Comcast’s heart is apparently when you look at the right destination, however the execution is irksome.
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Comcast’s online sites has a negative practice of interrupting your online browsing with invasive pop-up windows. We’ve already seen the company inserting advertisements on general public Wi-Fi hotspots, in addition to notices about prospective copyright violations. Now it seems some Comcast readers whom purchase their networking that is own equipment seeing pop-ups asking them to update their cable modems.
One Comcast client, whom went because of the pseudonym BB, delivered the offending pop-up to Consumerist. “Our documents suggest that the cable modem, that you presently utilize. is almost certainly not in a position to have the complete advantages of your Xfinity Web solution,” the reads that are pop-up.
BB told the customer advocacy web site that the pop-ups started after many letters and telephone calls additionally motivating BB to update his modem. The issue from BB’s perspective is the fact that their modem works fine in which he hasn’t noticed any downgrading in their rate due to the older gear. BB, a pc software developer, does lease his modem n’t from Comcast, but has their gear. Many individuals elect to repeat this once the modems provided for free or via rent from online sites providers (ISPs) are generally reduced quality.
Consumerist’s headline for the tale shows that Comcast is simply thinking about upselling modems that are new but that doesn’t appear most most likely.
A Comcast agent told PCWorld that these pop-ups along with other notifications are to assist clients solve protection and gratification problems. Older routers which can be no longer getting safety updates and bug repairs can be a safety risk. The Comcast representative additionally noticed that clients whom lease modems through the business get an equivalent notification procedure for updating outdated hardware.
That appears reasonable sufficient, nevertheless when BB known as a Comcast agent there was clearly no mention of any technical details regarding why the modem should really be changed. The sole message had been that BB might not be maximizing their current modem to his Internet connection.
The affect you in the home: This appears as being similar to a instance of overzealousness in the element of Comcast—an infamous trait for the organization. But viewing this as being a campaign that is strategic of to earn significantly more cash is a stretch. First, alerting clients to aging gear is a reasonable strategy for almost any client service-based business—although the pop-ups are, as BB stated, “a action past an acceptable limit.” 2nd, Comcast’s notice that is pop-upn’t link to a business retail ensemble to purchase a brand new modem but an Amazon Associates shop. Comcast is definitely making profits from services and products purchased here, nevertheless the big champion for the chat hour mobile reason that transaction is Amazon, perhaps not Comcast. And anybody who desires to cut Comcast out from the deal entirely can find a modem from Comcast’s suggested variety of routers at any electronic devices store.
Can’t shut them off
The largest offense listed here isn’t the upgrade push, but which you can’t shut the pop-ups off asking you to receive a brand new modem.
In the event that you run into this dilemma, perhaps you are in a position to stop the pop-ups by linking via a protected HTTPS link with every website that supports it. This makes it harder for an ISP to inject things into the internet browsing. The Electronic Frontier Foundation’s HTTPS every-where browser add-on can automate connecting via HTTPS for you personally.
Having said that, it is absolutely unpleasant that the pop-ups continually bug you and need a workaround in order to prevent them. But simply how frequently these pop-ups happen is not clear. The Comcast agent we talked to said you can find a number that is limited of but couldn’t verify just just what the limit ended up being. We aspire to hear straight right straight back on that.
Comcast additionally seems reluctant to permit clients to opt-out of those types of notices given that they could be a protection issue.
While BB as well as other Comcast customers could have no reason that is technical switch modems right now, which should improvement in the coming years. In August, Comcast unveiled intends to make use of the DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem standard which makes 1-gigabit speeds feasible over current cable systems. But to make the most of those upgraded speeds you want a unique DOCSIS 3.1-compatible modem. Which means another visit to your electronics that are local or Comcast’s Amazon Associates shop.
Ian is definitely a writer that is independent in Israel that has never met a technology topic he did not like. He primarily covers Windows, Computer and video video video gaming equipment, video clip and music services that are streaming social networking sites, and browsers. As he’s perhaps perhaps not within the news he is focusing on how-to strategies for Computer users, or tuning their eGPU setup.
