Flaw compromises the security of O2 routers
The Guardian reports that anyone having a router provided by O2 might find that they are vulnerable to remote attacks, according to an O2 customer, who has repeatedly tried to get O2 to take notice of this problem.
The details about this are fairly complicated and depends on ‘cross – site request forgery’, something most of us (including myself) may have never heard of. This is a very serious issue and you should be worried. If in possession of an O2 router, you should reset the default password and ensure that O2 hasn’t changed it back, according to the O2 customer, Andrew Brown.
Nearly 457,000 of O2’s customers could be affected by this as nearly all of O2’s customers would be using the Wireless Box II or III, the only routers being offered by O2. Zen Broadband as well as Be responded to check whether the routers they provide are also affected by this problem.
According to Andrew Brown, O2 has supplied a remote update to the Wireless Boxes whereby their password is set to the serial number of the box. Though this will reduce the problem to a particular extent, it won’t get rid of it. The software release is still vulnerable to this problem.
Be Broadband had sent out a letter to its customers with regard to this, including instructions for the tech – savvies, but the penultimate paragraph should be taken note of. It says that a remote attach might lead to prompts for your router password. You should never comply with this request unless you have initiated the process. Therefore, beware of this and be aware. It is great to see that Be is being precautionary about this. O2 seem to have been doing this very thing – it is because of this that people find their admin passwords being changed suddenly.
Fixed line broadband for businesses now offered by O2 and BT
In their individual pursuits to render reliable and affordable communications link, 02 and BT Wholesale recently signed a new deal for five years. This deal involved delivering a fixed-line and business broadband services to areas within and beyond that they are currently serving.
With this new agreement which was received positively by consumers, BT will underpin the entry of 02 into the market of business communications. This will mean that 02 will be responsible for designing and managing a loyal portal and service management center. It also means that 02 will undertake all operations aspect involved in business communications.
The joined-up package from 02 should be more helpful to business pursuits in marketing and sales as it is deemed a unified solution for all business telecom demands. This will mean that mobile connection, fixed line, data and broadband will be brought forth to customers as one package. For consumers, this mean ease in billings and payments, while for both BT and 02, it means that they are saving from administrative and operational expense.
Ronan Dunne, CEO of 02 in the United Kingdom sees the partnership positively, particularly for the consumers of both BT and their company. He said that working with BT Wholesale opened doors of opportunity for their company to give their business clients a reliable end-to-end service with their varied connections now served as one.
Dunne also added that alongside the package will be the unique consultancy that 02 have been known to provide its consumers. “We see this deal as an exciting prospect for 02 to widen its range of products for our consumers in the business sector.
On the other hand, BT Wholesale announced recently its partnership with Vodafone. Soon, Vodafone will also offer fixed-line communications to the UK business sector.
More details regarding this post could be found at top10-broadband.co.uk
