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Cable Modem Hackers Release Improved Firmware

Posted by michael on from the improvise-adapt-overcome dept.

FatCat writes "SecurityFocus has a story about a group of hardware and software hobbyists specializing in embeddded systems who've released their own custom firmware for Motorola Surfboard cable modems. The firmware lets you log in to an interactive VxWorks shell, or issue commands from a Web browser through an http interface. You load it by tapping an undocumented console serial port on the circuit board. So far, uncappers are apparently the primary consumers, and they're downloading up to 400 copies a day."

20 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. So far... by randomErr · · Score: 3, Funny

    So far, uncappers are apparently the primary consumers, and they're downloading up to 400 copies a day.

    That was until /. posted the link. Now something like 30,000 downloaded will be registered today.

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    You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
  2. Make that 40,000 now by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Thanks to Slashdot, I'm sure it'll be 40,000 sometime today, that is unless Google changes their graphic to some sore of cable modem and beats Slashdot to the punch.

  3. confused by fjordboy · · Score: 3, Funny

    I've always wondered why people go to so much trouble to uncap their cable modems and stuff. I used dialup for years and NEVER had to worry about messing with my modem to uncap it. My connection was burstable and had absolutely no cap!

    --
    The anti-salmon
    1. Re:confused by randomErr · · Score: 1, Funny

      So that they could run that pr0n video server of Janet's boob?

      --
      You say things that offend me and I can deal with it. Can you?
    2. Re:confused by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Jeez, if you're going to run a porn server, can't you at least find boobs that are not scary?

    3. Re:confused by IWorkForMorons · · Score: 2, Funny

      ...when we finally got that low res porn we wondered why we had bothered...

      I think I speak for many of us when I say I've never wondered why I've downloaded porn.

  4. Re:Spelling nazi... by Ineffable+27 · · Score: 1, Funny

    Aaagh! I meant 'hobbyist'! Sorry again....

    --
    "He'd be a broader guy if he had dropped acid once." - Steve Jobs on Bill Gates
  5. This is the US by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny
    We have to reserve a certain portion of all economic activity for our lawyers, else they're likely to run wild in the streets and start chewing the tires off cars.

    With caps inside the cable company's network, there would be no oppurtunity for legal disputes and the resulting lawyer's fees....

  6. Cheap VxWorks development system? by jerryasher · · Score: 2, Funny

    For engineers eager to gain VxWorks experience inexpensively, how reasonable a development platform is this modem?

    1. Re:Cheap VxWorks development system? by the_mad_poster · · Score: 2, Funny

      Why muck around with a modem and hacking, when you could install VxWorks on a PC and worry about learning the system, not hacking the hardware.

      I'm sorry, sir. You seem a little lost here. Are you aware that this is Slashdot? :-)

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  7. Re:Great, the bandwidth hogs by haplo21112 · · Score: 2, Funny

    F U...You have the whole issue backwards, if the Cable company would just provide enough bandwidth all all users could go at thier full speed In my case 2/256 all the time...there wouldn't be any such thing as a bandwidth hog...I pay for a cable modem which is supposed to go at 2/256, and I don't think its at all unreasonable fr me to expect it to go a 2/256 whenever I want it too, and if thats all the time because I download/upload alot of stuff...(I ftp stuff back and forth from work, as well as send a shoutcast stream to myself at work so I can listen to anything in my music collection whicle I am at work)...then so be it, Its my Fing right as a customer to use what I purchased.

    --
    Power Corrupts,Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely, leaving one person(group)in charge is absolutely corrupt.
  8. Re:Is this right? by presearch · · Score: 1, Funny

    Besides, you could poke an eye out with that thing.

  9. No way! by Prince+Vegeta+SSJ4 · · Score: 2, Funny
    in fact I've been getting the lowest latency ever ever! Look Out Duke Nukem Forever!

    SEE!

    c>ping -t www.google.com

    Reply from 216.239.41.104: bytes=32 time=10ms TTL=244

    Reply from 216.239.41.104: bytes=32 time=17ms TTL=244

    Reply from 216.239.41.104: bytes=32 time=7ms TTL=244

    Reply from 216.239.41.104: bytes=32 time=4ms TTL=244

    Wooho^C^C%%$*&$%.Destination host unreachable

  10. Re:Spelling nazi... by troc · · Score: 2, Funny

    Is a hoobyist someone who discriminates against hoobys?

    If so will all companies eventually be forced by law to employ a certain number of hoobys in some sort of perverse positive discrimination?

    Will we get "hooby rights marches" and will Holland allow two hoobys to get married?

    Enquiring minds etc etc

    troc

    --
    Troc's dubious podcast and blog: http://www.trocnet.net
  11. It's great software by sootman · · Score: 0, Funny

    I just uncapped my cable modem and it's great! There is no way my ISP can stop me! Mwa ha ha h*&%$#@^NO CARRIER

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  12. cap? by wfberg · · Score: 2, Funny

    "So far, uncappers are apparently the primary consumers, and they're downloading up to 400 copies a day."

    If they just downloaded it once, maybe they wouldn't exceed their cap?

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  13. Re:Loss of service by Muad'Dave · · Score: 4, Funny

    If they found that you were AGAIN in violation you were terminated.

    Your service was terminated, right? I've heard of "substantial penalties" for breach of contract, but termination? Jeez!

    --
    Tiller's Rule: Never use a word in written form that you've only heard and never read. You will end up looking foolish.
  14. AGGH!!!! GET A SPELLCHECKER!!!!! by jeddak · · Score: 3, Funny

    "...group of hardware and software hobbiests..." that's spelled hobbits, thank you very much.

  15. Re:Loss of service by GPLDAN · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Spice must flow!!

    Sorry... couldn't resist.

  16. Re:My Opinion by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    well under my new modified TOS, theres a disconnection fee that they would owe me :D

    btw, my posts arent really meant as realistic solutions, they are merely cynical jabs and wishful thinkng.