You may have heard rumors that Cox is using its customers’ home wi-fi networks as public wi-fi hotspots, making them accessible to its other customers. Is this true? The answer is yes, but it does not affect all customers. Here’s a closer look at who may be affected and how a computer network repair service can help you opt out of turning your home wi-fi into a public hotspot.
Who is affected?
In March 2020, Cox notified its internet service customers that their home wi-fi routers would be automatically updated to host other Cox subscribers as public wi-fi hotspots. The email did not contain information on how this would affect current subscribers, nor did it contain information on how to opt out of this wi-fi sharing feature.
Not all Cox customers will experience this update to automatically switch on the wi-fi sharing feature—only customers using the Cox Panoramic WiFi Gateway router. That means if you’re renting a wi-fi router from Cox, you are automatically opted into this feature.
Effects on your home internet
The data streams for the Cox hotspots and your home wi-fi are separate, and your data usage allowance and internet speeds will not be affected. It’s only available to other Cox customers, and any guests who log on to the public hotspot emanating from your home wi-fi router will be doing so using their own Cox account credentials.
But as many customers initially suspected, this wi-fi sharing does have some effects on your home internet. This may result in longer lag times as more users log on to either the 2.4ghz or 5ghz wi-fi bands, especially during the “internet rush hour” times of 7 to 11 pm.
How to disable the Cox Hotspots feature
Fortunately there is a way to disable the Cox Hotspots feature, and you don’t need to be a computer network repair expert to do it. It only takes a few easy steps.
First, log into your Cox account at cox.com/myprofile using your Cox username and password. Once there, find the “My Account Overview” section and select “My Profile.” After that, click on “Privacy Settings” and find the section labeled “Cox Hotspot.” Finally, once you’re there, click “Disable” to deactivate the Cox Hotspot. You can choose to turn it back on or off again any time by following these same steps.
Why you may want to leave this feature enabled
Considering the outrage that arose from its own customers after Cox announced this feature would be automatically enabled, it doesn’t seem like this would be a desirable feature. That said, there are reasons why you may want to leave it enabled. For example, if you have guests who are also Cox internet subscribers, they can log on to the internet using your wi-fi and their credentials, which will save you from experiencing a hit to your wi-fi data allotment as well as your download and upload speeds. You also won’t need to give them your wi-fi network login password.
If you have additional questions related to your home wi-fi network or require computer network repair service, contact GeekForce.biz today!