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Comcast turns your Xfinity WiFi into a home motion detector (www.bleepingcomputer.com)
submitted 2 months ago by to c/technology@lemmy.world
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Make no mistake, this is 100% going to be Comcast's alternative to more expensive surveillance options a la Flock, or workplace presence sensor arrays.

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[–] 37 points 2 months ago (17 children)

Regardless of the basic privacy invasion that we all know Comcast is doing. Buy your own cable modem and router. Comcast charges you to use theirs, so they pay for themselves in a couple years.

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  • [–] 13 points 2 months ago (6 children)

    They used to charge you more for unlimited data if you didn't use their modem. Renting their modem plus getting unlimited data was $30/month, but just getting unlimited data with your own modem was $50/month.

    Not relevant any more though, as (at least in my area) they completely removed the data caps.

    I'm so glad I have a local ISP that provides 10Gbps for cheaper than Comcast's 1Gbps.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (3 children)

    Did they change that really recently? That was still a thing two years ago with Comcast. It is the only reason I still have their modem.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago

    The clue is the last line of their comment where they say they have a competitor offering 10Gbps which is why Comcast removed the data cap in their area. AFAIK it's still in place where I'm at because the only other option is CenturyLink 100mbps DSL.

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    In my area, they removed the data caps last year, when they also rolled out the higher upload speeds (eg the gigabit plan now has 350Mbps upload speed instead of 25Mbps). I don't think they've rolled that out everywhere though.

    They also have a habit of keeping people on old plans that are either slower or more expensive. If you're still using Comcast/Xfinity, check their site and see what they offer to new customers at your address. (you may need to use an internet connection other than your Comcast one, otherwise they may detect that you're an existing customer)

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  • [–] 1 point 2 months ago (1 child)

    Haven't seen that one. Everywhere I've been they tack on $5 a month or so to have their router. Last one I bought was $80 2 years ago, so it's already paid for itself.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

    Their pricing can differ by region. Not every region got the data caps back when they rolled them out.

    It also depends on competition - if there's a lot of competition in your area, Comcast will have better deals compared to if you live somewhere where Comcast is the only option.

    I used to live in an apartment that had an exclusivity deal with Comcast (residents were only allowed to use Comcast for internet service). Now I live somewhere in the same county where there's three different fiber providers in addition to Comcast, and their prices here are noticeably cheaper vs the old apartment.

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  • [–] 8 points 2 months ago

    It's always been a ripoff from the start. The modem / router is far cheaper than whatever they charge you to rent it over a year. Additionally they were broadcasting public wifi hotspots from your rented modem for a while (probably still are) and now this. Having said that, walk into any random friend's house, and what will you see? A big stupid rented Comcast modem.

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  • [–] 2 points 2 months ago

    They've changed it since covid so now if you use their modem/router combo, you get unlimited data for free. If you don't use their modem and router, you have to pay $30/mo to remove the data caps or keep yourself under 1.2TB for the month.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago (7 children)

    I tried... Comcast would "forget" the modem 3 times a month and would have to call and read them the MAC address again etc... fuck Comcast

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  • [–] 4 points 2 months ago (1 child)

    Probably a modem problem honestly. I've been on and off comcast a few times and 3 different modems over the years. Only issue I've had were when my old ones got too out dated.

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  • [–] 3 points 2 months ago (2 children)

    So glad I was able to get an alternate ISP. A good chunk of my life, Comcast was the only high speed ISP in the area.

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