Hacked Marconi ADSL WiFi Router

D

DollyAAAA

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I just had to share this with everyone blessed with a Marconi ADSL WiFi Router. (The kind supplied to you by Telkom).

If you have the firmware version I have, that does not provide you with the facility to disable the WiFi part of your router, then you may want to do what I did. The wireless on this router is completely insecure by today's standards. The WEP only encryption is simply not good enough. So, to get rid of this security risk, I proceeded to modify the router.

Before you continue, you do so entirely at your own risk. You may invalidate your router's warranty. The information supplied is my experience only.

First, I removed the label at the bottom to expose 2 screws. Unscrewed them, carefully removed the two labels at the front, ant took apart the unit.

Inside I found that the wireless module is actually a PCMCIA card mounted onto a PCB! Loosened the retaining screw, and removed the PCMCIA card and antenna.

Next, I powered up the router, to check everything, and all is still ok. If you now look at the web interface, you will find that the Wireless option on the left-hand column is now missing, meaning that the firmware detected that there was no wireless module.

Before I closed up the router, I removed the irritating blinking WLAN LED from the PCB, and reassembled the router.

Now I have a ADSL 4-port Ethernet router with no WiFi, but it is secure. I already have a WiFi router that takes care of my wireless needs, faster (802.11g) and far more secure (WPA2+TKIP+AES) than the Marconi.

Do not be fooled into thinking this Marconi router provides secure or fast wireless connectivity. Get yourself a decent (read fast, upgradeable, secure, supported) router like my Linksys WRT54GL.
 
DollyAAAA said:
I just had to share this with everyone blessed with a Marconi ADSL WiFi Router. (The kind supplied to you by Telkom).

If you have the firmware version I have, that does not provide you with the facility to disable the WiFi part of your router, then you may want to do what I did. The wireless on this router is completely insecure by today's standards. The WEP only encryption is simply not good enough. So, to get rid of this security risk, I proceeded to modify the router.

Before you continue, you do so entirely at your own risk. You may invalidate your router's warranty. The information supplied is my experience only.

First, I removed the label at the bottom to expose 2 screws. Unscrewed them, carefully removed the two labels at the front, ant took apart the unit.

Inside I found that the wireless module is actually a PCMCIA card mounted onto a PCB! Loosened the retaining screw, and removed the PCMCIA card and antenna.

Next, I powered up the router, to check everything, and all is still ok. If you now look at the web interface, you will find that the Wireless option on the left-hand column is now missing, meaning that the firmware detected that there was no wireless module.

Before I closed up the router, I removed the irritating blinking WLAN LED from the PCB, and reassembled the router.

Now I have a ADSL 4-port Ethernet router with no WiFi, but it is secure. I already have a WiFi router that takes care of my wireless needs, faster (802.11g) and far more secure (WPA2+TKIP+AES) than the Marconi.

Do not be fooled into thinking this Marconi router provides secure or fast wireless connectivity. Get yourself a decent (read fast, upgradeable, secure, supported) router like my Linksys WRT54GL.
Click to expand...

I stop reading...:p Not my router so it would be an issue! ;)

Thanks for the advice though. That WEP key is like 20 digits long. Is that not good enough? :confused:
 
Nope, WEP is not secure at all. There are tools freely available (Google airsnort) that will crack WEP after listening in on a few million packets. When thay crack the key, it's as if you have no encryption at all...

Use WPA/WPA2.
 
DollyAAAA said:
Nope, WEP is not secure at all. There are tools freely available (Google airsnort) that will crack WEP after listening in on a few million packets. When thay crack the key, it's as if you have no encryption at all...

Use WPA/WPA2.
Click to expand...

But if my username is not on my router, what can they do?
 
frana said:
But if my username is not on my router, what can they do?
Click to expand...

They effectively have access to your network and could therefore leech off your internet connection, access your shares etc. If you're using bridge mode it might be a bit harder but still possible.

Couldn't you just remove the antenna externally, then wouldn't the signal be so weak it wouldn't be much of an issue?
 
Say you're in a neighbourhood or block of flats where other people have WiFi capability. If someone in range listens in on your WiFi traffic, they can crack the encryption, find out what your gateway/routers private IP address is, and configure their conputer to use your WiFi AP to gain access to the internet. Even MAC filtering does not help. They can spoof any IP and/or MAC because they have been listening to your traffic.
 
Tried to remove the antenna, but couldn't. Had to open the box... Removing the antenna will most certainly attenuate the signal.
 
If I knew then what I know now, I would never have taken the Telkom router, but older, wiser...

I actually did put the PCMCIA card into my notebook, and it actually works! The label on it says: "NL-2511CD PLUS EXT2 MERCURY (ETSI)" Got the driver and user manual. Apparently made by Senao Networks.
 
Nice 1 Dolly - something to really crow about - free Wifi PC Card with telkom router! :D
 
I had that original piece of crap router from Telkom for 2 years. The white rectangular 4-port one.

I went through 3 of them - all of them mysteriously malfunctioned and died. (figures, eh?)

Anyway, fourth time around they gave me a Marconi Premium Combo router - which, so far, is the best. You have the option to turn off the WiFi and a number of other features.

However, it's still Marconi, and it's still Telkom, so *spit* - if you have to pay for a router, get a proper one, otherwise the Premium Combo does its job without hassle.
 
Bah - my little bro's also got one of them thar premium combo POS wifi things

LAN works well, but the wifi's one PITA...
 
Nice DollyAAA... heard nothing but good news about your wireless router (WRT54GL)

For those without a secure wireless router, you can always try giving the antenna a tinfoil hat :D
 
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