Trust Your Internet Provider at Your Own Risk

I am not saying that Internet providers are evil. They just may not be as concerned about your security and privacy as you are.

I have often said that your ISP provides you with the modem/router that they can buy for $12.95. While this is a bit of hyperbole, it is, none the less, all too true.

Two security researchers discovered severe vulnerabilities and intentional security backdoors in 29 different fiber termination devices from vendor C-Data. This is just one example.

These devices for terminating fiber to the home called FTTH OLT or fiber to the home optical line termination, are deployed all over ISP’s networks wherever they want to convert from fiber to ethernet.

Not surprisingly, these devices are made in China. They are in consumer’s homes, businesses and data centers.

The researchers found multiple very severe vulnerabilities in multiple devices.

Our recommendation that you install your own firewall that you and only you control between the ISP’s connection and your equipment. While this seems logical, you would be surprised at the number of networks that rely on the ISP to secure them.

Hopefully most businesses have their own firewalls, but for small and medium businesses, they too often are trusting their ISP to secure them.

THESE AND OTHER VULNERABILITIES ALLOW HACKERS TO ACCESS ANY DATA ON YOUR NETWORK OR TRANSITING YOUR NETWORK IN OR OUT.

More importantly, many of these vulnerable devices will never be patched.

You are responsible for protecting your own network. Sorry. Credit: ZDNet

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