Based on my understanding of how cable modems work on Time Warner and Charter in the midwest, all they do validate if a device can talk on their network is via cable modem. It's conceivable that a person could clone a MAC address on a cable modem to gain internet access via the unprotected coax, but that wouldn't get them anything other than a public IP.
- Chris Merkel 2009/4/2 Nathan Sweaney <[email protected]>: > I just received a question that I can't answer. A customer has a cable > internet service with COX that has only been used for internet. The modem > and all other networking equipment is locked away so that no one has access > to it. They've decided that they'd also like to have a TV in a public area > for visitors to watch. COX says to just add a splitter in front of the > modem & run a cable to where they want it. The crazy thing is that the > customer actually considerd the security implications and asked ahead of > time. > > So my question is, if an intruder had uninhibited access to the coax that > was split off upstream from the cable modem, is there anything they can do > with it? I've been told by COX that it won't interfere with the connection > and that adding a second modem to the connection wouldn't work because it > wouldn't be setup on their end. However my bigger concern is the potential > to intercept traffic. > > I know from past experiences that if you plug your coax into your VCR or > satellite the wrong way you can actually deliver content to your neighbors > (or at least cause a lot of interference), so that suggests that the > connection doesn't just flow one-way. So can the coax-splitters determine > which way traffic is supposed to be flowing? > > I understand that even if it's "possible" it may not be easy or likely, but > this network is used for processing credit cards so I want to make sure I > have a complete answer. > > Any information or resources on this would be appreciated. > > Thanks > > - Nathan Sweaney > _______________________________________________ > Pauldotcom mailing list > [email protected] > http://mail.pauldotcom.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pauldotcom > Main Web Site: http://pauldotcom.com > -- - Chris Merkel _______________________________________________ Pauldotcom mailing list [email protected] http://mail.pauldotcom.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/pauldotcom Main Web Site: http://pauldotcom.com
