linksys from cisco: stay away from it

[juan_gandhi]

Got a wireless router, started installing it (I'm a plain user)

Like the choices: "do you want to install our protection right now, first month free, or you already have an account?"

But whatever, I was not going to pay them for "protection" racket anyway.

Next I was they were installing "parental control", without asking me.

So I tried to stop it (it downloads ~200 meg of "parental control" shit).

No way. It did not allow me to go to livejournal or to our realtor's web site.

Okay, turned it on, etc.

But seems like it had infected my hosts file, having set their own ip for livejournal.com etc.

I am not a network guy, I'm a humble programmer. But I think I'll clean up this shit.

But imagine the damage they make in regular users' computers.

Yes, I called them; I had one question - how do I remove their "parental control"; they said first I have to answer their long questionaire. I said no, I can give you my name and cell phone number, and you tell me how to turn off your "parental control". They just turned on music on the phone.

So what next? I'll go ahead return it to Fry's, and tell everyone willing to listen: stay away from this shit.

Comments

[smalgin.livejournal.com]

Rule one: When you bought a router - don't install anything on your PC. Keep manufacturer's CD away!

I am through my... 10th? All are fully configurable through web interface (usually http://192.168.1.0 or http://192.168.1.1, check for default user/pass in the manual or just google it)

I repeat: you don't need ANY stuff from mfg CD that comes with your SOHO router.

[dennisgorelik]

I confirm -- LinkSys router works great if you don't install crap from manufacturer's CD.

[ivan-gandhi.livejournal.com]

Well, that's what I eventually did. But initially, I was behaving like a totally incompetent user; and I really did not know which ip to use (and why I should use web interface at all).