[ NNSquad ] Verizon's access via their provided Actiontec MoCa router

[Andrew C Burnette <acb@acb.net>]

Hey folks,

In discussion with Lauren (off list) I recalled the following info that 
might be of interest to any FIOS users who actually want their home 
network to be a bit more secure.

During a recent UPS battery swapout, I got stuck with a verizon 'dead' 
DHCP lease (it would not lease me an IP address).

VZ Tech support was able to access and verify the configuration, code 
rev, and connectivity on the Actiontec router, despite there being no 
visible external IP address (according to my web view on the box) on the 
router.

To me, that equals no security if they (unknown they...) can access my 
LAN or router without even their router logs showing such external 
access. Not good.

Anyway, in bridge mode, I run a software firewall behind it, which does 
the actual DHCP request and is my external visible IP to the world. You 
can still do all the normal stuff, using the Actiontec as a MoCa to 
Ethernet interface (NIM).

Best regards,
Andy Burnette