(Mis)Uses of Technology

(Mis)Uses of Technology

by Mike Masnick




Comcast Email Changeover Goes A Bit Too Far

from the wait-a-second... dept

For months now, I've been receiving emails telling me that I need to download some special software that will let me change my attbi.com email address over to a comcast.net email address. Why this changeover is occurring has been covered a few times before. I ignored the messages for a two big reasons: (1) I don't trust anyone telling me I need to download software to change my email address. That can be easily done within my email client. (2) I don't use an attbi.com email address. I have a work email address and a personal email address, both of which are on domains that I control. Why should I bother changing anything? As it stands, my current attbi.com email address was just set to forward to my personal email address - and, so far, had only been used to send me messages about downloading this useless software. Now that I'm reading the details about the software, I'm glad I stayed away. First of all, it would have been useless for me, since I don't use their email. Second, I don't use the email client they would be adjusting anyway - so their configuration changes would be useless (though, thankfully, wouldn't screw up my main email account). The most surprising thing, though, is that this software also changes your browser's homepage. This has absolutely nothing to do with what email account you're using, and seems pretty damn intrusive. In the meantime, there appears to be no (obvious) documentation on how to set up the new comcast.net email address to forward to your other email addresses - so I'm not setting it up, and I'm assuming I'm not missing anything.

20 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 
 

Reader Comments (rss)

(Flattened / Threaded)

  1. Jul 1st, 2003 @ 12:15pm

    don't worry about it

    by alan

    After reading your article, I looked into my comcast email address. I've had a cable modem from them for almost a year, but I use my own domain for my email. Well, turns out I never even had a username, so I guess it's really not important.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Jul 1st, 2003 @ 1:10pm

    "It's in there!"

    by Bryan Price

    You go to the page to download the software, then you click on the link for the Linux guys, and then you can either figure it out yourself from the following information, or you can choose a listed software package and they'll tell you how to do it. Since I already know how to fix Eudora and Mailwasher, I just grabbed the info off the front and did it myself

    Comcast crap

    POP3: mail.comcast.net
    SMTP: smtp.comcast.net
    Usenet: netnews.comcast.net

    So there you have it.

    And I've done the same thing, grabbed a domain, and setup my own email address.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Jul 1st, 2003 @ 1:34pm

    No Subject Given

    by aNonMooseCowherd

    > this software also changes your browser's homepage< br>
    Doesn't that violate anti-cracking laws? Even if you willingly load and run the program, if it modifies your system in a way that is unrelated to its stated purpose, I would think that might be grounds for civil or criminal action.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. Jul 1st, 2003 @ 3:21pm

    Re: No Subject Given

    by Bryan Price

    I was very suspect of this "connection wizard" to start with when the first e-mail didn't say anything about what it actually did. Then I find out that it's for Outlook Express (Gee, I don't run that). And then it was, "you have to wail till June 30th!", and I'm like, what's the big deal? We can't have it already configured before the switch over?

    I new something up when I found out that our local Comcast phone # (COM-CAST) is actually only local to about half their subscriber area here. Of course, it's not local from where I'm at.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. Jul 2nd, 2003 @ 3:26pm

    Re: don't worry about it

    Yes, do worry...

    A poster in a USENET forum I frequent found that Comcast sends notices to customers by that e-mail address.... and he was disconnected because he did not respond.

    Now, I don't have an easily guessable account name at Comcast, so I'm relatively spamfree there, but just the same it's a good idea to check that Comcast addresss because the customer disservice droids expect you to read that account's mail.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. Jul 24th, 2003 @ 10:09pm

    some help from a former comcast drone

    by former comcast worker

    i used to do e-mail support for comcast during the transition period. the reason they wanted people to download the transition wizard was because not many of our customers were computer savy enough to know how to change their e-mail clients using outlook, and if their passwords with attbi weren't long enough, they would be locked out of their accounts unless they went through the transition wizard and updated. the funniest thing is that i didn't work directly for comcast. they actually contracted the customer service company i worked for to do it for them. comcast didn't sign my check. but i have access to all of your comcast bills, e-mail addresses, you name it. great company huh?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Jul 25th, 2003 @ 7:25am

    Re: some help from a former comcast drone

    by slow54

    have you tried to deleat it out of your program folder wwhen i tried it wouldnt let me..go figure

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. Aug 30th, 2003 @ 7:22pm

    How can I have a second e-mail address

    Can anyone help me?
    I was made to understand that I could have more than one e-mail with comcast.net, however, I do not know how to proceed on this.
    I would appreciate it very much in receipt of any help. I am a novice, therefore, please explain in plain English.
    Thank You

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Oct 3rd, 2003 @ 6:13am

    comcast email

    by Bill

    Mike, do you have the email address for comcast.net? I'm trying to reach them via email and not having any luck.

    Bill

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. Jan 9th, 2004 @ 12:16pm

    Re: comcast email

    by Gail

    I call comcast and ask them for their e-mail address and this is what that gave me www.comcast.com that's not an e-mail address what's up with that.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  11. Apr 25th, 2004 @ 5:07pm

    internet dummy

    by mary ann

    Hi Mike: I have been around computers for the last 25 years but mainly for wordprocessing as I am a legal secretary. I can play with clipart and set up folders, etc..but this is just small stuff..the internet kind of scares me and I don't know much about the do's and don'ts about email..I want to set up an address that my family can email me at..my son, tried to set me up through comcast but it did not work..I don't know if the address above will even work..I need some help...thanx maggie

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  12. May 2nd, 2004 @ 12:02pm

    Re: comcast email

    by Jean

    I want a phone number to reach Comcast but cannot find one. For some reason I am not getting incoming messages and when I ask about this all I get are automated answers!!!!
    Jean

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  13. May 9th, 2004 @ 2:55pm

    Re: don't worry about it

    by richard nesmith

    please set me up for comcast email

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  14. Jun 19th, 2004 @ 3:34am

    Re: comcast email

    by williams dowo

    CHALLENGE SECURITIES LTD.
    LAGOS, NIGERIA


    ATTENTION:SIR/MADAM

    I am MR.williams dowo, the Director of Operations
    CHALLENGE SECURITIES LTD,LAGOS NIGERIA. Here in
    NIGERIA Our firm is a security company of high repute
    with years of outstanding service to the people of
    Africa.

    I have resolved to contact you through this medium
    based on business proposal that will be of mutual
    benefit to both of us. I got your particulars through
    a consultant company base on my research for a
    trustworthy and established person that understands
    investment ethic for entering into a life time
    profitable joint partnership investment and also
    co-operation with confidence and trust that you will
    keep the contents secret and divulged to any third
    party.


    To be explicit and straight to the point. Some time
    early 1997, a reputable client of ours deposited a
    consignment in our company's vault for safe keeping.
    And since then our client has failed to come forward
    to claim his consignment, which has accumulated a
    considerable amount of money in demurrage.

    Consequently, in our bid to contact this client to
    redeem the demurrage which his consignment had
    accumulated we discovered that our client was the
    former president of the Federal Republic of Zaire, who
    died of illness after he was de-throwed in the same
    year the consignment was entrusted into our care.

    Since the death of our client President Mobutou
    Seseseko, none of his benefactors has come forward to
    claim the consignment with us, which means that non of
    his relatives or aids had any knowledge of this
    consignment. Hence out of curiosity I decided to
    secretly open the two boxes that our client deposited
    in our vault. And to my surprise I discovered that the
    two boxes that were registered as treasure! r by our
    client actually contained a considerable amount of
    money in United States Dollars amounting to about
    US$30 million Dollar. Since this development I have
    been nursing plans secretly. I also found out from
    enquiries and the foreign media that our late client
    siphoned a lot of money from his country while he was
    in office as head of state.

    It is my conviction that the consignment in our vault
    was part of the money that our client siphoned and now
    that he is dead there is no trace to this money in our
    care.

    I am now soliciting your noble assistance to assist me
    in transferring this money out of nigeria to your
    country for immediate investment with your assistance.
    I have also decided that you will generously be
    entitled to 30% of the total amount. Upon my receipt
    of your reply confirming your willingness to assist me
    of this transaction, I will immediately arrange and
    transfer all the rights of ownership of
    thisconsignment to
    your name to facilitate your easy clearance and
    transfer of the complete funds to your country.

    you have nothing to worry about, as I will be there
    to assist you in anyway necessary with all proper
    documentation.

    This transaction is 100% risk free.

    Please maintain absolute confidentiality on this
    matter.

    Please reply to the above email address with your
    telephone and fax so that i can call you.

    Thanks.

    Yours faithfully.

    WILLIAMS DOWO

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  15. Jun 19th, 2004 @ 3:35am

    Re: comcast email

    by williams dowo

    CHALLENGE SECURITIES LTD.
    LAGOS, NIGERIA
    williamsdowo33@yahoo.com

    ATTENTION:SIR/MADAM

    I am MR.williams dowo, the Director of Operations
    CHALLENGE SECURITIES LTD,LAGOS NIGERIA. Here in
    NIGERIA Our firm is a security company of high repute
    with years of outstanding service to the people of
    Africa.

    I have resolved to contact you through this medium
    based on business proposal that will be of mutual
    benefit to both of us. I got your particulars through
    a consultant company base on my research for a
    trustworthy and established person that understands
    investment ethic for entering into a life time
    profitable joint partnership investment and also
    co-operation with confidence and trust that you will
    keep the contents secret and divulged to any third
    party.


    To be explicit and straight to the point. Some time
    early 1997, a reputable client of ours deposited a
    consignment in our company's vault for safe keeping.
    And since then our client has failed to come forward
    to claim his consignment, which has accumulated a
    considerable amount of money in demurrage.

    Consequently, in our bid to contact this client to
    redeem the demurrage which his consignment had
    accumulated we discovered that our client was the
    former president of the Federal Republic of Zaire, who
    died of illness after he was de-throwed in the same
    year the consignment was entrusted into our care.

    Since the death of our client President Mobutou
    Seseseko, none of his benefactors has come forward to
    claim the consignment with us, which means that non of
    his relatives or aids had any knowledge of this
    consignment. Hence out of curiosity I decided to
    secretly open the two boxes that our client deposited
    in our vault. And to my surprise I discovered that the
    two boxes that were registered as treasure! r by our
    client actually contained a considerable amount of
    money in United States Dollars amounting to about
    US$30 million Dollar. Since this development I have
    been nursing plans secretly. I also found out from
    enquiries and the foreign media that our late client
    siphoned a lot of money from his country while he was
    in office as head of state.

    It is my conviction that the consignment in our vault
    was part of the money that our client siphoned and now
    that he is dead there is no trace to this money in our
    care.

    I am now soliciting your noble assistance to assist me
    in transferring this money out of nigeria to your
    country for immediate investment with your assistance.
    I have also decided that you will generously be
    entitled to 30% of the total amount. Upon my receipt
    of your reply confirming your willingness to assist me
    of this transaction, I will immediately arrange and
    transfer all the rights of ownership of
    thisconsignment to
    your name to facilitate your easy clearance and
    transfer of the complete funds to your country.

    you have nothing to worry about, as I will be there
    to assist you in anyway necessary with all proper
    documentation.

    This transaction is 100% risk free.

    Please maintain absolute confidentiality on this
    matter.

    Please reply to the above email address with your
    telephone and fax so that i can call you.

    Thanks.

    Yours faithfully.

    WILLIAMS DOWO

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  16. Feb 26th, 2005 @ 6:37am

    WGN

    by Julian D. Miyares

    Why we don't have WGN of Chicago in Southwest Miami-Dade County?, it is time.
    9625 S.W. 24 Street, Apt. C-107, Miami, Fl. 33165

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  17. Jul 17th, 2006 @ 12:03pm

    Re: Re: comcast email

    by Tina

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  18. Jul 23rd, 2006 @ 10:33pm

    Re: Re: comcast email

    by Alex

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  19. Dec 16th, 2006 @ 4:57pm
    by Anonymous Coward

    What a bunch of crap is this comcast email gig!!!!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  20. Aug 7th, 2008 @ 5:01pm

    ????????????

    by dody

    I can't get any help to get my e-mail thru comcast so what now I should just keep aol which I dont like!
    any sugestions?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

Add Your Comment

Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML Save me a cookie
  • Plain Text: A CRLF will be replaced by break <br> tag, all other allowable HTML is intact
  • HTML: No formatting of any kind is done without explicitly being written in
  • Allowed HTML Tags: <b> <i> <p> <a> <em> <br> <strong> <blockquote> <hr> <tt>
Close
Have a Techdirt Account? Sign in now. Want one? Register here
Get Techdirt’s Daily Email
Plain Text HTML Save me a cookie

Search Techdirt
And now, a word from our Sponsors..



Subscribe to Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Techdirt's Daily Email Newsletter

Related Stories
Close
E-mail It