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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."

2 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. 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....

  2. 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.