ADDRESSING THEFT OF CABLE SERVICES AND BREACH OF CABLE SYSTEM AND SECURITY

摘要

Disclosed are a method and apparatus for addressing theft of cable services and breach of cable system privacy and security. In one example, a method for preventing suspect cable modems from stealing cable services and breaching cable system privacy and security includes (i) determining in a cable modem termination system that a cable modem seeking to access cable services is suspect, wherein it is determined that the cable modem is suspect when such cable modem is attempting or performing one or more of a plurality of predefined suspect activities; (ii) categorizing the cable modem as suspect after it is determined that the cable modem is suspect; (iii) indicating to the cable modem that it has been approved for cable services at a first service level after it is determined that the cable modem is suspect; and (iv) providing cable services to the cable modem at a second service level after it is determined that the cable modem is suspect, wherein the second service level is lower than the first service level.