Can Comcast snoop into you home networks using LinkSys gateway?

(Gigaom) Linksys, now a division of Cisco has recently been touting its deal with Comcast as a big win. Well, looks like there are some serious problems with this 802.11g/Modem gateway combo, according to informed sources.

If you scroll through the press release, you come to a section which says that the gateway supports a CableHome 1.0 ?for the ability to deliver secure, managed services from Comcast?s head-end network to the subscribers? home network.? Now there is a big problem with this thing – for instance, the Cablehome 1.0 standard allows cable operators to snoop around their home networks and learn things such as how  many computers are attached to the gateway and what kind of traffic they are generating/receiving. (Beware Vonage fans, this could be used to detect your Vonage ATA as well.)

In case you were wondering, where?s the juice. Go to the Cable Labs website and read this document. Scroll down to Section 6.3.1 and read:

The goals for the CableHome Management Portal include:
* Enable viewing of LAN IP Device information obtained via the CableHome DHCP Portal (CDP)
* Enable viewing of the results of LAN IP Device performance monitoring done by the CableHome  Test Portal (CTP)
* Provide the capability to disable LAN segments

What this means is that Comcast can use its immense clout and shut down little companies like Vonage, prevent us from using our broadband connections in the way we want them to use. There was an article on Brian Roberts, which described him as the God Father. Well he is one and if we don?t do something about it, well they are going to be snooping on your network. I have emailed the folks at Comcast and LinkSys, and will post what they have to say.