[Hidden-tech] Security and coverage for shared WiFi

[Chris Hart, MyMacTech.com]

This isn't directly on the initial topic, but in response to Jan Werner's comments about "xfinitywifi"....

While I can understand why some people have a beef with comcast putting a "public" wifi service in the router in their home/office, I think it's wonderful.  In my area, Comcast is ubiquitous and so is the network "xfinitywifi" which makes life easy to get online in my travels.  

So I personally support leaving xfinitywifi enabled and available to the world (especially since I'm not aware of any evidence that it hurts throughput, or represents a security risk).

Chris Hart
     Computer Support & Technology Consulting
        for Connecticut and Western Massachusetts
            Tel: 860-291-9393
                chris at chrishart.net
                    http://www.MyMacTech.com
			

> On Jan 10, 2016, at 9:15 AM, Jan Werner <jwerner at jwdp.com> wrote:
> 
> 
> 
> 
> Don't use the Comcast box as a router!
> 
> Most third part wireless routers will give you far better coverage than 
> a combined modem/router and many of them allow you to set up one or more 
> guest networks that are isolated from your main network.
> 
> You are probably paying a fee to Comcast to lease their modem/router box 
> which you could amortize in a year or two by buying your own cable modem 
> (You can find lists of those that Comcast supports on their website) and 
> your own router.
> 
> Furthermore, Comcast's own routers are designed to let them be used as 
> open access WiFI hotspots - if you ever wondered about how Comcast and 
> Time Warner can offer thousands of free WiFi access points nationwide, 
> that's how. So if you are worried about security, you should not use ae 
> Comcast provided router in the first place.
> 
> Here's a link to an article you might find useful.
> 
> http://blog.chron.com/techblog/2014/06/want-to-use-your-own-modemrouter-with-comcast-heres-how/
> 
> If you Google, you will find plenty of other information online, and 
> there was a recent discussion of wireless routers here as well.
> 
> Jan Werner
> ______________
> 
> 
> Duane Dale wrote:
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> 
>> Dear H-Techers:
>> 
>> In advance, forgive me if these are naive questions or have been
>> addressed previously.
>> 
>> Consider this scenario:
>> * A homeowner has a "mother-in-law apartment" which is rented to tenants.
>>    Imagine that these parties don't know each other well.
>> * The chosen internet option is Comcast.
>> * A Comcast-provided cable modem-wireless router is the default option.
>> * Because it's nominally a single-family house, Comcast says it's
>> prohibited from providing two separate accounts.
>> * Comcast says it could (for an additional fee, of course) install two
>> separate cable modem-routers on the same account.
>> 
>> The security question:
>> * If the two parties share one WiFi account, is there a security risk?
>>   (Assume, of course, that banking and other sensitive use is with
>> https sites.)
>> * If there is a security risk, how does it compare to risks at an airport?
>>     ... in an apartment building (without shared WiFi access)?
>>      ...drive-by "listening" to WiFi activity.
>> * Would the second Comcast WiFi "box" reduce security risks?
>> * Would hard-wiring a third-party wireless router into a single Comcast
>> box provide a separate log-in? ...and would that reduce security risks?
>> 
>> The coverage question:
>> If the house is large enough to have coverage issues (or has
>> out-buildings where coverage is weak)...
>> * Is there a WiFi Extender device that anyone would recommend?
>> * Would hard-wiring a third-party wireless router into the Comcast box
>> -- with a long Cat5 cable to take that second box into the weaker zone
>> -- help?
>> 
>> Thanks!
>> Duane Dale
>> 
>> 
>> 
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