Comcast turns residential routers into public Wi-Fi hotspots in Houston

If you are online, there is no privacy. Once the general population accepts that, the world will be a better place.
No it won't. Privacy is a basic right that should never be compromised. This is the most retarded thing I've seen or heard all day.
 
Why should I pay for internet, then have my connection shared with those who do not? if I want my friends to have access to my network, I will make the decisions about my network.

Technically, it's not your network being accessed (assuming the modem is the demarcation point), but I personally wouldn't want to find out that these modems are allowing outsiders to sniff my internet traffic or launch attacks on my router. No thanks.

"The cable and Internet provider is quick to point out that the public network is separate from a user’s private home network and public connections won’t slow down the owner’s residential connection."
 
Telstra in Australia is doing the same. It of course slows your connection. If someone is allowed 4 Mbps of your 8Mbps...

To quote someone with technical knowledge of the issue:
"Two plus two is four.
Two plus two is four.
Two plus two is four.
Two plus two is four."

I would assume that they can tell which is public traffic and which is yours and provide appropriate QoS to each (hopefully the public traffic getting "Best Effort" service). After all, it's not like you have a 10/15/20Mbps limit because that's all the line can accommodate.
 
I would assume that they can tell which is public traffic and which is yours and provide appropriate QoS to each (hopefully the public traffic getting "Best Effort" service). After all, it's not like you have a 10/15/20Mbps limit because that's all the line can accommodate.
Well yes you are right - in the case of cable there should be headroom. I hope they accommodate that extra bandwidth and not take from your service bandwidth.
 
We shall test this during the next event in my neighborhood. I'm no psychic but I suspect there will be many videos on modifying these modems to have zero wireless capability.
 
Just imagine all the cars sitting out in front of your house with "Uncle Pervey" and his buddies watching kiddie porn on their laptops, tablets or smart phones. Thanks a pant load Comcast! Luckily I have Cox Cable. Also, did Comcast PAY their existing customers for this usage?
 
Just imagine all the cars sitting out in front of your house with "Uncle Pervey" and his buddies watching kiddie porn on their laptops, tablets or smart phones. Thanks a pant load Comcast! Luckily I have Cox Cable. Also, did Comcast PAY their existing customers for this usage?

Doesn't Xfinity make users log on with their account-bound credentials??? I know Time Warner does for their "public" hotspots. Also, why would they be paying customers for using their own network? After all, you're renting this modem from them and there should be plenty of room on the line. Proper QoS should ensure that the local subscriber's traffic has precedence over public traffic, at least in theory. I see allowing wireless access to a user's modem as a security/privacy risk though, and users are allowed to opt-out if they want, as it should be.
 
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