Password protect modem?

[Randy Newcombe]

My friend has a motorola surfboard sb5101 cable modem. Straight ethernet cable to computer. His worry is someone is unplugging his computer and using a laptop to plug in to the modem when he's not around. Is there anyway to password protect a modem with no router ?

 

[ksham]

No. A better question is why is he worried about that?

 

[jnkweaver]

that is where you put the modem in a locked box. Physical padlock.

 

[unksol]

Lock the door? This is the strangest question....

 

[Randy Newcombe]

It's a family member that isn't supposed to be on the computer.

 

[ksham]

I'm assuming a kid? Hide all Ethernet cables. I'd say lock the door, but doors in the house are usually locked on the inside, so it can be annoying to get back in.

FYI: it's not possible to password protect the modem with a router. An Ethernet connection bypasses all protection set by the router.

 

[jnkweaver]

Buy a small toolbox that has a hasp for a padlock. Drill holes on the side where the lid meets the box large enough for the ethernet cable and the imput (coax?) cable and power cable. Close the lid and lock the toolbox.

 

[ksham]

Buy a small toolbox that has a hasp for a padlock. Drill holes on the side where the lid meets the box large enough for the ethernet cable and the imput (coax?) cable and power cable. Close the lid and lock the toolbox.

How would that prevent someone from stealing your Ethernet cable? I'd just unplug it from your computer and hook it up to mine.

 

[jnkweaver]

Buy a small toolbox that has a hasp for a padlock. Drill holes on the side where the lid meets the box large enough for the ethernet cable and the imput (coax?) cable and power cable. Close the lid and lock the toolbox.

How would that prevent someone from stealing your Ethernet cable? I'd just unplug it from your computer and hook it up to mine.

I assumed his computer was in a room that was lockable. The ethernet coming from the modem should be going into a wall plug or his computer so unless you have access to that end my way will prevent someone from disconnecting at the modem and using their own cable.

 

[unksol]

It's a family member that isn't supposed to be on the computer.

I still don't understand the problem. If its an adult kick them out. If its a kid use the parental controls on the laptop to restrict login times or internet access times. Or just take it away. Put a bios password on it if he's not allowed on the computer. Its not "his" laptop even if he thinks it is.

Or get a router and lock it in a closet with the modem, and set access controls on the router.

set up a monitoring program on his own PC to see when it gets connected/disconnected. if he already knows its happening and knows who's there seems a little silly when he could just deal with them.

 

[USAFRet]

Given physical access to either end of the cable, there is only a little you can do about it.
MAC address restrictions are but a speed bump.

Router/modem in a locked box, hard password on the router, time restrictions (no access after 11PM)...
Or
Ever increasing restrictions on the family member
"Do not touch my stuff!"

Fix the problem (the family member), not try to place electronic workarounds on an impossible situation.