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 statestress magnetPremium,Mod
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| No more root password topics Sorry folks, we can't have that information posted in the forums here, unfortunately it's categorized as a "trade secret".
The number of these posts and topics have increased exponentially over the last month or so. Please save me some time and refrain from posting the credentials, or asking for them in the forum. They will be deleted on site and without question.
Thanks. | |
 pfakPremium
join:2002-12-29
Vancouver, BC | Good thing you guys are really slow with moderating topics outside of Eastern Time 
--
The more I C, the less I see. | |
| Too bad, the fact that I was able to get a uid and password and I put my modem into bridge mode is the ONLY reason I'm still with Telus. Seems a bit shortsighted and likely they will lose customers.
Shaw offers bridge out of the box because they understand some customers need this functionality. | |
| reply to state
Does this also refer to the "Please PM me" posts?
If so, maybe a way to handle this is to allow one thread that does not contain any actual credential information. | |
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| said by bluenote73:Does this also refer to the "Please PM me" posts?
Yes. Those and any topics on the subject will be removed. | |
| reply to state
Indeed it is a "trade" secret for the only reason they "own" the router. The solution now for those who want to continually keep access to the router is buy your own ( ebay, kijiji ) with any older firmware, flash it and call it your own if you plan on staying with telus. | |
| reply to state
But it's not a trade secret:
"A trade secret is a formula, practice, process, design, instrument, pattern, or compilation of information which is not generally known or reasonably ascertainable, by which a business can obtain an economic advantage over competitors or customers."
There is a mandatory modifier at the end of the description which is "by which a business can obtain an economic advantage over competitors or customers". There is no economic advantage to be gained by *anyone* over the customer having more control of their device. Having more control of the device does not allow the customer to financially benefit in any way. It does not allow competitors to financially benefit, nor Telus themselves. It does allow Telus to have more control over how customers use the equipment, but it does not provide financial gain in having this control (having the password doesn't generate revenue for any of the parties). I could argue you lose customers this way thus resulting in lost sales, but I won't go there, just saying I could.
I'm fine if you want to say that the reason you won't allow anyone to post the passwords are because you want Telus to maintain tight control over their devices, but please stop using the term "trade secret" incorrectly. That's not what it is. I think you call it that because it makes you sound less like you take a side. | |
| @Cibo: Where exactly did you get your definition of a trade secret? It doesn't match the definition as laid out by the Canadian Department of Justice. That site also only had a single definition for a trade secret in all of the acts that are present.
Security of Information Act - R.S.C., 1985, c. O-5 (Section 19)
»laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts···tml#s-19.
Meaning of “trade secret”
(4) For the purpose of this section, “trade secret” means any information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, method, technique, process, negotiation position or strategy or any information contained or embodied in a product, device or mechanism that
(a) is or may be used in a trade or business;
(b) is not generally known in that trade or business;
(c) has economic value from not being generally known; and
(d) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
2001, c. 41, s. 29. | | |
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1 edit | reply to nss_tech
Re: No more root password topics said by nss_tech:@Cibo: Where exactly did you get your definition of a trade secret? It doesn't match the definition as laid out by the Canadian Department of Justice. That site also only had a single definition for a trade secret in all of the acts that are present.
Security of Information Act - R.S.C., 1985, c. O-5 (Section 19)
»laws-lois.justice.gc.ca/eng/acts···tml#s-19.
Meaning of “trade secret”
(4) For the purpose of this section, “trade secret” means any information, including a formula, pattern, compilation, program, method, technique, process, negotiation position or strategy or any information contained or embodied in a product, device or mechanism that
(a) is or may be used in a trade or business;
(b) is not generally known in that trade or business;
(c) has economic value from not being generally known; and
(d) is the subject of efforts that are reasonable under the circumstances to maintain its secrecy.
2001, c. 41, s. 29. Under that definition, the root username and password can be considered a trade secret. It is "information contained or embodied in a product" or part of a "program". There is also economic value to Telus to keep it hidden from end users as when problems arise due to the end users violating their terms of service by changing the firmware or core settings on the gateways, it costs Telus money when a user with an Actiontec with problems related to the modified firmware; calls in, gets dispatched, and/or has their hardware replaced. Dispatches aren't cheap and replacing a modem isn't that cheap either. A single dispatch alone is hundreds of dollars. I'm not sure the case for being a trade secret is as strong as you think.
quote:
(3) A person is not guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if the trade secret was
(a) obtained by independent development or by reason only of reverse engineering; or
(b) acquired in the course of the person’s work and is of such a character that its acquisition amounts to no more than an enhancement of that person’s personal knowledge, skill or expertise.
Root pass is not a trade secret IMO. However regardless of that fact either way, I think any telus employees who are complaining to management here should consider their position. Right now we are for the most part all on the same side. But the more oppressed and divided telus customers are, the more likely people are going to spread this info far and wide and not just narrowly. It won't be possible to patrol reddit/slashdot/the plethora of available internet venues, and the info won't just be available to a technical subset of the customer population.
What I'm trying to say is - one should think before taking action because one may think they have the power or moral authority to force someone else to one's will. But inevitably that will change the equation and one may find that their target finds more resources and causes more trouble than otherwise left alone as a neighbour.
Doing the bidding of an unassociated corporation doesn't make BDSLR look all that great either IMO. | |
| reply to state
Thanks to Shayne, anhloc6, Ammorth, evileyeball, JammerMan79, davider1, cbriggs77, kosahn, dreckis604, Spitlebug, Strummer, E N, Deuterium, boydbarker, openV100H, amitsekhon, funtek, anal0g, ddawg, juicec for their inquiries about the acrostic. They have all received short poetic responses. | |
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