(How) can a modem spy on you? (lemmings.world)

submitted 1 month ago by quantenzitrone@lemmings.world to c/privacy@lemmy.ml

14 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I'm planning to buy a router and modem and put OpenWrt on it for maximum control and privacy. While I could get a router with an integrated DSL modem, the previous tenants had cable internet so I'm not sure if the DSL connection even works and DSL internet is also more expensive (at least where I live). Fiber optic is not available. The problem is, there is apparently no open firmware for cable modems so I would have to buy a standalone router and a standalone cable modem. I would put OpenWrt on the router and use whatever proprietary firmware came with the modem.

So my question is:
Can a standalone modem that doesn't do routing, spy on you?
If yes a rough explanation how would be appreciated.

It seems that modem and router are used interchangeably on the internet (probably because they are mostly combined) so it is really hard to find any information on modems. Here are both Wikipedia articles for reference:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Modem
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Router_(computing)

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] quantenzitrone@lemmings.world 2 points 1 month ago

Thank you!

After posting this yesterday when lying in bed trying to sleep (i posted directly before going to bed) I thought of a similar reason:

Since (as far as i understood it) a modem is just a device that converts between 2 different types of internet signals, the ISP also needs one on their end to connect me to their data center. So it would be way easier for them to spy on their end of the cable (or signal, or whatever type of modem is used) than on my end, since there isn't really much happening in between.

[-] greywolf0x1@lemmy.ml 1 points 1 month ago

thanks for this, I was also in this situation, I got a xiaomi router and flashed OpenWRT on it, I then turned off the Wifi switch on the ISP router making it a modem only but I was still concerned about my internet data as it moves between my modem and their servers. your comment made it clearer

i should probably invest in that mullvad vpn now

this post was submitted on 06 Sep 2024

24 points (100.0% liked)

Privacy

31800 readers

199 users here now

A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.

Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.

In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.

Some Rules

Posting a link to a website containing tracking isn't great, if contents of the website are behind a paywall maybe copy them into the post
Don't promote proprietary software
Try to keep things on topic
If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
Reposts are fine, but should have at least a couple of weeks in between so that the post can reach a new audience
Be nice :)

Related communities

Chat rooms

[Matrix/Element]Dead
Discord

much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)

founded 5 years ago

MODERATORS