Re: DefenseCode - Home
This sounds like the vulnerability I found last week. TWC has firmware updates by the user locked out. I tried searching to see if the Arris DG860A uses a Broadcom chipset, to no avail. Thank goodness there are smart people on the forum that helped me "fix" it until I can buy a new modem that allows me to keep the firmware updated.
to admins: There are many similar threads but they were all 2 years old. So I thought is was okay to start a new thread.
Today I did a lot of housekeeping before I installed the Windows 10 Creators Update. After the update was in, I ran a full virus scan using Avast. The only thing that changed from last week is now I have 2 security vulnerabilities in my cable modem from Time Warner Cable / Spectrum. My paranoia assumes that TWC introduced the accessibility in their modem deliberately after our internet privacy was deleted last week.
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Please note the key words in that warning. "Upgrade your device's firmware, if possible."
I just got off the phone with tech support. It is not possible for a user to update a TWC modem and they automatically receive push updates "for my convenience" from TWC. They recently pushed a speed update from 15 to 24 Mbps (it's ok), but the Wi-Fi is unbelievably crappy. I'm sitting 5 feet away from the device, looking right at it and my phone can barely pick up any signal to check my email. Watching YouTube, streaming music or Wi-Fi calling is not an option. I know the answer is to buy my own modem. I learned that is one of first steps to get back a little bit of the privacy that was recently vaporized.
In the fine print TWC says "Sure! You can buy your own modem. But we will continue to charge you a lease fee after you give our modem back. No discounts are available, because the lease is lumped into the fees."
Up until now, the expense of buying a good modem while still paying for a shitty one stopped me from buying my own modem. I don't have a choice anymore.
I am experienced, but I have never done this before. Can someone suggest a decent router + Wi-Fi + modem (preferably at Micro Center) for around $ cheap? What specs should I look for in reviews? How do I set it up to be secure? I just learned that the modem must be 'activated' to connect to my ISP. TWC tech support offered to help me activate my new modem, but I…
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