Tuesday, November 11, 2003
Web hijack riles Belkin router users | CNET News.com
Web hijack riles Belkin router users | CNET News.com: "Web hijack riles Belkin router users
Last modified: November 10, 2003, 9:39 AM PST
By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
update Belkin is trying to defuse a potentially embarrassing situation that arose after network administrators learned the company's routers can periodically hijack users' Web connection and display an advertisement for parental control software.
Every eight hours, a random computer that's hooked up to a local area network may receive an unsolicited advertisement for a trial version of parental control software, instead of the Web page the person had hoped to visit. The behavior can be permanently disabled, but it is turned on by default in new Belkin routers when they are shipped.
'We are crafting a statement apologizing and accepting responsibility,' a Belkin representative said on Monday. The company said a firmware update, which customers would have the choice of installing, would be available in a week. "
Wow! Belkin had better put this fire out NOW and never attempt anything so slimy again, though I'm sure that they realize what a stupid move it was. Companies can't get away with something like that any more, in these days of instant information and news dispersal. They'll be lucky to avoid lawsuits, not to mention loss of future business.
Last modified: November 10, 2003, 9:39 AM PST
By Declan McCullagh
Staff Writer, CNET News.com
update Belkin is trying to defuse a potentially embarrassing situation that arose after network administrators learned the company's routers can periodically hijack users' Web connection and display an advertisement for parental control software.
Every eight hours, a random computer that's hooked up to a local area network may receive an unsolicited advertisement for a trial version of parental control software, instead of the Web page the person had hoped to visit. The behavior can be permanently disabled, but it is turned on by default in new Belkin routers when they are shipped.
'We are crafting a statement apologizing and accepting responsibility,' a Belkin representative said on Monday. The company said a firmware update, which customers would have the choice of installing, would be available in a week. "
Wow! Belkin had better put this fire out NOW and never attempt anything so slimy again, though I'm sure that they realize what a stupid move it was. Companies can't get away with something like that any more, in these days of instant information and news dispersal. They'll be lucky to avoid lawsuits, not to mention loss of future business.
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