Cable Modem Uncapping!!

[Mister B]

http://www.securityfocus.com/news/7977

A small and diverse band of hobbyists steeped in the obscure languages of embedded systems has released its own custom firmware for a popular brand of cable modem, along with a technique for loading it -- a development that's already made life easier for uncappers and service squatters, and threatens to topple long-held assumptions about the privacy of cable modem communications.

The program, called Sigma, was released in its final version last month, and has reportedly been downloaded 350 to 400 times a day ever since. It's designed to be flashed into the non-volatile memory of certain models of Motorola's Surfboard line, where it runs in parallel with the device's normal functionality. It gives users almost complete control of their cable modem -- a privilege previously reserved for the service provider.

It is basically a firmware upgrade for your hardware cable modem and lets you uncap your speed. They can be found here http://www.tcniso.net/

I was just wondering how you guys weigh in on this. I have heard that you can get fined or permanently banned from your ISP if they catch you, but I don't know if this is correct. Any brave soul ever try it?

[portwineboy]

You can get a permanent ban from your ISP, this true. As someone wrote on Slashdot earlier today "the Wild West days of cable modems are over" and they are. Most cable ISPs track their network closely these days where they used to do no monitoring in the past.

You can get caught, you will get banned, perhaps for life.

Too much risk for me. I just pester them for better bandwith by telling them what other providers are offering. But since they have a monopoly in my area...

[Incognito24]

damndamndamndamn they blocked me from getting the modems information in step 2 lol, tats pretty cool thought, i just wanted to turn my upload speed a little higher

[Mister B]

Incognito - You got me thinking that the cable company might not notice/care if the download speed was just slightly increased. Ima try it.

[silenced]

*ahem* good luck, I use to be able to uncap my modem, but since then they have taken out information and they made it so unless it came from their tftp server, it wouldn't connect, the modem would keep resetting itself. Last i figured, you needed to change the firmware, but if you mess that up, you can permanently ruin the modem and unless its yours, its not really worth it.

[svt]

Also, even if you were to "uncap" your modem its still useless as the cable companies just use conduct packet shaping at the router.

[genstylez]

It's easy to uncap your cabel modem. But the punishment for doing so is great. I don't think I would like to be banned from cable services in my area for life. Specially just because my modem is unusually slow.

[soccerchamp76]

I will not tamper with my cable.......I DO NOT want to go to the alternative (dialup) or worse.....SBC Yahoo! DSL

[Last_Caress]

UnCapping you cable modem is prolly not a good idea, I imagine it violates the terms of conduct. and they could ban you from their network for life..

sbc dsl isnt that bad either..lol