topic Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router in My Router

Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Star-Light100 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 11:42:54 GMT

Hi. Ive just swapped my older plus net router to a new top of the range Tp link router. When you set up the router to use plus net, you have to use your user name and password to use the service.

I notice on other ISPs like BT you just have to use a generic user name and password that all BT customers who run their own routers use. Such as user name - Bt home hub, password- Bt user.

I’m all up and running, but now I notice there’s a possible privacy/security issue related to my user name being visible to any web site that should choose to Capture it.

After setting up my new router I like to test its security by using a well known web site to test such things like open ports Etc.
The first thing it showed me was that my username was visible to it’s website in full. Normally it would just show part of my ip address which is normal. But since swapping over to a none plus net router my whole username is visible. This is really not the sort of information I want to share with any website I should visit.
There are no changes in the router settings so this information is not visible. If I try and remove/ change my username the connection stops working.
Does anyone have any advice how I can stop displaying my plusnet username so website can’t pick it up. Thanks

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

jab1 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 12:10:06 GMT

@Star-Light100 Welcome to the forums. I'm not a networking expert by any means, but some of your comments seem a little at odds with what I experienced when I was with Plusnet.

As far as I am aware, to access any ISPs network as an individual, you have to log in with a unique identity - the example you give just won't work.

Which 'well known' site do you use? I will run a test using my details and see what comes up, but I suspect you are seeing things slightly wrongly, or maybe the TP-link isn't as good as you think at keeping you secure?

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Alex — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 12:10:42 GMT

Hi @Star-Light100

Welcome to the forums.

If I am correct, I believe you need to request a reverse DNS change, so it doesn't display your username. This has come up on here before and people have had it done.

Hopefully a member of staff will pick this up and can get it done for you.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

jab1 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 12:12:16 GMT

@Alex I believe that only applies to users with a static IP - dynamic ones are not affected.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Alex — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 12:13:34 GMT

Thanks John, yeah I just thought of that after I had posted.
The OP didn't say whether they were, but if they're not then it is not what I just said.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Star-Light100 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 12:23:00 GMT

Hi Guys, thank you for your reply, the website I use is grc shields up. Its a testing website for weak spots in home networks. I wasn’t sure if I could name web sites outside of here. I am on a dynamic ip address.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

jab1 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 12:28:35 GMT

@Star-Light100 I guessed it was grc. I'll run a test there when I've had my lunch, but I still suspect you could be reading the results wrongly. So long as a website is legal, there is nothing stopping you linking to it on Plusnet.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Star-Light100 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 12:42:40 GMT

Thanks for your reply. The results are on the first page titled” The text below might uniquely identify you on the Internet” below that shows my plusnet username

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

jab1 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 12:56:12 GMT

Unfortunately I'm no longer with PN so can't check, but if I remember correctly, those on dynamic addresses should see something which quotes you IP address, followed by something like 'dsl.dyn.plus.net' - can't claim that text is correct, as I never bothered checking with grc after it got some details wrong, years back.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Star-Light100 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:02:49 GMT

Yes that’s right. It should read half your ip address followed by the plusdsl.net. But sadly mine reads my full username.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Dan_the_Van — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:05:45 GMT

In that case you must have a static IP Address, I had mine changed and I see

Dan.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

jab1 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:07:07 GMT

@Star-Light100 That suggests to me that you have a static IP, but someone with more networking knowledge may be able to comment.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Star-Light100 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:09:33 GMT

Yes. That’s what it should look like.I will check the settings again in the router to make sure it’s not set to static IP address or anything like that.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Dan_the_Van — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:11:49 GMT

@Star-Light100

which TP-Link router are you using?

You should not be setting up any IP information, your plusnet profile assigns either a static or dynamic address

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Star-Light100 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:22:53 GMT

It’s an Archer VR2800. The only place I added my user name and p word was to connect to the Adsl line or the connection won’t work

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Dan_the_Van — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 13:29:35 GMT

@Star-Light100

with a Plus Net supplied Hub the management system will assign your username to the Hub when it connects, so there is no user action required.

When you use a 3rd party device then you have to configure it yourself.

I suggest you plug your Plus Net Hub back in and see if you get the same results.

It is high unlikely the TP-Link device is causing this issue.

Dan

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Star-Light100 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 14:03:33 GMT

Ok I’ve reconnected my hub one and I’m still seeing my user name but with plus.com instead of plusdsl.net at the end. So I’m a bit confused now how I can get this fixed.

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

jab1 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 14:20:42 GMT

@Star-Light100 How long have you been a Plusnet customer? I still suspect you have a static IP - what are the first 3 octets?

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

Star-Light100 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 14:30:43 GMT

Hi, over 18 months now. The first part of my IP address 192. . If that’s what you wanted to know?

Re: Possible privacy / security problem after changing to a non plusnet router

jab1 — Sat, 23 Apr 2022 14:35:05 GMT

OK. That 192 sounds like the start of your routers address to me - AIUI that is part of a reserved range for routers/hubs &c.

Which Plusnet hub have you got?