In the case of cable internet service (not fiber), you&#x27;ll almost never get a standard Ethernet socket.  Chances are, you&#x27;ll get a coaxial connection that requires a device to bridge the connectors and perform a handshake with your upstream provider.<p>Of course, most consumers go with whatever hardware their provider gives them (usually a gateway to provide Wifi).  This presents it&#x27;s own problem: in the US, cable companies are trying to set up mesh networks&#x2F;guest access, and so those gateways may be running a second semi-public as a node on the mesh.