Lightning Surge Fries 1 PC and Router via Coax Cable in Apartment Strike

1 articles · Updated · Tom's Hardware · Jun 5

Reddit user u/Greatfulx said a lightning strike hit their apartment complex, traveled through the coaxial internet line, and damaged a router, a PC motherboard and nearby walls.
Photos showed the motherboard damage concentrated around the Ethernet port, suggesting the surge passed from the router into the desktop through the Ethernet cable after entering on the coax line.
The user said they are pursuing possible negligence claims after commenters pointed to what appeared to be an improperly connected grounding attachment outside the building.
The incident underscores a common gap in home protection: surge strips and many UPS units mainly cover AC power, while lightning energy can also enter through coax, modem and Ethernet lines.

Sources

Lightning destroyed a PC via its internet cable. Who is liable for the damage: the user, landlord, or internet provider?

Is your internet cable an unguarded backdoor for lightning to destroy your most expensive electronics?

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