"To Comcast Users!! Please Read!!"

>Date: Sat, 16 Feb 2002 19:10:04 -0500
>Subject: Comcast spy software?
>
>
>Hi Folks,
>
>
>I used to have Adelphia cable, which became Comcast@HOME, which became
>Comcast.net. On 2/8 I received my transition package with the simple
>3-Step Guide to download and install the Comcast High Speed Internet
>software as soon as possible to set up my email address and ensure that I
>receive the reserved User Name.
>
>
>I did just that. The installation placed a Comcast Support Icon on my
>desktop. I thought nothing more of it. Shortly thereafter a critical
>piece of software began to malfunction. Over a period of a week or so, the
>performance degraded to the point where I had to seek a solution. I began
>doing everything I knew to track down the conflict. I got the latest
>Windows service pack, ran all the appropriate Norton Utilities, and
>uninstalled everything that wasn't mission critical on the machine.
>
>
>I was at the point where I was about to reformat the hard drive and start
>over, and that was something I dreaded, not because I didn't know how to do
>it, but because it would take forever to reinstall the dozens of programs I
>use. I had just burned the first of a series of CD's I would need to back
>up important data when I noticed some activity on the Task Bar in the
>tray. It looked like a moving DNA spiral. When I passed the mouse over
>it, it read "Support.com Protecting".
>
>
>I had never seen this before and I never knowingly installed any such
>software. Suddenly I remembered the Comcast Support icon. Could
>this activity be related. I went to Support.com and found "Support.com
>(Nasdaq:SPRT) is the world's leading provider of support automation
>software. Support.com's patented software platform allows businesses to
>automate and personalize the support..."
>
>
>Yes it was. I immediately uninstalled it and my performance problems went
>away, but what was this software doing running on my machine? I had
>subscribed to an Internet Service Provider, I didn't hire a body guard. So
>I called Comcast tech support and asked about the activity on the tray.
>They didn't seem to know. So I decided to do a little investigating...
>
>
>When I uninstalled the Comcast Support software I noticed another package
>named Broadjump Client Foundation. The Add/Remove window indicated it was
>used Frequently with the last use being today. A quick Internet search led
>me to this information at the BoradJump site.
>
>
>"BroadJump has brought to market a proven engine for generating revenue
>from the point of installation forward in ways never before possible.
>Instead of simply offering a "fat pipe," service providers are now capable
>of profitably delivering the specific goods and services their subscribers
>most want and need."
>
>
>"Builds a database of subscriber demographics and buying behaviors to help
>evolve and refine marketing efforts..."
>
>
>Are you beginning to see what I am getting paranoid?
>
>
>At this point I got back in contact with Comcast. They didn't know about
>what the software did. At that point I said, "How can you have every
>customer load software on their machine and not know what it does? I don't
>know if that bothers you as someone who has to support the software, but I
>know I'm not hanging up until I find out what it does. That got me
>transferred to the top level of tech support who didn't seem to know much
>more about it except that I was able to get the following information
>confirmed.
>
>
>1) Neither piece of software is needed by Comcast subscribers.
>2) The support software has caused significant performance problems and
>they are not recommending installing it until the next release.
>3) They said that they didn't know anything about BroadJump Client
>Foundation, but thought that it was left over from the @HOME days.
>
>
>To this I say, if neither piece of software is needed, why did the
>transition letter make it look like it was critical? If BroadJump was left
>over from the @HOME days, why does the installation time stamp coincide
>with the Comcast Support installation? If they have every customer load
>software on their machine, why don't they know what the software does?
>
>
>At this point I uninstalled BroadJump Client Foundation and got the
>following message: "Warning: Uninstalling this application could impair
>that functionality of other applications installed on this computer. Are
>you sure you want to continue?"
>
>
>You bet I did!
>
>
>Couple all this with last week's report that Comcast is tracking the web
>usage of all of their customers, you can see why I am paranoid.
>
>
>If you have Comcast, I would strongly suggest that you uninstall their
>support software and the BoradJump Client software and if you have any
>further insights, I'd appreciate hearing them. For those of you who have
>friends or acquaintances who might want to look into this situation
>further, please feel free to pass this message along to them.
>
>
>Art

thanks art. not sure if i had any problems, but i found that shit loaded onto my computer, and well.....i take your word for it.

heh.. thanx to this post i know what was goin on and its true. when i had AT&T Broadband i didn't have no problems until they decided to merge with comcast they were e-mailing programs for support and transition they even came by mail supposebly it help comcast merge everything that was from the other provider to them i was expericing problems with my speed it was going really slow the little DNA thingy down there on the task bar was on and i guess this program is what was doing all these slow speed reports so i unistalled it and restarted my computer the next day it was back to normal how i had it

Art,

I accidentally came across your message re: BroadJump Client Foundation. I checked and found I had loaded it on my computer because we are in the transition of transferring from AT&T Broadband to Comcast. In view of your message, I removed BroadJump, but rec'd a message that the program had been removed but there were some items that needed to be removed manually. I don't know how to do that. Can I ignore those items that were left over, or do I need to remove them? Thank you very much for the research you did on this subject matter.

Suziiq2

Well, When these programs install they install all types of files in roder for the aplication to run smooth but yes you can, do this,,, Click on My Computer> C: Drive> Folder (WINDOWS)> Folder (Program Files) and look for Comcast Support Folder and just simply delete it, well thats all, and your welcome ;)

I found your message through the conference site and was surprised to see these programs on my computer. I have been having slow speeds on occasion, and it seems faster since removing the two programs. Thanks!

I had the same exact problems a couple of months ago and got the same "We didn't know about that" answer. I noticed certain programs running in my task manager and found out about it thru http://www.answersthatwork.com/Tasklist_pages/tasklist.htm. It is a useful page that helped solve some of my problems.

ty for that info i went and deleted a program from comcast that kept loading up everytime i turned on my computer and now that it is gone i notice a huge difference ty agin

In addition to the BroadJump software, the Comcast disk also sets up a proxy server to which your browser is directed. This is also unnecessary and should be disabled.

I have this program on my system and it wont let me unistall it. could you give me some advice on other ways to delete it thank you.

I just started using Comcast cable. I did my own self install without installing ANY software.

All I did was go through some network setting steps with tech support and that was it. Not one file was installed. I dont understand why everyone is installing software. In order to connect to comcast, you just have to change some temporary network settings.. thats it!

windows and pc manufactures install ware that can record personal data and user tracks and then send this info to customer service sites. xps ware might be on by default. pchealth is in windows directory. dell has a "modem helper" progam which may be related.

there are dll's which are not displayed in the taskmgr since theyre not apps. there are dll freewares availible to manage everything on rundll32. some will id them for you so you dontf everything up.

spybot will clean everything else out.
http://www.spybot.com

many larger ip's are selling out to advertisers. id completely uninstall any extraneous software that might have come on cd's or ip home pages. earthlink software sand bags your system, messes with the registry and hijacks your browser and probably has a key stroke reader. the only good app is the pop-up blocker which you can keep if you use the add/remove programs. if you use dial up you have to sign on with "ELN/{email address}" (case sensitive -- email all lowercase). the software is how they justify $20 a month though so you might just switch altogether.

to avert internet usage monitoring you might try multiproxy
http://www.multiproxy.org
this splits up transmissions which are then pieced together on the other end. its not incription but is really cool.

meta-softs offline expoler will load multiple files and seems to fill the gaps when loading http. also can make 200+ simultaneous conections rather capping it at 10.

vist http://www.privacy.net

never pay retail

Thanks for the report. As you can see from my address I have the @home > Comcast on my machine.

I am now going to do the ole search both HD's and see what we can see.

More later.

Allen

You're all crazy for installing any software. You don't need any software, except the drivers for your NIC card. The problems is I bet all of you are using a USB connection to the modem (which requires software)

I don't understand about the "software" that people are installing, perhaps it is the drivers for USB? I have 4 computers hooked up to a router and none of the computers have had to install any software to connect to the internet or get it up and running initialy

>I don't understand about the "software"
>that people are installing, perhaps
>it is the drivers for
>USB? I have 4 computers
>hooked up to a router
>and none of the computers
>have had to install any
>software to connect to the
>internet or get it up
>and running initialy

I just found this old tread and am having the same problem now. I have Road Runner cable and the software that comes with it is Road Runner Medic. A sort of diagnostic checkup for my connection. When I try to remove broadjump client it says that Medic uses it and i have to remove medic first. Adaware nor Spybot pick it up either. What to do what to do. I'm going to keep looking

To remove Comcast branding of your Internet Browser (IE) follow these steps:

1) To remove COMCAST logo from Browser:

Open a Command Prompt (Start > RUN) or (Start > Programs > Accessories > Command Prompt) and paste the following into it and hit enter: Rundll32 iedkcs32.dll,Clear

2) To remove Comcast Icons / Toolbar Buttons (ComcastHSI / Support / Research / Help) from your browser:

Right click an icon and select CUSTOMIZE from the menu. From the list of 'Current toolbar icons' you can select and remove them.

Good luck ;)

Hi! I have just read your interesting article about BROADBAND CLIENT FOUNDATION, however you have been lucky, when I a do to ADD/REMOVE programs, nothing has happened and I keep trying to no avail...period, I cannot uninstall it and I AM NOT nor EVER HAVE BEEN A BCF or for that matter a COMCAST customer!!! Dear Lord! What a mess! I you have any advise please, let me know!

Hilda

I am glad I found your text - I have SBC DSL and also found this BoradJump ClientFoundation in the list of installed programs. I'll get rid of it right away. I first noticed that something is wrong when a new toolbar (Hotbar) just appeared in my Interent Explorer with buttons obviously related to some of my recent web searches.
Thanks for saving me time to figure this out.