Comcast is Leaking Names & Passwords of Customers’ Wifi Networks

In what is just one more example of why you should not use the WiFi router rented by your internet service provider is a report today that says they may leak your password. Yesterday ZDNet reported that Comcast had a major security breach and revealed the passwords of their Xfinity-provided wireless routers in plaintext on the web.

Now anyone with a subscribers account number and street address will be served up the Wi-Fi and password via the company’s Xfinity internet activation service.

The problem is threefold:

1. You can “activate” an account that’s already active
2. The data required to do so is minimal and it is not verified via text or email
3. The wireless name and password are sent on the web in plaintext

This only affects Xfinity customers who use the Xfinity Comcast router. If you use your own router you are not affected by this breach.

Update Comcast has pulled the website now and says they “will take all necessary steps to ensure that this doesn’t happen again.”

Cord Cutter News highly recommends you buy your own router. Not only will you typically get a better router you will likely save money. Many ISPs now charge $144 a year to rent a modem/router now. Over a two year contract that adds up to $288! When you can buy a really good router for around $100 it just makes sense to buy instead of rent a modem.

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