It’s been four years (or maybe more) since you bought your router and it probably needs to be replaced. But you’re also worried about getting stuck in a deal you don’t necessarily want to sign up for, so you don’t want to worry about upgrading yet. Still, you would like to know your options. Like what happens when your Xfinity router loses software support: does it stop working completely, or does it continue to broadcast Wi-Fi with no noticeable difference, making an upgrade unnecessary? Many users assume that if the Internet connection remains active, ignoring missing firmware updates is harmless.
First, to make sure your assumptions are correct – that your xFi gateway (all-in-one modem and router) has indeed reached the end of its lifespan (and this isn’t just technological paranoia) – verify via an official notice that your router has officially lost support. You can do this by checking your billing account for a notice from Xfinity, or by visiting My Device Information to find your device model and make, then checking the official end-of-life status.
Usually, Xfinity will issue a replacement if you rent your gateway directly. Additionally, once the router is on the end-of-life list, Xfinity will mark it as requiring replacement; although this won’t happen automatically, you will need to contact the company by phone or chat with an agent. Otherwise, keeping an outdated router poses risks, including unwanted exposure to vulnerabilities (no firmware updates to fix them), slower speeds due to aging hardware, and reduced efficiency for modern needs.
The dangers of keeping an unsupported router
When your router is no longer supported, it usually means that the manufacturer no longer provides firmware updates. The first noticeable problem is usually a slowdown in service. So you may not get the advertised speeds or the speeds you normally get in your home, or you may experience abnormal technical problems that arise unexpectedly. The scariest danger is related to safety.
Outdated routers lose up-to-date security protections, making them an open invitation to hackers; this means they can now be exploited illegally. For example, hackers can bypass your router’s security remotely through remote code execution, then use it to control the router, steal data, or block your Internet connection. Essentially, outdated firmware can grant unauthorized open access without your knowledge. As such, these devices may remain a target until the manufacturer releases a patch to address these critical vulnerabilities.
This has happened with some older Tenda Wi-Fi routers that are no longer safe to use; CERT reported a vulnerability left behind by the manufacturer involving an “undocumented authentication backdoor” built into its older routers, leaving them wide open to cybercriminal activity. These routers should have been patched to remove these backdoors, but since they are probably too outdated, there is no guarantee that the manufacturer will ever fix it.
Determine Your Options When Your Xfinity Gateway Becomes Obsolete
Your first point of contact should be with Xfinity (Comcast Cable Communications), as the provider should be able to provide a new router for free. Before contacting them, check your plan eligibility and consider renegotiating your contract if the new router isn’t free. Your other options involve replacing it: either purchase a compatible third-party option while retaining the service, or use a more technological setup with open source firmware like OpenWrt or DD-WRT. Note that installing the latter can be tricky, so consult a guide before trying it.
Also be aware that installing open source firmware on Xfinity hardware is impossible because Comcast uses an open source framework known as RDK-B (Reference Design Kit-Broadband) as its base operating system, and they support it exclusively. This means that you cannot install open source firmware directly. However, you can enable bridge mode in your gateway settings to connect a compatible secondary router as a workaround.
Generally speaking, if done correctly (using Bridge mode and a secondary router with open source firmware installed), open source firmware can be enough to increase security, while sometimes providing greater control over the software, such as changing DNS servers and redirecting your traffic with a built-in VPN. Open source firmware also provides full transparency with its publicly available code, so you can know exactly what it does and it can be examined openly. The good news going this route is that there are no strings attached, which means it saves you time finding a better deal with another trusted internet service provider.
