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Resolved Question

Question about a Modem

Jun 22, 2018 6:33AM PDT

I just purchased a modem off of Ebay and I was just curious about 2 things.

1. Is there a way to find out how old the modem is? A manufacturing date or whatnot? The seller assured me the modem was less than a year old but I wanted to be sure.

2. Is there a way I can see if the Firewall is active? You an access the modem via the url 192.168.1.1. By doing this is there a way to check on a firewall status?

Discussion is locked

Giant-Octopus has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer

Best Answer

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2. Firewall.
Jun 22, 2018 7:04AM PDT

If you have a router in a modem+router combo, it's a fact that there is a firewall. This firewall has been there since the very first router. So fact, it has a firewall. Later they added more firewalls to block access from LAN to WiFi and such but item 2 is easy. It has one.

As to age, you didn't supply any details so you have to google make, model and look for date codes.

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Firewall
Jun 22, 2018 8:50AM PDT
If you have a router in a modem+router combo, it's a fact that there is a firewall. This firewall has been there since the very first router. So fact, it has a firewall. Later they added more firewalls to block access from LAN to WiFi and such but item 2 is easy. It has one.[

Oh so its already there? My old modem was hooked up to a router and I always turned it off when I wasn't using it. With this new modem/router combo I bought I'm going to be leaving it on full time now. I was just afraid that someone might hack into it (a neighbor) if there is no firewall. I just don't want something like this to happen to me
http://torontosun.com/2015/09/04/gene-simmons-steps-up-computer-security-after-police-raid/wcm/9f44be59-34ab-43dd-bf70-49d235ef01cc

Gene Simmons mentioned that the FBI helped him install a Firewall. That's why I was asking if the router had a firewall installed.

As to age, you didn't supply any details so you have to google make, model and look for date codes

Its one of these modems.
https://www.smartrg.com/sr360n

The seller sold me hers because she switched Internet service providers.
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It's nearly impossible to hack your PC on the other side
Jun 22, 2018 10:18AM PDT

Of a router. Why? Because UNSOLICITED PACKETS can't make it to the PC. But there are folk that are easy to scare into adding more and more protection. You really can't help them and then you have folk that are beginners on basic network concepts.

That's no sin. It just takes time.

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I see
Jun 23, 2018 7:34AM PDT

Its not so much the PC being hacked its just someone using my Wifi without my knowledge to commit nefarious deeds. That's what happened to Gene Simmons in that link I supplied above. I just don't want that happening to me.

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That is possible.
Jun 23, 2018 7:41AM PDT

A few years ago WPA2 protection was good for about 24 hours or less as Cloud Cracking became a thing. There are web pages about what to do to collect the needed information to crack the WPA2 password in a cloud compute farm. I think it cost 2.5USD per crack.

I have not kept up and we all hope for WPA3 to arrive sooner than later.

For now you can avoid that issue with changing the password weekly for a month which should piss off the would be user. Since it still costs to crack WPA2 quickly and cracking on your own PC takes over a week still, then this will do.

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OK
Jun 23, 2018 8:20AM PDT

Maybe I'm a tad paranoid. Back in 2002 someone got a hold of my Credit Card number online and ran up a $2000 gambling bill on some online UK based Casino. Sure I was reimbursed by MasterCard but I still felt violated. After reading that article a few years ago about Gene Simmons it made me even more paranoid. I doubt anyone will hack my Wifi since I'm a nobody but you can never be too sure.

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Be afraid. But not too much.
Jun 23, 2018 8:39AM PDT

The real danger of unauth or bad use of your Internet connection is child porn or Torrent use to get more junk and you get the legal issues.

This is my primary reason to change WiFi passwords and put the router on a power bar so I can turn it off when I have no need for it.

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How do you..
Jun 23, 2018 8:59AM PDT

..put the Router on a powerbar?

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It's pretty simple.
Jun 23, 2018 9:20AM PDT

Most routers need power from a wall socket. So for me it's easy enough to plug the power bar into the wall and then the router power adapter into that bar so I have an easy way to turn it off when I'm gone.

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Answer
Well the thing you need to do is google the make & model
Jun 22, 2018 7:12AM PDT

and there should be info the website. Also like the other poster said if it has the router built in it has a firewall. Your ISP assigns you an IP address and you router assigns an IP address behind the firewall mostly 192.168.1.1 that is used by alot of vendors for the IP address to the router behind the firewall.