-----Original Message-----
I have XP Pro and have broadband connection via Comcast
cable modem. I have a Netgear Router with NAT and I also
have a zone alarm firewall, I will appreciate information
on how to send Remote Assistance either using MSN
Messenger, email etc.
This is unrealted to your ? but it's something I thought
I'd pass on to you.
What is wrong with Comcast?
If you have or are thinking about using Comcast cable for
your internet service, there are some things you should
be aware of.
One of the most questionable things about them is their
bandwidth usage limits. If a customer uses more than a
certain amount of bandwidth, Comcast sends a warning. If
your usage continues to remain high, they will disconnect
your service. While that is nothing unusual, Comcast goes
about it in a very unethical way. Comcast refuses to
state what that limit is. How are you supposed to comply
with a limit if they won't tell you what that limit is?
Another thing Comcast did in the past irritated me very
greatly. When AT&T broadband closed up shop, they
transferred their existing broadband customers to
Comcast. AT&T agreed to forward their customers'
attbi.com email to their new Comcast addresses. However,
Comcast informed transferring customers that they would
not receive their email forwarded from attbi.com if they
did not use Comcast's "transition wizard", a program
designed to configure email and other settings
automatically.
That never sat right with me. I always wondered why they
felt the need to demand that customers run that software.
Several months later, the reason was revealed. It turns
out that by installing that "transition wizard", you were
agreeing to a very questionable license.
The license gave Comcast the right to do a credit check
on their customers and then to disclose (or sell) that
information to third parties. The license seems to allow
Comcast the right to open and read a customer's email
without informing them. The license allows Comcast to
install new firmware on their customers' cable modem
without notification, regardless of whether or not they
own the modem (many people buy their own modem). The
license also prohibits a customer from joining any future
class-action lawsuits against the company.
Funny how none of that was mentioned when they were
telling customers who didn't install their software that
they would not receive their attbi.com email.
All of that is old news now but I thought I would mention
it along with Comcast's newest example of obnoxious
behavior. Comcast will be providing new customers with a
Linksys wireless router that contains features for which
I really have to question the need. It will allow Comcast
remotely to detect computers attached to the router,
examine their network usage on the local area network
(LAN), see how much bandwidth they are using on the LAN
and even allows them remotely to deny those computers
access to the router.
I say this is going too far. From the router's internet
port to Comcast's internet servers is Comcast's business.
Everything on the customer's side of the network is none
of their concern. What possible reason does Comcast have
for snooping into someone's LAN and even disabling a
device?
I plan to move in the near future. I sincerely hope to be
able to receive either DSL or cable internet wherever I
move. However, I refuse to consider Comcast as an ISP.
Comcast is too intrusive and their policies and behavior
are too questionable for me to spend any money with them.
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