this post was submitted on 17 Aug 2023
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My ISP has taken total control of my network (lemmy.one)
submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.one to c/privacyguides@lemmy.one
153 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

This is very troubling, and I'm not even sure where to start. I recently received an email message from my ISP which alerted me to an incoming update. I didn't worry too much since this is obviously not the first update they've ever pushed through.

However, after this update, I noticed that my guest connections and some other things had changed / disappeared. I logged on to my router, and I immediately noticed my custom password had been reset to the default. No problem, I entered it.

At this point, I saw that all of my options were greyed out. I could change the password, which I did, but nothing else. I immediately called my ISP.

I was told that I would have to use their app now, so as much as I dislike using proprietary phone apps, I conceded and installed the app through the Play store.

However, the agent was not entirely honest with me. I still can't bifurcate my 2.4g and 5g connections, nor can I add or remove any guest connections. I immediately enabled "privacy mode" via the app, which purportedly prevents information from being collected by something called "HomePass," and I "Delete[d] Guard events" whatever the hell that means, but this seems really troubling. I can no longer access my modem/router settings via the normal interface, but have to use an Android app?

There is only one other ISP in my area. They have much worse/slower service, but should I switch, or is this just the "new normal"? Does what I'm describing even make sense? I'm not a tech expert, but I feel like I've self-taught myself how to navigate these settings, and learned from others in online forums, but now ... an Android app?

I'd appreciate any advice. I'd even be willing to purchase my own modem/router instead of using the one from my ISP, if that fixes this mess.

Edit: So I need my own router, at least. I did some research, and these are the ones I can get locally that are within my budget:

  • TP-Link Archer AC1900 Dual-Band Mu-Mimo Wi-Fi Router with Gigabit Port

  • Linksys AC1200 Dual Band WiFi 5 Router

  • TP-Link Archer AX1500 WiFi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router | up to 1.5 Gbps Speeds

  • TP-Link Archer C54 | AC1200 MU-MIMO Dual-Band WiFi Router

  • NETGEAR - Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Router, 1.9Gbps (R6900) I’VE BEEN WARNED AGAINST NETGEAR THOUGH IN OTHER FORUMS

  • TP-Link | AX1800 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 1.8 Gbps Speeds

  • TP-Link Archer AX3000 | 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 3 Gbps Speeds

  • Linksys E7350 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Router

Am I right in thinking the TP-Link AX3000 is best?

Edit 2: At first, I bought the Netgear AC1900, which seemed like a great deal. Turns out it was unusable without creating a netgear account, so I returned it in exchange for the TP-Link Archer AX1500, and it appears to be working! I got everything set up pretty close to the way it was before, except even better.

Once I save money, I'll also invest in a different modem and return this one to my ISP.

This was a big wake-up call for me in terms of privacy. I never listened to people saying not to use your ISP's equipment because I always trusted my ISP (it's not one of the big name ones). Never trust a company. Lesson learned. I appreciate all the responses I got! This community is great!

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[–] habanhero@lemmy.ca 5 points 2 years ago (1 children)

I have been running a TP-Link Archer C4000 for several years now. Super solid, great price, no complaints. For me the tri-band capability is more important than Wifi-AX, which isn't very useful unless you need incredibly fast network speed or if you have a ton of devices (which all need to be supporting AX).

[–] uberkalden@lemmy.world 2 points 2 years ago

The c4000 is great. I had some electrical issues which kicked off issues at higher bandwidths, but otherwise it's been the best router I've owned

[–] EpicFailGuy@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago (2 children)

@LinkOpensChest_wav

Welcome to xFinity Xfi or whatever they call their crap.

Get your own router (that saves you 10$ a month and sparesy from this crap)

Or if you can't replace their modem, then get your own and use theirs in bridge mode

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.one 3 points 2 years ago

At first I thought that I couldn't use bridge mode, but it looks like I can.

I think I'll go this route to start with, but eventually replace the modem, too.

I've noticed there's an extremely wide range in prices for wifi routers. Is there really that much difference between them?

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[–] Vexz@kbin.social 4 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

Depending on where you live you might just let your ISP give you a modem and you can choose the router yourself. ISPs use the TR-069 protocol which allows them to manage and administrate the router they gave you. This is probably what they did when they made the changes you mentioned. It even allows them to analyze your whole home network. Thanks to this they can spy on you if they want to. So my advice is to just get a modem from them and choose your own router because then they can't spy on you. My advice is to use OPNsense, it's open source.

Edit: Bridge mode + your own router so they can't spy on your home network would also do the trick.

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[–] MonkderZweite@feddit.ch 4 points 2 years ago

Btw, for the proprietary apps try Shelter/Insular and TrackerControl.

[–] Limit@lemm.ee 4 points 2 years ago

I've had bad luck with all the name brand router wifi combos. I've tried several high end models, from tplink to linksys to net gear. I've finally built a pfsense box as a router/firewall (qotom mini pc) and I've switched to ubiquity ap6 in my house. Finally something that works well for me.

Granted it depends on what you're comfortable with and what you use your devices for. I'm using vlans and vpns and different interfaces for various different things so I need the extra functionality pfsense offers.

[–] Maoo@hexbear.net 4 points 2 years ago

To add to others' advice to get your own router and use the modem only to connect to the internet (WAN), consider getting a router on which you can install OpenWRT. This will give you much more confidence that only you control your network.

[–] Norgur@kbin.social 3 points 2 years ago

I work for a German ISP (which happens to have a big mobile phone daughter in the US) and the thought of an ISP being able to do this without anything one can do against it is bonkers to me. I was just reminded from the comments here that you folks over there usually do not have aftermarket routers with modems built in. I mean, I'm using my employers router of course since it was way cheaper than any alternative but the thing will not lock me out of any settings because if it did that, ppl would just stop using it.

[–] SexualPolytope@lemmy.sdf.org 3 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) (1 children)

I recently had a similar situation and ended up buying an Arris CM8200A modem and a TP-Link AX1500 router. I'm pretty happy with both. If you have any devices that can utilize the increased speed, I'd say the AX3000 will be worth it. You might also want a faster modem if our internet connection is faster than gigabit.

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.one 3 points 2 years ago

Just picked up the AX1500 for $60

[–] captcha@hexbear.net 2 points 2 years ago (6 children)

Which ISP is doing this?

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[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 2 points 2 years ago (1 children)

Are you talking about your Modem/router that came from the company?

[–] LinkOpensChest_wav@lemmy.one 3 points 2 years ago (2 children)

Yes, that is correct. I've always wanted to buy my own, but they're like $200. However, at this point I could have owned my own already with the fees.

[–] Lettuceeatlettuce@lemmy.ml 3 points 2 years ago

Yeah, Idk what you should do. There should be much cheaper ones available, but I don't know where you live or what aftermarket devices are compatible with your ISP.

I bought a pretty nice Asus router new for like $120. Maybe you can find a used one on eBay?

Just make sure that the aftermarket device is supported by your ISP. You could also check online to see if your current Modem is able to have its firmware flashed to something like OpenWRT. But if you're leasing the device, I wouldn't do that unless you are sure you're able to reflash the OG firmware back before returning it.

Last option is to turn off the Wireless completely and use the Modem as a simple Demarc point for your network, and then get an old computer, install PFsense on it and use that as your actual router for all the special network configurations/firewall functions, etc.

You can buy a cheap wireless access point and plug it into your PFsense box to get your wireless through there.

Unfortunately, all options are either going to be a lot of work, or expensive.

Best case would be if your ISP is compatible with a cheap aftermarket router/modem and you just swap it out.

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