[11492] in Commercialization & Privatization of the Internet
Re: Re[2]: Two-way Internet service from Continental Cable?
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Dave Nordlund)
Mon Apr 4 15:07:47 1994
Date: Mon, 04 Apr 1994 09:49:25 +0000
From: Dave Nordlund <NORDLUND@ccstaff.cc.ukans.edu>
To: karl@mcs.com (Karl Denninger), steve@nsf.gov, com-priv@psi.com,
0003858921@mcimail.com
> From: karl@mcs.com (Karl Denninger)
> Subject: Re: Re[2]: Two-way Internet service from Continental Cable?
> To: 0003858921@mcimail.com (Robert G. Moskowitz)
> Date sent: Fri, 1 Apr 1994 22:06:53 -0600 (CST)
> Copies to: steve@nsf.gov, com-priv@psi.com
> >
> > S said:
> >
> > >If it's a shared medium, how difficult is it for a moderately capable one
> > >of PSI's customers on the cable to listen in on what some other customers
> > >are saying? Presumably it's slightly more difficult than hanging a
> > >Sniffer on a vampire tap, but I wonder what safety mechanisms PSI has to
> > >prevent their customers from wiretapping each other?
> >
> > Steve, it is soooo simple to turn a PC into an network analyser. I do it
> > all the time at work. A number of commercial packages for ~$1K or PD
> > packages do it...
> >
> > Bob
> >
>
> The level of granularity in this case is the segment between backbone links
> in the Cable TV plant.
>
> Knowing how these things are built (I used to work for a company that made
> satcom earth station gear and had close contact with these folks) I'd say
> that you could tap roughly 100-200 houses in most areas easily - and in
> especially high density areas probably more.
>
Here is a different idea. Every home must have an RF modem to the cable.
If the home workstation has an Enet card the Cable box could contain the
RF Modem, DCE Enet chips and a simple processor doing normal MAC level
briding. That means that you at your work station would ONLY see the
packets addressed to you! No snooping! I think this box could be built
for under $300 in quantity. The cable company would probably rent it for
$15 per month or so.
> --
> --
> Karl Denninger (karl@MCS.COM) | MCSNet - Full Internet Connectivity (shell,
> Modem: [+1 312 248-0900] | PPP, SLIP and more) in Chicago and 'burbs.
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>
Dave Nordlund nordlund@ccstaff.cc.ukans.edu
University of Kansas 913/864-0450
Computing Services FAX 913/864-0485
Lawrence, KS 66045
