Comcast bugs BYO modem user with browser pop-ups suggesting an upgrade

[steve2470]

http://www.techhive.com/article/3021968/networking/comcast-bugs-byo-modem-user-with-browser-pop-ups-suggesting-an-upgrade.html

Comcast’s Internet service has a bad habit of interrupting your web browsing with invasive pop-up windows. We’ve already seen the company injecting ads on public Wi-Fi hotspots, as well as notices about potential copyright violations. Now it appears some Comcast subscribers who buy their own networking equipment are seeing pop-ups asking them to upgrade their cable modems.

One Comcast customer, who went by the pseudonym BB, sent the offending pop-up to Consumerist. “Our records indicate that the cable modem, which you currently use...may not be able to receive the full benefits of your Xfinity Internet service,” the pop-up reads.

BB told the consumer advocacy site that the pop-ups began after numerous letters and phone calls also encouraging BB to upgrade his modem. The problem from BB’s point of view is that his modem works just fine and he hasn’t noticed any downgrading in his speed because of the older equipment. BB, a software developer, doesn’t lease his modem from Comcast, but owns his equipment. Many people choose to do this as the modems supplied for free or via lease from Internet service providers (ISPs) tend to be lower quality.

Consumerist’s headline for the story suggests that Comcast is just interested in upselling new modems, but that doesn’t seem likely.

more at link


Screw Comcast and I'm so glad they are NOT my ISP! I have my own cable modem because the one my ISP gave me sucked! I also save $3 a month having my own modem.

[ChromeFoundry]

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https://www.hidemyass.com/
https://vpn.ac/
https://airvpn.org/
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[Egnever]

2. Three dollars a month for a modem rental is a pretty good deal

Considering that is only $36 a year a decent modem runs somewhere in the $70 neighborhood.

Admittedly a decent modem should last more than two years but it does lock you into a certain type of provider. Cable or DSL. Depending on where you live and the state of the service there it could make absolute sense to rent the modem at $3 a month.

Having said that an isp forcing popups on you is pretty heinous.