Comcast Xfinity is using your router as a hotspot at your expense

[Elektra57]

Comcast Xfinity is the absolute worst. Not only have they started capping data and charging for going over. They are using our rented routers as hotspots for other Comcast customers and potentially hackers. If someone uses your router hotspot to download illegal material you can be held liable. Glad I read this so I can turn it off.  https://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-opt-out-of-comcast-public-wifi-hotspot/

[waterjug]

damn. really be like that nowadays.

[SpencerTech]

7 minutes ago, Elektra57 said:

Comcast Xfinity is the absolute worst. Not only have they started capping data and charging for going over. They are using our rented routers as hotspots for other Comcast customers and potentially hackers. If someone uses your router hotspot to download illegal material you can be held liable. Glad I read this so I can turn it off.  https://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-opt-out-of-comcast-public-wifi-hotspot/

Telstra (one of the most popular internet ISPs) does similar sketchy things as well. They have a service called Telstra Air which is basically a Wi-Fi hotspot all around Australia. It depends on people not configuring their modem and router correctly and ending up not turning off Telstra Air which is enabled by default. Took me a year to realise why the internet was so slow here then figured out it was Telstra Air, wasn't aware what it was at the time but slowly learnt more about the shit service. Come on Telstra, some disclosure would be nice, especially for the older/non-tech savvy generation.

[Suika]

Had Comcast offered to (significantly) reduce monthly fees, made it a very clear option when configuring the modem, and weren't generally scummy to begin with, this wouldn't be a story, but the fact that it's an obscure option, automatically enabled in their modem in the name of greater profit makes them even more unbelievably vile. They offer subpar plans at ridiculous profit margins, only to squeeze even more money out of you while they degrade your connection at the same time. Yet, there are people in real life that believe this is OK. It's absolutely stunning.

[TheKDub]

32 minutes ago, Elektra57 said:

Comcast Xfinity is the absolute worst. Not only have they started capping data and charging for going over. They are using our rented routers as hotspots for other Comcast customers and potentially hackers. If someone uses your router hotspot to download illegal material you can be held liable. Glad I read this so I can turn it off.  https://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-opt-out-of-comcast-public-wifi-hotspot/

Yep, they've been doing this for years.

 

The best solution is to not use any of their garbage equipment in the first place and just buy your own.

[danomicar]

34 minutes ago, Elektra57 said:

Comcast Xfinity is the absolute worst. Not only have they started capping data and charging for going over. They are using our rented routers as hotspots for other Comcast customers and potentially hackers. If someone uses your router hotspot to download illegal material you can be held liable. Glad I read this so I can turn it off.  https://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-opt-out-of-comcast-public-wifi-hotspot/

It doesn't turn off if you have an internet only subscription. I've tried every time to log in to xfi and it's re enabled. It's infuriating since they want $60 bucks to set up my own equipment.

[Froody129]

Here in South Africa we have really good ISPs, with excellent customer service and connection reliability. I guess at least we have that going for us 

[W-L]

@Elektra57 Please don't forget to include a quote that provides key detail regarding the topic at hand as per the Tech News Requirements. 

 

 

[Spotty]

1 hour ago, SpencerTech said:

Telstra (one of the most popular internet ISPs) does similar sketchy things as well. They have a service called Telstra Air which is basically a Wi-Fi hotspot all around Australia.

My understanding is that in America there are regions where only one ISP is available for fixed line connections. This means if they're in a Comcast serviced area they're stuck with Comcast no matter how scummy they are.

In Australia however there's plenty of choices for ISPs thanks to the NBN. Switch to one of the better providers.

[Nowak]

This is why I use my own modem and not their shitty modem/router combo.

[Brooksie359]

I have know about this forever but I don't mind because I have my own modem and router but I also use Xfinity wifi whenever mine goes out for any reason. Super useful when in the middle of a overwatch game. 

[Kirrr]

We have the same for like a decade. No extra charges and it uses the overhead bandwidth. Thankfully we are on the 3rd floor so no one can really use it, because of the small wifi range.

[SpencerTech]

4 hours ago, Spotty said:

My understanding is that in America there are regions where only one ISP is available for fixed line connections. This means if they're in a Comcast serviced area they're stuck with Comcast no matter how scummy they are.

In Australia however there's plenty of choices for ISPs thanks to the NBN. Switch to one of the better providers.

That's what I originally suggested to my dad, but he uses Bigpond Mail which is Telstra's ISP mail service and he didnt want to go through the pain of having to switch the email on everything and transfer his entire mailbox to another email provider if we did switch, so we ended up using Telstra, I did suggest a Vodafone 100/80 plan though.

[JAKEBAB]

6 hours ago, SpencerTech said:

Telstra (one of the most popular internet ISPs) does similar sketchy things as well. They have a service called Telstra Air which is basically a Wi-Fi hotspot all around Australia. It depends on people not configuring their modem and router correctly and ending up not turning off Telstra Air which is enabled by default. Took me a year to realise why the internet was so slow here then figured out it was Telstra Air, wasn't aware what it was at the time but slowly learnt more about the shit service. Come on Telstra, some disclosure would be nice, especially for the older/non-tech savvy generation.

Iirc it caps out at 1mbps, not sure if its per user though.

[SpencerTech]

Just now, JAKEBAB said:

Iirc it caps out at 1mbps, not sure if its per user though.

Nope, we were getting around 20mbps but paying for 50mbps lol

[SeriousDad69]

This is why it's important to own your own equipment, and they even charge you $10 a month fee for those fat ass modem/router towers lol

Funny thing is I actually use the Xfinity hotspot app on my phone to auto connect to the hotspots and if you live in a city it's pretty crazy how many there are. I save a ton of data. Always funny when I connect to random restaurant or car dealership's router for free WiFi lol

[BuckGup]

I thought most people knew this. This has been happening for yeeeeears now and it's a great way to stay anonymous and push blame to someone else

[Donut417]

15 hours ago, Elektra57 said:

Comcast Xfinity is the absolute worst. Not only have they started capping data and charging for going over. They are using our rented routers as hotspots for other Comcast customers and potentially hackers. If someone uses your router hotspot to download illegal material you can be held liable. Glad I read this so I can turn it off.  https://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-opt-out-of-comcast-public-wifi-hotspot/

Actually the public hotspot is on a seperate network from yours. YOU CAN NOT be held accountable to anything downloaded. Secondly in order to really use those hotspots you A) Have to pay OR B) Be a Comcast customer, as in log in with your account creds. Futhermore, smart people dont use thier equipment. You can easily buy a cable modem now days. Comcast has an extensive list that will work on their network. 

 

BTW this is old news. They have been doing this for years. There are atvantages to their public hotspot. The big one being any data used on this hotspot DOES NOT count aginst your cap. So you can litterally download as much as you want thru this hotspot and never have an issue with going over the cap. 

[Bombastinator]

Not sure how new that is.  They’ve been pulling that one for many years

[Bombastinator]

10 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

Actually the public hotspot is on a seperate network from yours. YOU CAN NOT be held accountable to anything downloaded. Secondly in order to really use those hotspots you A) Have to pay OR B) Be a Comcast customer, as in log in with your account creds. Futhermore, smart people dont use thier equipment. You can easily buy a cable modem now days. Comcast has an extensive list that will work on their network. 

 

BTW this is old news. They have been doing this for years. There are atvantages to their public hotspot. The big one being any data used on this hotspot DOES NOT count aginst your cap. So you can litterally download as much as you want thru this hotspot and never have an issue with going over the cap. 

“Smart people” huh?  By that I take it you actually mean the fractional percentage of people so educated in networking that they can even find a modem/router that will work on a Comcast network and have the skills to maintain it themselves.  So educated (which these days often means rich) or rich enough to hire someone educated (which also means rich).  So “smart people” really means “mostly rich people”

[Donut417]

1 minute ago, Bombastinator said:

even find a modem/router that will work on a Comcast network

As I said COMCAST has a list. They show what equpiment will work at what teir level. AND if you get a modem/router, Comcast is the only one that can update the firmware so that makes it easy. Also its pretty fucking stupid to give them $14 a month extra for something you can buy one time and save money over the long run. 

 

2 minutes ago, Bombastinator said:

skills to maintain it themselves.  

My sister is not tech savy and she setup her own modem and Google WiFi with out any help. Now days most stuff comes pre configured and updates automatically. Also there is this thing called Youtube, pretty useful when you need to know how things work. 

[kpluck]

- This is old news

- You Can opt-out

- If you opt-out, or don't, as an Xfinity customer you can use those hotspots yourself for free internet access when you are on the go

- No, it does not slow down your own internet connection

 

…and what a shock, after trying to freak you out with misleading/inflammatory information, they want you to buy new gear with their Amazon affiliate links. That website is garbage and OP, you seriously need to take a hard look at your powers of critical thinking.

 

Not that you shouldn't be using your own equipment with Comcast, or any ISP.

 

-kp

[Bombastinator]

29 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

As I said COMCAST has a list. They show what equpiment will work at what teir level. AND if you get a modem/router, Comcast is the only one that can update the firmware so that makes it easy. Also its pretty fucking stupid to give them $14 a month extra for something you can buy one time and save money over the long run. 

 

My sister is not tech savy and she setup her own modem and Google WiFi with out any help. Now days most stuff comes pre configured and updates automatically. Also there is this thing called Youtube, pretty useful when you need to know how things work. 

Well let’s check it then: what percentage of Comcast customers wind up renting their systems?  By your description the number should be near zero.  Lots of things are “stupid” by that description.  Car loans for example would be “ stupid” because it’s a lot cheaper to pay cash for a car.  Most people can’t of course.  “Stupid” becomes “worthy of being victimized” when all it ever really meant in the first place is “not rich” 

[Donut417]

Just now, Bombastinator said:

Well let’s check it then: what percentage of Comcast customers wind up renting their systems?  By your description the number should be near zero.  

If they had sense it should be zero. 

[Bombastinator]

2 minutes ago, Donut417 said:

If they had sense it should be zero. 

I’ll take that as “not even close”.