Homeplug network extenders – security?

[wxman]

Anyone have any views with homeplug network devices? For those that don’t know these allow you to pass an Ethernet connection using the mains wiring as a medium. Apparently they have a range of 200 meters.

I have been testing these extenders and they do seem to work. But I now have some real issues over there security. Each pair or group needs to share a common key or password in order to work. Out of the box they have the same default password.

So if I plug in a homeplug, out of the box with the default password - what’s to stop someone next door also plugging one in and then gaining instant access to my network – assuming that most folk won’t have a clue on how to change password any way. I bet that there are 1000’s or password defaulted homeplugs out there.

[RichardCranium]

HomePlug FAQ

Can my neighbour steal my internet connection if he has a HomePlug?
No, the electricity meter acts as block on the signals that are transmitted across the network, so there is no chance of them leaking out on to the public wiring and your neighbours picking them up.


What stops HomePlug from working, will they work with extension Lead?
Avoid surge protected / Filtered mains extension blocks as these block the HomePlug signal. Long extension leads will degrade the signal so it is best practice to plug the HomePlug directly into a wall socket.

[RichardCranium]

Hmm. 'Switcher' disagrees:


Homeplug for room with different circuitry

Switcher
Does not require same ring, or even same distribution box. Just as long as it is on same phase coming in to house. Other people on same phase may pick up signal so advisable to use homeplugs security as well as any other security.

Martin12
I have been using a zyxel homeplug router and 2 homeplugs on different ring mains in my home for sometime. I get full signal on all 3. It says in the instructions that the "barrier" to users outside your premises is the meter.

Forum Editor
Home Plug will work on all circuits in your home, provided they are connected to the same consumer unit (fusebox).

Switcher
Does not have on be the same DB, if you are only on one phase to your house all DBs are effectivly at the same electrical point. Your meter will not stop it either any neighbour on the same phase could pick it up if near enough. Use the homeplug security to prevent anyone else being able to connect to your system.

[RichardCranium]

I have devolo dLAN Highspeed Ethernet II adaptors and they are quitebasic but a few years old.

Looking at the current manual, it appears they now each have a 16-bit identified and software for detecting other accessible devices. Mine have none of that.

Also, it seems to depend on manufacturer and model. Some now have a physical press button which, once pressed, the other devices then have only 2 minutes to connect to it and then their chance has gone. The likelihood of your neighbour attaching is tiny.

Also, the market is small and different devices - even from the same manufacturer - are often incompatible. Your neighbour would need to be very lucky to choose the same solution as you.

[wxman]

So the meter acts as a barrier to the homeplug signal – I am interested to know more
A transformer would block the signal – does a meter have one? Anyone know the voltage that runs down a typical branch line supplying a row of houses? Is it transformed down from 11KV to 240v at the meter?
Finally what then happens in a black of flats
So many questions….

It's not invariably the case that the electricity meter will prevent signals leaving the house (it depends on the meter). But in most cases there will be enough attenuation between houses so that a neighbour could not "share" a connection. The opportunity would come only if there was not enough attenuation and the default network key happened to be the same. Cases where there was not enough attenuation will be rare, most typically in houses converted to flats.

[VectraMan]

My Netgear ones have a unique 16-character PWD on them, which when I set it up I had to install the software on one PC and enter the codes of the devices I wanted to work together. Something like that - it was a few years ago.

There'd be no need for encryption if the meter was guaranteed to block the signal. But the WiFi part is probably less secure.

[d000hg]

Unless you believe you are actively a target for "espionage" then it seems very unlikely someone would know you had this setup and/or install the same on their own house, next-door. It's not like broadcasting a wireless gateway for anyone driving past.

[malvolio]

Why not simply set a new password? You'd do it for a WLAN...

[Sysman]

It's not invariably the case that the electricity meter will prevent signals leaving the house (it depends on the meter). But in most cases there will be enough attenuation between houses so that a neighbour could not "share" a connection. The opportunity would come only if there was not enough attenuation and the default network key happened to be the same. Cases where there was not enough attenuation will be rare, most typically in houses converted to flats.

I stayed in a hotel that used these devices. All was well at first but after a week or two performance would degrade massively then it would pack up; I'd end up on someone else's LAN where I had no access to the outside world. It was close enough to the end of the gig I didn't really bother but it made me wonder if either another guest had a malware infested PC or I was getting interference from another building.

[BoredBloke]

I've got 2 homeplugs to get my PC to attach to my router as it is in an akward corner of the house. They are useless - they work fine and then suddenly drop the connection and then kick back in a few seconds later. Pretty crap if you are online playing a game. Not sure if it is something to do with the PC being in a room in the extension or not.

I'd like to try some more up to date ones, but I'm not spending a load more cash on them to get the same result!