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My ISP has taken total control of my network

This is very troubling, and I'm not even sure where to start. I recently received an email message from my ISP which alerted me to an incoming update. I didn't worry too much since this is obviously not the first update they've ever pushed through.

However, after this update, I noticed that my guest connections and some other things had changed / disappeared. I logged on to my router, and I immediately noticed my custom password had been reset to the default. No problem, I entered it.

At this point, I saw that all of my options were greyed out. I could change the password, which I did, but nothing else. I immediately called my ISP.

I was told that I would have to use their app now, so as much as I dislike using proprietary phone apps, I conceded and installed the app through the Play store.

However, the agent was not entirely honest with me. I still can't bifurcate my 2.4g and 5g connections, nor can I add or remove any guest connections. I immediately enabled "privacy mode" via the app, which purportedly prevents information from being collected by something called "HomePass," and I "Delete[d] Guard events" whatever the hell that means, but this seems really troubling. I can no longer access my modem/router settings via the normal interface, but have to use an Android app?

There is only one other ISP in my area. They have much worse/slower service, but should I switch, or is this just the "new normal"? Does what I'm describing even make sense? I'm not a tech expert, but I feel like I've self-taught myself how to navigate these settings, and learned from others in online forums, but now ... an Android app?

I'd appreciate any advice. I'd even be willing to purchase my own modem/router instead of using the one from my ISP, if that fixes this mess.

Edit: So I need my own router, at least. I did some research, and these are the ones I can get locally that are within my budget:

  • TP-Link Archer AC1900 Dual-Band Mu-Mimo Wi-Fi Router with Gigabit Port

  • Linksys AC1200 Dual Band WiFi 5 Router

  • TP-Link Archer AX1500 WiFi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router | up to 1.5 Gbps Speeds

  • TP-Link Archer C54 | AC1200 MU-MIMO Dual-Band WiFi Router

  • NETGEAR - Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Router, 1.9Gbps (R6900) I’VE BEEN WARNED AGAINST NETGEAR THOUGH IN OTHER FORUMS

  • TP-Link | AX1800 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 1.8 Gbps Speeds

  • TP-Link Archer AX3000 | 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 3 Gbps Speeds

  • Linksys E7350 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Wireless Router

Am I right in thinking the TP-Link AX3000 is best?

Edit 2: At first, I bought the Netgear AC1900, which seemed like a great deal. Turns out it was unusable without creating a netgear account, so I returned it in exchange for the TP-Link Archer AX1500, and it appears to be working! I got everything set up pretty close to the way it was before, except even better.

Once I save money, I'll also invest in a different modem and return this one to my ISP.

This was a big wake-up call for me in terms of privacy. I never listened to people saying not to use your ISP's equipment because I always trusted my ISP (it's not one of the big name ones). Never trust a company. Lesson learned. I appreciate all the responses I got! This community is great!

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    • If I gave you a list of the names of routers that are available to buy in my town and that are within my budget, do you think you would be so kind as to recommend one for me? There are so many and I really don't know where to start

      I promise I wouldn't hold you accountable for my decision :P

      • Permanently Deleted

      • If you can, look into Ubiquiti. Their Unifi package is pretty comprehensive, and self-hostable.

        If not, get an RPi with two Ethernet interfaces. Run raspbian, and learn IPTables/netfilter with masquerade. Put the WiFi in AP mode. Yes, it'll suck but at least it's not their router.

        Save up a little bit and upgrade to a NUC with 2x Ethernet or some older HTPC with two Ethernet interfaces, it doesn't need to be much. If it can run VMs, maybe you could run even run pfSense or DD-wrt on it. Get a managed switch that understands VLANs. Look into upgrading your WiFi to Ubiquiti Unfi APs with a local controller in a VM.

        This is the way....

      • Here's what ChatGPT has to say about your list:

        That's a great question! Comparing and contrasting different routers can be tricky, but I'll do my best to help you out. Here are the best three routers from your list, based on their features, performance, and customer reviews:

        • TP-Link Archer AX3000 | 4 Stream Dual-Band WiFi 6 Wireless Router | up to 3 Gbps Speeds: This router is one of the best Wi-Fi 6 routers on the market, offering fast and reliable wireless connectivity for multiple devices. It has a dual-band design that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, with a total bandwidth of up to 3 Gbps. It also has four external antennas that provide a wide coverage area and reduce interference. It has one gigabit WAN port, four gigabit LAN ports, and one USB 3.0 port for sharing files and printers. It supports advanced features such as MU-MIMO, OFDMA, Beamforming, and WPA3 security. It has a user-friendly web interface and a mobile app that let you easily set up and manage your network. It also works with Alexa and IFTTT for voice control and smart home integration. This router has received excellent ratings from customers who praised its speed, stability, and range.
        • NETGEAR - Nighthawk AC1900 WiFi Router, 1.9Gbps (R6900): This router is another high-performance option that supports the Wi-Fi 5 standard. It has a dual-core processor that delivers fast and smooth wireless performance for gaming, streaming, and browsing. It has a dual-band design that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, with a total bandwidth of up to 1.9 Gbps. It also has three external antennas that provide a strong signal and eliminate dead zones. It has one gigabit WAN port, four gigabit LAN ports, and one USB 3.0 port for sharing files and printers. It supports advanced features such as MU-MIMO, QoS, Beamforming, and WPA2 security. It has a web interface and a mobile app that let you easily set up and manage your network. It also works with Amazon Alexa for voice control. This router has received very good ratings from customers who appreciated its speed, reliability, and features.
        • TP-Link Archer AX1500 WiFi 6 Dual-Band Wireless Router | up to 1.5 Gbps Speeds: This router is a budget-friendly choice that still offers decent Wi-Fi 6 performance for your home network. It has a dual-band design that supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequencies, with a total bandwidth of up to 1.5 Gbps. It also has four external antennas that provide a good coverage area and reduce interference. It has one gigabit WAN port, four gigabit LAN ports, and one USB 2.0 port for sharing files and printers. It supports basic features such as MU-MIMO, OFDMA, Beamforming, and WPA3 security. It has a web interface and a mobile app that let you easily set up and manage your network. This router has received good ratings from customers who liked its affordability, simplicity, and performance.

        These are the main differences between these three routers:

        • The TP-Link Archer AX3000 is the most expensive but also the most powerful router of the three, offering the best Wi-Fi 6 performance and features.
        • The NETGEAR Nighthawk AC1900 is slightly cheaper but still very capable router that supports the Wi-Fi 5 standard and offers fast and reliable wireless performance.
        • The TP-Link Archer AX1500 is the cheapest but also the least powerful router of the three, offering decent Wi-Fi 6 performance but with fewer features and ports.

        I hope this helps you make an informed decision about which router to buy for your home network. If you have any more questions or need more information about these routers, please feel free to ask me 😊

        Source: Conversation with Bing, 8/17/2023 (1) The Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2023 | PCMag. https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-wireless-routers. (2) Best Wi-Fi routers for 2023 | Tom's Guide. https://www.tomsguide.com/us/best-wifi-routers,review-2498.html. (3) The 7 Best Wi-Fi 6 Routers - How-To Geek. https://www.howtogeek.com/722600/best-wi-fi-routers/. (4) The 4 Best WiFi Routers of 2023 | Tested by GearLab. https://www.techgearlab.com/topics/small-and-home-office/best-wifi-router. (5) Best Wi-Fi Routers for 2023 - CNET. https://www.cnet.com/home/internet/best-wi-fi-router/.

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