All Things Net Neutrality

[Dirtbag59]

Comcast is turning your home router into a public Wi-Fi hotspot - Jun. 16, 2014

I saw this story a couple days ago but just kind of thought of it as another way for Comcast to just continue being douche bags and not much further then that. Then I saw this video which made a very good point.

A little background. For those that missed it, Comcast has been claiming that they need to eventually enstate soft data caps nationwide to manage network congestion, even though its since been proven that its complete BS. Of course this is a "deal" for customers since now they won't hit you with a year long banhammer for going over their cap.

Of course now they're having peoples with newer models of their home routers, that they require customers to lease even if they have their own, to serve as public Wi-Fi hotspots for other Comcast customers. The feature is enabled by default so its up to the customer to call Comcast to find out how to disable it.

Also Comcast claims that the Public Wi-Fi is on a separate network and won't affect the speeds of their customers.

So let me F*****G get this straight. You guys already overcharge me for internet access and provide me speeds much slower then the rest of the developed world in spite of me being in a major market (ie I'm most definitely not rural). Then you have me pay extra for going over 300GB and a fee to lease your router even though I have my own. Not to mention that somehow since you enacted the data caps my internet has been more prone to disconnecting and buffering then the year and a half you completely did away with caps to "collect data."

Then on top of that you need Netflix to pay you because they're clogging up your network, cost which they pass on to me, but you have more then enough bandwidth to set up a couple million public hot spots and it will be provided by the same device that I send my personal information like Credit Cards, SS numbers, etc?

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU U

[skinsguy]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag59

Comcast is turning your home router into a public Wi-Fi hotspot - Jun. 16, 2014

I saw this story a couple days ago but just kind of thought of it as another way for Comcast to just continue being douche bags and not much further then that. Then I saw this video which made a very good point.

A little background. For those that missed it, Comcast has been claiming that they need to eventually enstate soft data caps nationwide to manage network congestion, even though its since been proven that its complete BS. Of course this is a "deal" for customers since now they won't hit you with a year long banhammer for going over their cap.

Of course now they're having peoples with newer models of their home routers, that they require customers to lease even if they have their own, to serve as public Wi-Fi hotspots for other Comcast customers. The feature is enabled by default so its up to the customer to call Comcast to find out how to disable it.

Also Comcast claims that the Public Wi-Fi is on a separate network and won't affect the speeds of their customers.

So let me F*****G get this straight. You guys already overcharge me for internet access and provide me speeds much slower then the rest of the developed world in spite of me being in a major market (ie I'm most definitely not rural). Then you have me pay extra for going over 300GB and a fee to lease your router even though I have my own. Not to mention that somehow since you enacted the data caps my internet has been more prone to disconnecting and buffering then the year and a half you completely did away with caps to "collect data."

Then on top of that you need Netflix to pay you because they're clogging up your network, cost which they pass on to me, but you have more then enough bandwidth to set up a couple million public hot spots and it will be provided by the same device that I send my personal information like Credit Cards, SS numbers, etc?

FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU U

We were just talking about this at work yesterday. I don't believe Comcast when they say it won't effect your internet speed. That can't be true. The more internet connections you have on the node that is feeding internet to your neighborhood, the more likely it will effect internet speed. That's just the nature of having cable internet - it's all shared. If that wasn't true, then the 25 mbps download speeds I pay for would be 25 down at all times - yet on average I get about 13 mbps download speeds. What happens when someone logs onto the hotspot being served on your router, and they happen to be doing something illegal? Who gets in trouble?

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag59

Comcast is turning your home router into a public Wi-Fi hotspot - Jun. 16, 2014

I saw this story a couple days ago but just kind of thought of it as another way for Comcast to just continue being douche bags and not much further then that. Then I saw this video which made a very good point.

A little background. For those that missed it, Comcast has been claiming that they need to eventually enstate soft data caps nationwide to manage network congestion, even though its since been proven that its complete BS. Of course this is a "deal" for customers since now they won't hit you with a year long banhammer for going over their cap.

Of course now they're having peoples with newer models of their home routers, that they require customers to lease even if they have their own, to serve as public Wi-Fi hotspots for other Comcast customers. The feature is enabled by default so its up to the customer to call Comcast to find out how to disable it.

Also Comcast claims that the Public Wi-Fi is on a separate network and won't affect the speeds of their customers.

So let me F*****G get this straight. You guys already overcharge me for internet access and provide me speeds much slower then the rest of the developed world in spite of me being in a major market (ie I'm most definitely not rural). Then you have me pay extra for going over 300GB and a fee to lease your router even though I have my own. Not to mention that somehow since you enacted the data caps my internet has been more prone to disconnecting and buffering then the year and a half you completely did away with caps to "collect data."

Then on top of that you need Netflix to pay you because they're clogging up your network, cost which they pass on to me, but you have more then enough bandwidth to set up a couple million public hot spots and it will be provided by the same device that I send my personal information like Credit Cards, SS numbers, etc?
FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU U

Guys im a novice when it comes to computers in general, but is my security at risk by this hotspot thing? Im a comcast wifi customer, and got a letter in the spring about this...i def dont want some crazy person doing all types of pervy or illegal things using my house as a hotspot.

Thanks for any info...there is an "opt out" option?

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

Guys im a novice when it comes to computers in general, but is my security at risk by this hotspot thing? Im a comcast wifi customer, and got a letter in the spring about this...i def dont want some crazy person doing all types of pervy or illegal things using my house as a hotspot.

Thanks for any info...there is an "opt out" option?

This , and I haven't got a word from them at all .All we have is Comcast and Fios in Charles county and everyone I know is bitching about the fios ,down loads are slow and pictures are breaking up .Now this crap with the router is that one of their routers or on anyone ?

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

Guys im a novice when it comes to computers in general, but is my security at risk by this hotspot thing? Im a comcast wifi customer, and got a letter in the spring about this...i def dont want some crazy person doing all types of pervy or illegal things using my house as a hotspot.

Thanks for any info...there is an "opt out" option?

I'll type more on this later but I'm under the impression that unless your router is this model or newer it will be a non issue.

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag59

I'll type more on this later but I'm under the impression that unless your router is this model or newer it will be a non issue.

It's that one

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

It's that one

Umm yeahhhhhhhhhh

#EveryManForHimself!

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

It's that one

All right I'm hoping this does the trick.

How to Disable Comcast Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspot | BGR

1. Log into your Comcast account page at customer.comcast.com.
2. Click on Users & Preferences.
3. Look for a heading on the page for “Service Address.” Below your address, click the link that reads “Manage Xfinity WiFi.”
4. Click the button for “Disable Xfinity Wifi Home Hotspot.”
5. Click Save

Hope being the optimal word because I also found this.

Disabling the new public wifi from my router. - Comcast Help and Support Forums

Has ANYONE been able to get the public wifi disabled from your router. On the Email comcast sent it said to disable go to the website or call 1-800-wedontcare and be routed to India 3 hours later and no help. I was even called for their survey while I was still on hold with them! Got to love the "customer guarantee" I hung up after 2 hours and 11 minutes. I guess calling the FCC or Attorney General is an option. Has anyone been successful with this?

Comcast still curious why more people don't support their efforts to acquire Time Warner and undermine Net Neutrality.

[Giantone]

Originally Posted by Dirtbag59

I'll type more on this later but I'm under the impression that unless your router is this model or newer it will be a non issue.

They just put this one in my house yesterday, is this good or bad ?

[Dirtbag59]

Originally Posted by Giantone

They just put this one in my house yesterday, is this good or bad ?

Bad but you should be able to disable it from your comcast account page

[Daseal]

Originally Posted by Chico23231

Guys im a novice when it comes to computers in general, but is my security at risk by this hotspot thing? Im a comcast wifi customer, and got a letter in the spring about this...i def dont want some crazy person doing all types of pervy or illegal things using my house as a hotspot.

Thanks for any info...there is an "opt out" option?

Even if there's not an inherent security risk, which I highly doubt, there's certainly a massive risk of social engineering. I saw an article about a gentleman that uses a mifi pineapple to immitate a comcast hotspot. He makes a page that looks exactly like their splash screen, only he logs their credentials for use later. Pretty interesting read.
xfinity pineapple | the dialog

[Chico23231]

Originally Posted by Daseal

Even if there's not an inherent security risk, which I highly doubt, there's certainly a massive risk of social engineering. I saw an article about a gentleman that uses a mifi pineapple to immitate a comcast hotspot. He makes a page that looks exactly like their splash screen, only he logs their credentials for use later. Pretty interesting read.
xfinity pineapple | the dialog

Im putting this on my things to do list this weekend, eliminate my public hotspot portal. Thanks Dirt and Daseal.