Stop IP address changes on PCs

Kari said:

...Just to check I understand you correctly: Lets say your router breaks down. You order a new one from Newegg, open the box and connect it to the line, connect your PC to it and start surfing? Without entering any credentials whatsoever? Factory settings, no ISP info, nothing?...

That's it.

Most knowledgeable people tweak all sorts of things, often including tying their router to specific MAC Addresses, but you typically don't have to. As for entering a lot of domain this and security key that, generally not necessary.

Really? Please geeks have patience with me now. This concept is absolutely, completely new to me. You are saying you do not need to go through setup, either using a program / CD provided by the ISP or the router configuration GUI?



Honestly, I have never heard of such an easy Internet connection. It means that let's say if you move and you have for instance terminated your contract from the next day, to assure you can use the net until you move out, anyone who could enter the house straight after you have finally driven away with your U-Haul trailer could come there with his own modem and a router, hook them up and start surfing. If you had a volume based connection, you would get the bill, and if a crime is done, the IP would point to you.

DSL, cable or older systems, I have never seen a connection where you do not need credentials to connect to ISP's WAN. I'm amazed of hearing this. Really.

Kari

EDIT:

I read a few of the last posts again, and noticed a post of mine needed some more information. To maintain logics of this discussion (if it's possible any more ), here's the post this last branch of this discussion started, and at the end of it the added information under the title EDIT:

Kari said:

Johnathan Lyman said:

Until they discover how to reset the router to wipe the settings.

Just thinking as if I was a teenager again. I was a cheeky little *******.

Please, give me a break!

After reading the original question, post #1 again, I even more and more certain that using MAC address filtering is the best available solution.

You seem to really concentrate to try to find all possible arguments, to show the OP that solutions offered do not work. I have basically nothing new to add, just this:

• Although MAC address can be hacked and changed, kids can not surf (what is / was the goal) if they find the way to use an allowed MAC address, because in case of the address conflict, the NIC is disconnected from the network
• If the kids then reset the router, they would need to know the ISP credentials to be able to reconnect and surf again. If they find them, the parents can only blame themselves. Those credentials should not be available to kids

You need to go back to Google and try to find new counter arguments. The last one was lame. Happy hunting!

Kari

EDIT:
A clarification is needed here: I understood that the post I quoted meant resetting the router to the factory defaults, which as far as I know means you have to re-enter ISP credentials. This is of course not needed if router is just reseted, rebooted. Rebooting the router keeps the ISP credentials but it also keeps the MAC address as well as other settings. Only factory reset removes all settings.

For the router, really, truly, most sincerely.

Some ISPs are picky about the modem you use. If your hypothetical burglar phoned the ISP and gave them a story about not being able to synch their new modem they would probably do it for him, assuming there were no compatibility issues.

As for cable modems in general, I've always used the one provided by the ISP and never had any setting at all that I could change on my own. Plug it in, wait a few minutes, and away you go.

Kari said:

...DSL, cable or older systems, I have never seen a connection where you do not need credentials to connect to ISP's WAN. I'm amazed of hearing this. Really.

I'm here in California with RoadRunner, using an off-the-shelf cable modem since we first got cable with Comcast. What I believe they do here is use the cable modem's ID which doubles as its MAC address as well. Our connection is tied to the ID. If we replace the modem we must call the ISP.

Its been a while now, but from what I remember when Comcast came around to install the required cables, they took the MAC address from out modem and used that, to tie our account to that modem.

logicearth is right ! At least for road runner they have to enter your modems MAC into their system before you can use it.
There is your #1 example for MAC filtering and white lists.
Typically The tech comes out and "installs" the modem (in my case he even installed a NIC...it's been a few years since I switched from dial up to cable
If you rent the modem from them they just call it in again when you get the replacement.
Or if you decide to buy your own modem, you call them an give them the MAC before you can successfully connect.

-DG

+1 for the mean old ******

That's the whole point I think. My kids know where it changes from a sportive challenge to plain old circumventing measures that are in place for a reason and they surely don't want to get caught crossing that line

-DG

Tanyam said:

Well, it seems I am going to have to make everyone suffer for one person;s bad behaviour. Unplug the router and leave it it off a few days, so no one gets internet, and the kids will have to do homework the old way..

Have you checked to see if your Router allows MAC Filtering? I would set it up for an allow list, and see how things go. If they manage to get around it, then take more durastic measures, but I think a list that allows only specific MAC addresses would be the best route.