Got a new "2 in 1 router/switch", connects through DSL, apart from the look of it and the configuration parts, the one thing that stood out was..
It gave each device PERMANENT PRIVATE IP addresses.
The last router didn't, I mean obviously the new switch might just works differently with how it locates devices connected to it.
> It's a free router given by the ISP when they set up DSL
The ISP blocks many sites it doesn't want you to access and the Router is rebranded and modified greatly to include things like their brand logo, the colors, a language other than english, and possibly even log and send stuff like NAT data if that's a common thing to do.
The router doesn't allow you to access the configuration page (except for the initial setup page), it gives 2 blanks for username and password, but it doesn't give defaults, and they don't tell you the defaults.
>1. Why give permanent private IP addresses?
I really think they're keeping track of every device "just in case", and they most likely receive logs of it all
>2. Is it possible for the router to block sites in and of itself? or is that a thing solely done by their DNS server or otherwise?
>3. Do I have the right to access the router's configuration page?
It's not on a lease, as far as I know, they gave it to me for free and I doubt they'll be taking it back if we cancel
>4. I'm not paranoid, alright? It's just the previous router was SO MUCH better.. CLEARLY.
**If you have anything else to say about this, please do, in the meantime, I'm gonna start scanning for stuff, see what I find.