Editing Uncapping

{{Short description|Method to alter cable modem settings}}
{{one source|date=June 2016}}

'''Uncapping''', in the context of [[cable modem]]s, refers to a number of activities performed to alter an [[Internet service provider]]'s [[modem]] settings. It is sometimes done for the sake of [[Bandwidth (signal processing)|bandwidth]] (i.e. by buying a 512&nbsp;kbit/s access modem and then altering it to 10&nbsp;Mbit/s), pluggable interfaces (as by using more than one public ID), or any configurable options a [[DOCSIS]] modem can offer. However, uncapping may be considered an illegal activity, such as [[Theft of services|theft of service]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.computerworld.com/article/2528960/networking/cable-modem-hacker-busted-by-feds.html | first = Robert | last = McMillan | date = November 2, 2009 | website = [[Computerworld]] | publisher = IDG News Service | title = Cable modem hacker busted by feds | quote = Hackers have known for years that certain models of cable modem, {{sic}} such as the Motorola Surfboard 5100, can be hacked to run faster on a network, a process known as uncapping. However, the question of whether uncapping a modem is illegal is "not clear."}}</ref>

== Methods ==
There are several methods used to uncap a cable modem, by hardware, software, tricks, alterations, and modifications.

One of the most popular modifications is used on [[Motorola]] modems (such as the SB3100, SB4100, and SB4200 models); by [[Spoofing attack|spoofing]] the Internet service provider's [[TFTP]] server, the modem is made to accept a different [[configuration file]] than the one provided by the TFTP server. This configuration file tells the modem the download and upload caps it should enforce. An example of spoofing would be to edit the configuration file, which requires a DOCSIS editor, or replacing the configuration file with one obtained from a faster modem (e.g. through a [[Gnutella]] network). 

An alternate method employs DHCPforce. By flooding a modem with faked [[DHCP]] [[Network packet|packets]] (which contain configuration filename, TFTP, IP, etc.), one can convince the modem to accept any desired configuration file, even one from one's own server (provided the server is routed, of course).

Another more advanced method is to attach a [[Transistor–transistor logic|TTL]] to the modem's [[RS-232]] adapter, and get access to the modem's console directly to make it download new firmware, which can then be configured via a simple web interface. Examples include SIGMA, a [[firmware]] [[plug-in (computing)|add-on]] that expands the current features of an underlying firmware, and others.

==See also==
*[[Bandwidth cap]]

== References ==
{{reflist}}

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070607003646/http://www.fibercoax.net/ Fibercoax Group] 
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070613032047/http://www.tcniso.net/ TCNiSO Embedded Development Assembly Experts] 

[[Category:Broadband]]
[[Category:Internet terminology]]