RE: ISP reconfiguring cable modem?

["David Schwendinger" <dschwendinger () BlackbirdTech com>]

I think an equally important question besides the "is it technically
possible" is: Is it or should it be legal for ISPs to reconfigure equipment
belonging to its subscribers, let alone doing it without telling them about
it?
 

David T. Schwendinger

-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Kurczaba [mailto:paul () myipis com] 
Sent: Thursday, May 27, 2004 3:12 PM
To: security-basics () securityfocus com
Subject: ISP reconfiguring cable modem?

On this ZDNet article
(http://zdnet.com.com/2100-1107_2-5218720.html?tag=zdaresources), it
mentions that to help prevent spam, comcast could remotely reconfigure the
cable modem if it sees that user is sending out a bunch of spam. How is it
possible to remotely configure the cable modem? Would it be a TCP/IP or
cable signal that would reconfigure the modem? If it is TCP/IP, couldn't a
hacker screw up the modem? If it is a cable signal, what happens if the
cable user bought the modem at best buy or compusa (it wouldn't be ISP
specific)

-Paul Kurczaba



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