Re: Comcast thinks it ok to install public wifi in your house

[Ryan Pavely <paradox () nac net>]

http://bgr.com/2014/05/12/cablevision-optimum-modem-wifi-hotspots/

 I thought cablevision has been doing this for years.

 I had a higher level tech at mi casa within the last two years and he suggested their goal was to get enough coverage to start 
offering CV voip cell phones.  "pay a little less, for not guaranteed coverage'



  Ryan Pavely
   Net Access
   http://www.nac.net/

On 12/10/2014 9:35 PM, Jeroen van Aart wrote:
> Why am I not surprised?
>
> Whose fault would it be if your comcast installed public wifi would be abused to download illegal material or launch a 
> botnet, to name some random fun one could have on your behalf. :-/
>
> (apologies if this was posted already, couldn't find an email about it on the list)
>
> http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/10/disgruntled_customers_lob_sueball_at_comcast_over_public_wifi/
>
> "A mother and daughter are suing Comcast claiming the cable giant's router in their home was offering public Wi-Fi 
> without their permission.
>
> Comcast-supplied routers broadcast an encrypted, private wireless network for people at home, plus a non-encrypted network called 
> XfinityWiFi that can be used by nearby subscribers. So if you're passing by a fellow user's home, you can lock onto their 
> public Wi-Fi, log in using your Comcast username and password, and use that home's bandwidth.
>
> However, Toyer Grear, 39, and daughter Joycelyn Harris – who live together in Alameda County, California – say they 
> never gave Comcast permission to run a public network from their home cable connection.
>
> In a lawsuit [PDF] filed in the northern district of the golden state, the pair accuse the ISP of breaking the Computer 
> Fraud and Abuse Act and two other laws.
>
> Grear – a paralegal – and her daughter claim the Xfinity hotspot is an unauthorized intrusion into their private home, places a 
> "vast" burden on electricity bills, opens them up to attacks by hackers, and "degrades" their bandwidth.
>
> "Comcast does not, however, obtain the customer's authorization prior to engaging in this use of the customer's equipment 
> and internet service for public, non-household use," the suit claims.
>
> "Indeed, without obtaining its customers' authorization for this additional use of their equipment and resources, over which 
> the customer has no control, Comcast has externalized the costs of its national Wi-Fi network onto its customers."
>
> The plaintiffs are seeking monetary damages for themselves and on behalf of all Comcast customers nation-wide in their 
> class-action case – the service was rolled out to 20 million customers this year."