Cox Hot Spot running off my modem

Thanks - but this does not solve COX using my router as a hotspot.  All of these security measures had already been taken.    My network was secure.  This hotspot is something built into the router supplied by COX that I rent.   I was never told of this.  When I saw this open access hotspot - I assumed it was a neighbor.  I had no idea it was my router.   Cox is supplying this to strangers (in my case the homeless person living outside my house that the police will do nothing about) using my monthly fees and my electricity payments. I imagine one day they will be a class action lawsuit against this - it is not right.

If your network was secure, a homeless guy wouldn't be using it as a hotspot.  How do you know he's accessing your Wi-Fi?  Have you changed your Wi-Fi password recently?  Change it to a new, strong password and reboot your router.  See if the connection you believe is the homeless guy comes back.  Don't forget to write down your new password (offline) and store it in a secure location.  If you forget it, you'll have to reset to factory settings.

If you've taken all available security measures, your network should be secure.  Contact cox.help@cox.com for assistance.  Include your full name, the service address and a link to this discussion.

Thanks CurtB.

Hi MC72, I am sorry you were not given this information upfront. Here is an article from our page for more information. It gives the same exact steps you took to disable from your end, https://www.cox.com/residential/support/cox-hotspots-with-panoramic-wifi.html#:~:text=Sign%20in%20to%20your%20account,radio%20button%20next%20to%20Disable. Since that did not help you, we can check from our end and see if we can disable it. Please send us an email to Cox.Help@Cox.Com with your full name, address and link to this forum for assistance. Also, have you checked to see if there are other Hotspots in your area that the gentleman may be trying to connect to? https://www.cox.com/residential/internet/learn/cox-hotspots.html . The Hotspot is not a free service. It is accessible for anyone who is a Cox Subscriber or from another Cable Company. This same service is available for you or anyone in your home when on the go. We look forward to getting your email. 

Thanks but I know that the homeless is using my box.  He comes in his car every night around 8pm and leaves at 8:30am the next day.  He just parks by our house.   For the last 3 nights, I have been unplugging the modem at 8pm every night (the cable and electricity) and now you can not hook up to the hot spot.   Finally last night he did not come.   

I basically just wrote this post so that others will know of this problem.  Just to be clear to the people telling me to change my password - of course I did that. This homeless man is not using my secure network.  He is using the second network - the open hotspot that COX is running off my modem.  I called Cox twice - no help.  They told me that all the COX supplied boxes run this and there is no way of turning it off.

Anyway, the solution is that I am buying my own modem - I don't care how much it costs - then I won't be running a hotspot for the riff raff.   And this man is most decidedly not a "gentleman" - He pollutes  - I have to pick up all his disgusting trash: toilet paper, clothing, food and about 20 cigarette butts every day.   I can't open my windows because all the smoke comes in.  

I was never told of this "service" running on my subscription and my electricity - this was a replacement box just given with no paperwork when I cancelled my cable.   

Anyway I am getting a my own modem/router. 

Thanks 

In this thread we're discussing Cox-provided Panoramic WiFi equipment, whereas your support link gives advice to customers who own and manage their own equipment.

Thankfully the modem/router rentals take this security responsibility out of our hands and allows Cox to manage it.

If you follow the news you would see that customer-owned routers are a weak link and very likely to be compromised, joined to botnets, and abused by threat actors, and the owners will never find out because of poor monitoring and logging.

Cox's hotspot service is a logical idea because most customers' connections have tons of bandwidth and resources to spare. Why not rent out that excess capacity to neighbors?

Whose bandwidth does it use then? If a consumer router offers a hotspot then it will necessarily use the cable connection for connectivity. Unless Cox has devised an ingenious mesh network connecting all their hotspots wirelessly, which seems out of character.

Data usage can be measured separately, indeed. VLANs can segregate frames and packets for security and privacy, yes. But at the end of the day, you've got one box serving many masters, and resources such as memory, CPU, backplane, and DOCSIS channels are shared with your "guests" or parasites.

Hello, we would be happy to assist with any questions or concerns you might have. Please email us your “full” name, “complete” address, and a copy of your post to Cox.Help@cox.com if further assistance is needed. Thank you!

I'd like to see your answer to the question Anesti33 asked.  There are probably others who have the same question.  Does everybody have to email you and get a private response?  Unless the answer is something you really don't want Cox customers to know, why don't you just answer the question here so that everyone will benefit?

Please know the purpose of the Cox community forums is to allow customers to discuss technical topics related to residential Cox services with other customers and we encourage our users to assist each other where possible via this avenue. Billing and account issues require the sharing of sensitive information to resolve which isn't best suited for a public forum. Please email us at cox.help@cox.com with your full name, complete street address, the details of your concern, and a link to this post. 

Bandwidth and resource usage are technical topics and have nothing to do with billing or accounts.

If a paying customer depends on reliability and availability at a particular service level, Hotspot usage by neighbors could adversely impact these things without our knowledge.

But consumer Internet contracts come with no such guarantees anyway. If you rely on Internet service for more than gaming and entertainment, then you need a Cox Business account with service level guarantees written into your contract.

I am not a lawyer, but Cox's TOS does not seem to accommodate remote workers or consumers who try to use their services for commercial activity (like being a social media influencer). Especially if you live in a car.