Funny coincidence. I've just spent the last hour on the phone with Comcast support asking them to disable the "xfinitywifi" my router is broadcasting and when it was all over decided to unwind and read some NH... And see this!
For anyone who needs to, call "1-855-845-6834" and ask them to disable the "xfinitywifi" hotspot on your router.
This will save you the 4 transfers, giving your info many times, and listening to the upgrade options you don't care about. It may also save you from the $70 support they'll try to charge you (should you choose to agree), and possibly one redirect to a number that no-longer exists (all of which I just went through).
First, there isn't enough technical info about how the feature is implemented for me to not be worried about it affecting me in terms of security and bandwidth; and from my subjective experience so far, I don't trust Comcast enough to accept their claim of no / minimal impact.
Second, the way I see it, Comcast is asking us to donate our resources (bandwidth, etc.), as minimal as they may be. Now, I don't mind donating to a good cause. I do, on the other hand, mind being forced to do so, without my consent; and especially so when a company is profiting from it ($3 daily access pass for non-subscribers).
So, if (a) I could be sure that it will not affect me, and (b) this would be a free for anyone who is in the area to use, and (c) they'd ask me to opt-in, I'd enable it.
It's a public wifi network that is broadcast from a device that is (probably) on your LAN. Attacker connects, finds some vulnerability, and has unrestricted access to the LAN. That is just one attack vector.
;tdlr it degrades your security, and is generally annoying.
For anyone who needs to, call "1-855-845-6834" and ask them to disable the "xfinitywifi" hotspot on your router.
This will save you the 4 transfers, giving your info many times, and listening to the upgrade options you don't care about. It may also save you from the $70 support they'll try to charge you (should you choose to agree), and possibly one redirect to a number that no-longer exists (all of which I just went through).
GL.