O2 Broadband Service Message

Just had a note from O2 that they are doing some more security work on my O2Box soon (well, their O2 box that I pay for!).

It seems that not only do they want to change the password (to what it is at present) they also want to change the network name. Now, I have a lot of devices that connect to this network wirelessly. Won't this knock them offline? How helpful is this and can I stop it?

I have a fixed IP address and some major changes to the config. Looks like I am about to loose all those and revert to standard setup .... again !

Adrian

<Note folows>

Dear Adrian,

To ensure that your O2 Broadband always performs at the highest level, we occasionally carry out updates on our O2 Wireless boxes.

That’s why we’re writing to you to let you know that over the next few days, we're going to update yours. You’ll see your O2 Wireless box turn itself off and back on again, it’ll take around 30 seconds.

These updates will increase the security of your O2 Wireless box.

There are two changes we need to make you aware of:

Password to access the Router

We’re going to set up a password to protect the settings on your O2 Wireless Box. You don’t need to do anything. You’ll only need it if you want to change the settings. (In most cases, you’ll probably never need it.) The password is the serial number of your O2 Wireless Box.


You might find that it takes longer to access the settings pages on your router at http://o2wirelessbox.lan, this is because of the new security features we’ve put in place to protect you online.

Wireless Network Name

If you ever have to reset your wireless box, it will set up a new wireless network name to increase the security of your O2 Wireless Box. You don’t need to do anything to make this happen either.

If you would like to see more information around this, here's where you can find it here



Felix Geyr

Head of O2 Home and Broadband







This email is sent from Telefónica O2 UK Limited.
Registered Office:
260 Bath Road, Slough, Berkshire, SL1 4DX.
Registered number: 1743099.

Yes, I had the same, it was sent 8 March.

I had a similar one sent previously on 14 September 2009 !!

I've already created my own userid and password with SuperUser privileges.

I guess this is the downside of going with a consumer oriented mass market ISP; they are catering for the lowest common denominator
Things like this are part of the reason why my O2 wireless box has never been out of the box it came in and I'm sticking with my trusty DG834GT, at least they can't fiddle with that

Regards,
Steve

I think it is the latest firmware update, which incorporates the previous password changes. I believe you can block the port they use, but that's all I know about it.

Also if you change the Administrator and SuperUser passwords I think that stops them as well, but not sure.

Bob's broadband basic info/help site:
www.robertos.me.uk (now hosted on Tsohost).
ISP history: Demon dialup >> Freeserve dialup >> BT Broadband >> Prodigynet >> Newnet >> O2 Standard.
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Changing the Administrator and SuperUser passwords will not stop it I don't think, as I thnik there is a remote support account that O2 use

http://www.o2help.co.uk/router-close-port-7547/

Be* Unlimited

In reply to a post by nredwood:

Changing the Administrator and SuperUser passwords will not stop it I don't think, as I thnik there is a remote support account that O2 use

I don't think user accounts are used at all. As far as I know, any IP address on the internet can trigger CWMP to connect to a hardcoded O2-controlled URL, from which it will collect any update settings or firmware. The URL you quote on my site will indeed prevent the trigger from happening.

Oliver.
O2 Help

In reply to a post by sjr:

I guess this is the downside of going with a consumer oriented mass market ISP; they are catering for the lowest common denominator
Things like this are part of the reason why my O2 wireless box has never been out of the box it came in and I'm sticking with my trusty DG834GT, at least they can't fiddle with that

Regards,
Steve

I'm planning on using my DGN2000, but was curious to know what happens if you run into techincal problems e.g loss of connection etc when you ring them up will they make you put the O2 Box in before they will check the fault ?

Thanks

O2 Home Standard
Speedtest
PC Help

I'm not sure about that....I had firmware 8.2.23.0 downloaded on about 22 February.

In reply to a post by Simon_Pipex:

will they make you put the O2 Box in before they will check the fault ?

That's a good thing to try first, anyway.

I got that same email today too. It's the first one I ever had on the subject. The box was security updated - oh, way into last year when it became necessary to apply the box serial number. Only way I knew then was that a pop-up box appeared from the system tray area telling me the update had happened!

Maybe this is a further update or perhaps to catch those missed at an earlier time, maybe? (cynic )

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o2 Broadband Standard, Type 1 o2 router, Avast Home 4.8, Comodo firewall (since 14 Sept 08)