Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

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."

4 of 419 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Loss of service by cayenne8 · · Score: 0, Troll
    This is new to me...I just joined Cox cable high speed. They can control the modem "I" bought? I didn't take the one they wanted to give...it would have cost me twice as much for them to provide the same motorala modem I got.

    So, if I get this correctly, they can still get in and control this modem? But, if it is MY purchased hardware, what can they say about me wanting to hack into it and learn how it works?

    --
    Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
  2. Re:Loss of service by boobsea · · Score: 1, Troll

    You can't legally deem that your payment is suddenly worth a few extra channels and hack the cable/sat network. It's still theft and against the law. The same logic applies to cable modems.

    Your analogy is seriously flawed. Sattelite and cable signals are already coming into your house. You're not taking something that you're not paying for - the signals are already in your house.

    Whereas uncapping your cable modem is theft - you are actually taking something that normally wouldn't be getting from the cable company in any circumstance

  3. Re:Loss of service by JCMay · · Score: 0, Troll

    You posted a link that points at 192.168.100.1? Are you trolling, or just inept?

  4. Re:Loss of service by revmoo · · Score: 0, Troll

    You posted a link that points at 192.168.100.1? Are you trolling, or just inept?

    Most cable modems run a simple webserver which can be accessed by going to that link, he was neither trolling nor inept, you on the other hand... :p

    --
    I would expect such blatant racism on Fark, but on Slashdot? Mods please ban this asshole.