Re: Comcast Cable Setup Security Issue

[pingywon MCSE <pingywon () gmail com>]

While I agree that some ISP make things a little more difficult then
they need to be (in most cases AV doesn't need to be turned off)
...but its the better "un"safe then sorry mentality. I mean as far a
comcast is concerned .. I have NEVER used thier silly CD to set up
their cable Internet. What does it even really do ? .... make sure my
TCP/IP stack is conffiged to DHCP ?

All in all I feel you gentlemen are being a little overly zealous, I
mean how long was your PC really connected to the Internet without
AV/firewall ....should of only been minutes. If someone decided to go
surfing during that time ...then that is on them.

There is alot of software out there that tell yous you to disable AV
while installing. I have NEVER done this ...and I have NEVER had a
problem.

just my 2 cents

~pingywon MCSE

On Tue, 20 Jul 2004 11:38:26 -0400, Steve Bostedor <steveb () tshore com> wrote:
> We have DSL as our backup line here.  There was a time when the DSL line
> was down and the tech support wanted me to plug an unprotected computer
> directly into the modem much the same way.  I refused to do it and they
> threatened not to help me.  After asking for a more experienced "tech",
> I was able to get them to answer a question without rewiring my network.
> I think that's solution #2 in their list of canned solutions to read to
> you when you call.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Gandalf The White [mailto:gandalf () digital net]
> Sent: Sunday, July 18, 2004 10:14 PM
> To: security-basics () securityfocus com
> Subject: Comcast Cable Setup Security Issue
>
> Greetings and Salutations:
>
> I am beginning to get a feel for why Comcast is at the top of the list
> for zombie spam boxes.
>
> I just set up an account for a friend who had a connection on the
> Comcast cable network.
>
> The instructions on the included CD-ROM (as soon as the CD started up)
> was to turn off all Anti-Virus and Firewall software on the computer.  I
> called up Comcast tech support and told them that I was I was nervous
> about doing this, but I was assured that my computer would *only* be
> talking to the Comcast activation server.  Lets just ignore that the
> computer would be talking to all the other machines on my local cable
> segment also.
>
> I had a router with firewall in between the computer and the Comcast
> network so I went ahead and deactivated the anti-virus and firewall
> software on the computer.
>
> I got half way through the activation and all of the sudden the process
> dies.  Claimed I could not reach the HTTPS server or that I had not
> activated within the time allowed.  I tried everything to start up the
> process again with no success.
>
> Called Comcast tech support.  The tech (he was very efficient and nice)
> told me to DISCONNECT THE COMPUTER FROM THE ROUTER AND PLUG THE COMPUTER
> DIRECTLY INTO THE CABLE MODEM.  This made me EXTREMELY nervous.  I now
> have a computer (that was patched and up to date of course) ... BUT ...
> The antivirus and personal firewall software was PURPOSEFULLY turned
> off.  By Comcast instructions.  He walked me through connecting to the
> Comcast website and finishing up the activation steps.  I tried (in the
> middle of his instructions) to ask if I could hook back into my router
> for a modicum of protection and was told no, I had to finish the setup.
>
> When I finished the setup (again, he was very nice and pleasant) I
> rebooted, hooked the computer back to the router/firewall, verified my
> antivirus and firewall were working and indeed everything worked fine.
>
> Being a computer / security professional I was (of course) thinking
> about all the very bad things that could happen to this computer while
> following Comcast's instructions.
>
> I know (and I think it is almost criminal) that many cable companied
> hook PC's up to a cable modem *all the time* without antivirus /
> firewall / updates / any kind of protection.  But you would think that
> an installation would not require you to take away any kind of
> protection that a computer has.  I can see some overzealous PC owner
> deleting the anti-virus and firewall software just to get their cable
> modem working.
>
> Ken
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
> Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards for they are subtle and quick to
> anger. Ken Hollis - Gandalf The White - gandalf () digital net - O- TINLC
> WWW Page - http://digital.net/~gandalf/ Trace E-Mail forgery -
> http://digital.net/~gandalf/spamfaq.html
> Trolls crossposts - http://digital.net/~gandalf/trollfaq.html
>
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-- 


~pingywon MCSE 
http://www.pingywon.com

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