always have the ability to disable the XFINITY WiFi feature on your Wireless Gateway by calling 1-800-XFINITY.

XFINITY WiFi - FAQs

A Guy

 

[Computer0304]

Wow encouraging customers to use such a sevice with negative reputation.

 

[derekimo]

Interesting tidbit from that FAQ...

How many visitors can connect to the XFINITY WiFi Home Hotspot at one time?

Up to five devices can connect to the “xfinitywifi” signal simultaneously.

 

[whs]

 

[Britton30]

He raises some very good points Wolfgang. I'm certainly no WiFi guru but I suspect someone wily enough could get access to the whole network with Comcast's willingness to share others subscriptions.

 

[Computer0304]

So this is comcast's way of offering people cheap internet? By allowing users to by a slow speed for home but connect to someone who could have a very fast speed and steal bandwith by POSSIBLY playing MMOs and etc.