Comcast Gateways Disclosed User Names & Addresses Comcast's Xfinity Wi-Fi service, offered to the public via users' home Wi-Fi gateways, is disclosing the full name and home address of residential customers. Back in 2013 Comcast unveiled the program, which updates users home gateways so they offer Wi-Fi service free to other Comcast users (it can be disabled). The update has surprised a few people, and Comcast has even been sued for "externalizing the costs of its national wi-fi network onto its customers" (read: electricity) via the new option.

But another problem has revealed itself: the routers in some instances appear to be advertising users' personal info. Despite assurances in the Comcast FAQ that users personal details wouldn't show up in Comcast's map of public Wi-Fi hotspots, some individuals have noticed that user names and addresses are showing up anyway, something Comcast insists isn't supposed to happen. While not on the scale of revealing social security numbers, the data can still be used to target Comcast customers, notes author Steve Ragan: quote: A person’s full name and address, along with the city and state, can be used to pull mortgage documents, which in turn often reveal banking details. With those records combined, a criminal could develop a targeted Phishing campaign aimed at financial gain. Or worse, they could use the information to develop a new ID and attempt to get loans in their victim’s name. "I can confirm that our policy is to only include addresses of small business Wi-Fi hotspot locations and of outdoor/public/shopping district hotspot locations," Comcast said of the complaints. I spent some time exploring Comcast's Wi-Fi maps and couldn't find any residential names listed, suggesting Comcast has already fixed the problem. For those interested, instructions on how to disable public Wi-Fi sharing for Xfinity hotspots can be found While not on the scale of revealing social security numbers, the data can still be used to target Comcast customers, notes author Steve Ragan:"I can confirm that our policy is to only include addresses of small business Wi-Fi hotspot locations and of outdoor/public/shopping district hotspot locations," Comcast said of the complaints. I spent some time exploring Comcast's Wi-Fi maps and couldn't find any residential names listed, suggesting Comcast has already fixed the problem. For those interested, instructions on how to disable public Wi-Fi sharing for Xfinity hotspots can be found here







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Most recommended from 20 comments



kdwycha

join:2003-01-30

Ruskin, FL 25 recommendations kdwycha Member It's... .... simply Comcasts way of looking out for you. Like pulling a band-aid off quickly, Comcast knows in today's environment of data breaches it is just a matter of time before you fall victim to identity theft. By providing the public with your personal information it is actually helpful to customers to proactively get the identity theft started now rather than later. Just another way Comcast is doing a bang up job to increase customer satisfaction.

Darknessfall

Premium Member

join:2012-08-17 Cisco DPC3008

Asus RT-N66

3 edits 8 recommendations Darknessfall Premium Member Likely Business Class Customers It seems to me that this is just a case of Business Class customers who aren't actually a business. The article says "according to a public records search  none of them have ever been registered as a business", but you don't have to be a business to get business class service. Since they're not actually a business with a company name, the xfinitywifi map likely pulled the closest thing to the company name, their name on file.



Edit:

The article mentioned also goes on to mention how the xfinitywifi network is MAC based. Pretty much everything on Comcast's network is highly dependent on MAC address, a little too much so(based on my observations). It's a pretty big security hole waiting to happen once someone takes advantage of it.

caster

@sysvana.com 4 recommendations caster Anon Even comcast test stuff shows up COMAST BW TEST ACCOUNTS

350 N Wolf Rd

Mount Prospect, IL 60056

DeathK

Premium Member

join:2002-06-16

Cincinnati, OH 3 recommendations DeathK Premium Member Uhhh quote: A person's full name and address, along with the city and state, can be used to pull mortgage documents, which in turn often reveal banking details. This information can be found very easily anyway. Mr. Ragan is acting like it's super secret info that's now been blown wide open or something. This information can be found very easily anyway. Mr. Ragan is acting like it's super secret info that's now been blown wide open or something. RPSE_RPS

join:2015-11-20

Boulder, CO 2 recommendations RPSE_RPS Member Comcrap gateway diwsclosed user names, etc. Most of my clients work out of home and use Comcrap. Did a quik email survey only to find out that not one(!) knew of this "feature". A PI attorney immediately canceled his Comcrap service. This is why I love Comcrap. Kuro

join:2014-10-01 2 recommendations Kuro Member Push for not leasing a modem This entire thing with this wifi service is a mess. It can get to you even if you just have a modem and not a modem/wifi combo, there is no benefit to you to have it on, an increase in the leasing fees, that you can opt out and comcast can just turn it back on anyway with a firmware push and now that it lists your name and address on a map. It seemed like a good idea to start but all they seem to be doing is convincing more people to buy their own modem and stop leasing one.