Normally when you think of firmware updates for a router you would expect security updates and bug fixes. Would you ever expect the company that makes the product to try and sell you a subscription for security software using its firmware as a salesperson? I recently ran into this myself when trying to troubleshoot my router. I noticed when trying to go to Google that my router was hijacking DNS and sent me to a website trying to sell me a software subscription. After upgrading your D-link DIR-655 router to the latest firmware you'll see that D-link does this, and calls the hijacking a 'feature.'
News source:
Slashdot via
Ubersource (Blog)
If I owned a D-link affected by this, I'd be contacting them, and giving them hell.
:<
I bought a DIR-655 about two weeks ago, and upgraded the firmware immediately. I couldn't believe my eyes when I was greeted with this ploy to sell me SecureSpot 2.0 services. There is an option in the menu to enable/disable the service -- and that's no excuse for accepting this behavior, but it's there if anyone was curious.
Better off getting the latest firmware upgrade without the "SecureSpot 2.0" services here.
Just turn off the SercureSpot feature in the router and you'll never have another problem.
1) I decide to punch you in the face repeatedly and the police say it's not illegal unless you opt-out.
2) You take your car to the mechanic to get fixed. You put your keys in the ignition and instead of turning the car on your radio turns on and starts trying to sell you other services the mechanic offers.
1) I decide to punch you in the face repeatedly and the police say it's not illegal unless you opt-out.
2) You take your car to the mechanic to get fixed. You put your keys in the ignition and instead of turning the car on your radio turns on and starts trying to sell you other services the mechanic offers.
It's my logic because I don't really care and I have more important things to worry about then my web browser being re-directed 1 time in my life to a page that I can opt out of. It's really not that big of deal, and you really can't compare it to the examples you gave.
The firmware version 1.21 comes in 2 flavors - one with SecureSpot, one without SecureSpot.
http://support.dlink.com/products/view.asp?productid=DIR-655
I don't think the automatic update feature actually update to the version 1.21 with SecureSpot firmware. At least it didn't for me.
Get angry over your mailbox spam, this is a minor nuissance compared to that.
Not News source: Slashdot via Ubersource (Blog)
I'm using the euro version of DIR-655 with the US firmware v1.21 without any problems. It did offer me the Securespot service when I installed it but it doesn't have to be used. I got the USB-device support with it. It wasn't available for the euro version at that time.
In my opinion this it's not any different from software that come with Google Desktop etc. You just have to deselect it if you don't want to use it. It's annoying but it's the users decision. Many people just hit next, next and go on with it without checking what they are installing and then complain that it installed something without their knowledge...
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