Hackers Deflower Virgin Media

"More than a thousand hackers are using reconfigured cable modems to fraudulently access free high speed Virgin Media broadband, sources have revealed.

"The hack has been made possible by the recent launch of Virgin Media's 50Mbit/s `XXL` package. It relies on new equipment running the upgraded DOCSIS 3.0 data transmission standard.

"The launch has allowed hackers to apply the new configuration from Virgin Media's official up to 50Mbit/s home modem to legacy DOCSIS 1.0 hardware, to access the DOCSIS 1.0 platform at higher speeds. Our source said over a thousand lines have been seen obtaining about 30Mbit/s downstream.

"Virgin Media told The Register it was aware of the problem and was working to address it."

From The Register...