 Jem
@verizon.net | [modem/router] VZ restores modem to default remotely??? I use VZ's Actionweb modem. I have a hardwired ethernet connection. Wireless is turned off. Recently, I could not get an internet connection and called support. They tried to "test my line" remotely and eventually determined it was an outtage in my area.
Flash forward two weeks. I am looking at my modem and realize there are extra lights flashing. I log on the modem (you know...the 192.168 routine). Turns out my user name, password and all security settings have been wiped out. Wireless is turned on and the firewall turned off. Basically, I have been providing free wireless to the neighborhood without my knowledge and with no security . Great.
Coincidence? I dunno. But if you call VZ about a problem with your internet connection, you may want to check your security setttings afterword. |
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 Smith6612Premium,MVM
join:2008-02-01
North Tonawanda, NY
kudos:21 | I know that they have the ability to remotely manage and reset the modems, but leaving it with no security sounds unusual. If they reset it back to Factory Defaults it should have at least a WEP key on it! |
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| reply to Jem
A few years ago Verizon, apparently, decided to quietly update the firmware on some of their DSL Modems from v3 to v4 (my situation involved a couple of Westell 6100s) ... and the default included having no firewall.
Unfortunately, my sister's primary family computer ended up being accidentally left on overnight during this time and was damaged because the firewall settings that I had painstakingly crafted were wiped out. [sigh] I don't know what malware was on her system but I had to deploy Linux utils to even access the HDD ... [shaking my head] ... it was a major PITA. Thank you, Verizon.
I found out about the support-wiping-your-CFG issue that you mention when I found her laptop (thank god it had been OFF during this version-change fiasco!) was stuck in what I now know to be the nasty "Walled Garden" loop. After a frustratingly long time of dealing with their person in Mumbai (IIRC), I learned how to 86 the Walled Garden BS ... and after ringing off, just for Ss&Gs, I checked the modem CFG settings ... ayup, no firewall & my Custom CFG wiped again.
So, yes, after dealing with Verizon Support on the phone and messing with your DSL Modem, always check its configuration.
Thanks for taking the time to warn everyone here about this!
IMO, it is a good thing for this to be posted here periodically. |
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Smith6612Premium,MVM
join:2008-02-01
North Tonawanda, NY
kudos:21 Reviews:
 ·Frontier Communi..
·Verizon Online DSL
| It's funny you bring back up the modem firmware upgrading fiasco from a few years ago. When Verizon did that to my modem, I wasn't very happy. I didn't sleep very well that night, so I knew something was up  . I woke up to see my modem generating a needless amount of ARP traffic on the network, and visiting the modem page, I saw the Westell Administration pages replaced with a Red and Black Verizon Administration page. This didn't cause any issues for me so to speak, but I felt the change was unneeded. Either way, I bridged my modem, which prevented Verizon from screwing with it further and it's been like that since. No more ARP traffic either from that Network Map being used.
But yeah. Bridge the modem if you don't want Verizon messing with it. If it's not holding the IP, it can't be accessed via TR-069. |
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 aefstoggaflmOpen Source FanPremium
join:2002-03-04
Bethlehem, PA
kudos:2
·Verizon Online DSL
| said by Smith6612:But yeah. Bridge the modem if you don't want Verizon messing with it. If it's not holding the WAN IP, it can't be accessed via TR-069.
Also I quote from my thread
DSLR -> Forums -> Broadband Tech -> Networking -> Access to modemc ombo while in bridge mode
a)
quote:
but most modems make poor routers.
b) After I asked quote:
Why do most modems make poor routers? What is wrong with these companies / developers?
the reply that I got back was
quote:
Apparently somebody did the research and the math and decided that the extra returns didn't warrant putting more effort into improving the stability or performance of the firmware. They get paid when people buy their product, not necessarily when their product achieves long uptimes or handles more concurrent connections.
^^^
--
Please use the "yellow (IM) envelope" to contact me and please leave the URL intact. |
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Smith6612Premium,MVM
join:2008-02-01
North Tonawanda, NY
kudos:21 Reviews:
·Frontier Communi..
·Verizon Online DSL
| said by aefstoggaflm:the reply that I got back was
quote:
Apparently somebody did the research and the math and decided that the extra returns didn't warrant putting more effort into improving the stability or performance of the firmware. They get paid when people buy their product, not necessarily when their product achieves long uptimes or handles more concurrent connections.
^^^ My reply to that is: That's why 3rd Party Firmware rocks; take old hardware, pop 3rd party firmware on, and it runs better than ever. Too bad the 3rd party groups of people don't exactly write firmware for modems, though. Only routers. |
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aefstoggaflmOpen Source FanPremium
join:2002-03-04
Bethlehem, PA
kudos:2 Reviews:
·Verizon Online DSL
| said by Smith6612:Too bad the 3rd party groups of people don't exactly write firmware for modems, though. Only routers.
One single example proves what you said wrong/false.
This what I did. Please follow me along, if you desire to.
#1 I went to Google and typed in tomato wiki firmware
#2 I went to the en.wikibooks.org web page about tomato firmware
#4 Down where it says Subjects, I clicked on Firmware
#5 I clicked on Haxorware Modem Firmware
#6 Just before the letter A, I clicked on Haxorware Modem Firmware
#7 I then looked up the SURFboard SB5101 manunal (OR user's guide) on Google, since that is one of the device(s) that firmware supports.
#8 One of the results that came back was »broadband.motorola.com/noflash/c···ser.html
#9 Then I clicked on the manual / user's guide for it (English guide).
#10 That is a modem. And as far as I can tell, that is not a modem combo.
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I could of said that
Too bad the 3rd party groups of people don't exactly write firmware for modem combos, though. Only routers and non modem combos (that have a web based UI).
#1 At Google, searched for routertech firmware
#2 Went to the offical site ( »www.routertech.org/ )
#3 Clicked on FAQ
#4 Clicked on Class 1 Router FAQ
#5 Goes down to What is the difference between models 8000, 8100 and 8400?
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Please use the "yellow (IM) envelope" to contact me and please leave the URL intact. |
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Smith6612Premium,MVM
join:2008-02-01
North Tonawanda, NY
kudos:21 | D'oh, thanks for the heads up.
I completely forgot about Haxorware and oddly enough I was looking at it just a few days ago. Routertech is one I've never heard of though. |
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