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Comcast Plans Cable Boxes with Integrated Wi-Fi and Snooping

Kaa writes "Short version: Comcast's cable modem/802.11g base station that is made by Linksys has capabilities to 'phone home' to Comcast and tell them how many devices are connected to your WiFi base station, how much bandwidth they are using, etc. It also has the capability to 'disable LAN segments' which, I assume, means they can kick your devices off your home network if they choose to do so. Something tells me this particular device won't make it into my house..."

13 of 427 comments (clear)

  1. Comcast = Traffic Monitoring by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny
    Great, now these guys will know each and every time I click on a hidden Goatse.cx link.

    Maybe they'll add a feature in so this doesn't keep happening all the time.

  2. So...? by YanceyAI · · Score: 5, Funny
    If I decide to throw a lan-party, they'll disconnect my buddies remotely, then what? A bunch of pissed-off, masked comcast SWAT guys show up?

    That's just evil. Count me out.

    --
    Can I bum a sig?
  3. Won't get through my firewall by Neil+Blender · · Score: 3, Funny

    Unless I am a complete idiot.

  4. In Soviet Russia by AtariAmarok · · Score: 1, Funny
    In Soviet Russia, cable TV watches You!

    (what can I say? It is karma-burn friday. May be overrated, but it sure isn't offtopic for once!)

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  5. Re:Easy fix. by Phronesis · · Score: 3, Funny

    It would make lots of sense to install an integraded cable modem/wireless base station and then try to put a firewall between it and all your wireless devices!

  6. This must explain their version of "Big Brother" by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    This must explain the Comcast version of the "Big Brother" show. I was wondering why it always showed my own living room.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  7. Re:Easy fix. by grub · · Score: 2, Funny


    The instant they find out that you're "circumventing" their neat-o technology

    Hmm.. I don't think that could be considered circumventing anything, really. You're just adding another gateway device... right in front of theirs. :)

    Now, if their EULA says that only their device can act as a NAT device... you never know.

    --
    Trolling is a art,
  8. Some features of New Comcast Cable by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    US Robitics cable modems burst into flame upon connection.

    Local FBI agents walking down the street now greet you by first name.

    "they can kick your devices off your home network" means that your toaster, radio, blanket, and vacuum have left home never to return.

    Reality TV shows feature different rooms in your house.

    --
    Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
  9. Re:This is a product for the lusers... by slickwillie · · Score: 5, Funny

    Maybe I don't want one in MY house, but I'd sure like my neighbor to get one.

  10. Re:Easy fix. by Mad+Bad+Rabbit · · Score: 4, Funny

    try to put a firewall between it and all your wireless devices!

    No problem: just put it inside a Faraday cage.

    Of course, it will be tricky to find the right spots
    to cut holes in the wire mesh for a given IP address
    and port number...

    --
    >;k
  11. I for one... by Lacutis · · Score: 2, Funny

    Welcome our new Cable-TV Overlords.

    Sorry, I couldn't resist, I haven't posted one of these before, but it just fit sooo well.

  12. Re:Smoothwall by AndroidCat · · Score: 5, Funny
    and don't pay the extra charges that comcast wants you to pony up...

    I knew there must be a pony in there somewhere.

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  13. Re:Smoothwall by 0x0000 · · Score: 4, Funny
    even simpler solution: buy one of the many many many available router/wifi AP combos out there and don't pay the extra charges that comcast wants you to pony up...

    As an recent victim of the Comcast scam, I feel that I should point out that it is a virtual certainty that Comcast will attempt to cook up some scheme to prohibit use of their network using any equipment that is not "approved" by their MBA-wielding, $1-billion-from-Micro$oft-funded, shit-for-brains, corporate thugz.

    Apparently Comcast has issues with allowing their victims (you know, the ones they pretend are "customers") to actually use the service.

    Heads up, Comcast management: the next time one of your high-school-dropout, red-neck-trailer-trash, gun-fetish, drooling "tech support" MORONS tells me "You can't do that" I may just go fukking POSTAL. You should make your employees aware of this, since they will no doubt rate some hazard pay in their capacity as human shields protecting YOU from .... well, somebody less disgruntled than, ME, since I would never even consider trying to PROTECT MY RIGHTS AS A CONSUMER, especially against huge, honking, big dick corporate like yours, oh mighty Gatekeepers of Broadband Access -- no matter how fukking STUPID, CLASSIST, PREJUDICED, and IGNORANT YOU ARE -- right? eh? So. We understand each other? You a) provision the cable modem I paid you for, and b) you provide the bandwidth I pay you for, and you c) leave me the fuk alone about what devices I can hook to that connection, and I don't have to come all the way over there to straighten it out with you in person .... k?

    I really wish .... oh nevermind.

    --
    "The Internet is made of cats."