Comcast Is Turning The US Into Its Own Private Hotspot

Discussion in 'other security issues & news' started by ronjor, Jun 11, 2014.

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  1. ronjor

    ronjor Global Moderator

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    http://techcrunch.com/2014/06/11/comcast-is-turning-the-us-into-its-own-private-hotspot/
     
  2. TheWindBringeth

    TheWindBringeth Registered Member

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    I don't like the sound of that "there is some chatter that everyone will be stuck with a $6 bill add-on per month in the future". Use Comcast hotspots? No need thank you. You want to put a Comcast gateway in my home? Please step closer so I can hit you with a bat for being stupid.
     
    Last edited: Jun 11, 2014
  3. Rasheed187

    Rasheed187 Registered Member

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    LOL, the biggest providers in Holland have also done this, I think it´s one of the most stupid ideas ever.

    Luckily if you turn off WIFI, you´re safe from this nonsense. Why would I share my hardware with others? :)
     
  4. prius04

    prius04 Registered Member

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    I have a Comcast gateway. Stepping closer is only necessary in order to get a signal out of the thing (the length of a baseball bat is about as far as the signal extends). Thus, I'm not overly concerned about anyone else being able to use my hardware if this hotspot deal is ever implemented in my service area. On the other hand, one of my neighbors might have cause to be concerned. I can pick up his WiFi (Netgear) easily with my smartphone and his house is on the opposite side of the street and like 4 houses away from mine......and I know it's his because the SSID includes his last name. :eek:

    BTW, I got my monthly Comcast bill earlier today and, voila, the price for my package (cable and internet) seems to have increased by about $7. So, they're already starting with this nonsense.
     
  5. stapp

    stapp Global Moderator

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    British Telecom (BT) in the UK also do this.

    You are automatically opted in.

    You can opt out by going to an opt out website they provide although some users have said the BT wifi (also known as BTFon) still broadcasts afterwards for them.

    https://www.bt.com/wifi/secure/index.do?s_cid=con_FURL_btfon


    There is also the question of reseting router back to default.. does it turn free wifi for all back on?
     
  6. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    What happens when someone else accesses illegal content through your router?
     
  7. prius04

    prius04 Registered Member

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    The following, in the quote box, appears on the Comcast WiFi FAQ page:

    http://wifi.comcast.com/faqs.html
     
  8. xxJackxx

    xxJackxx Registered Member

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    Thanks for the link. It not as bad as I thought, but I still don't know that I like the idea.
     
  9. prius04

    prius04 Registered Member

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    You are most welcome and, fwiw, I definitely do not like the idea, primarily because, as a Comcast customer, I will wind up paying "my share"
    of the cost and it's something I will likely never use.
     
  10. Compu KTed

    Compu KTed Registered Member

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

    Go to customer.comcast.com/, click on “Users & Preferences”, and then select “Manage XFINITY WiFi.”

    Click the button for “Disable Xfinity Wifi Home Hotspot.”
    Click Save

    comcast
     
  11. Keatah

    Keatah Registered Member

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    Yeh that'll be the day.. They're gonna have to pay me if they want to use my equipment.
     
  12. TheWindBringeth

    TheWindBringeth Registered Member

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    Perhaps OK for you, but I've picked up the Comcast hotspots from a significant distance in a number of crowded situations (apartments, condominiums, townhouses, old/dense stand alone homes, the like). Frankly though, I was thinking more about the general issue of allowing an ISP to control a wireless gateway, let alone *the* wireless gateway/router, in your home. Your network = your equipment principle, plus you don't want to lose the ability to easily change your public IP Address via a MAC Address set/clone, plus you don't want to lose the ability to put a network analyzer inline to see exactly what is being sent out.

    On a number of ocassions I've heard of pushed firmware updates that removed features and/or negatively impacted performance. Ever experience that? Do ISPs even announce such updates, provide changelogs, etc?
     
  13. noone_particular

    noone_particular Registered Member

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    The more of this stuff I read, the more I'm glad that I get service from a small local company.
     
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