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[CustSvc] Comcast is Telling Customers to Stop Using the Tor Web Browser?FYI - Just came across this news item on the Inquisitr site: Comcast Tells Customers to Stop Using Tor BrowserThe Inquisitr - September 14, 2014 » www.inquisitr.com/147427 ··· browser/quote: Embattled Comcast has another complaint about customer service to add to its growing list. The cable and Internet provider has been telling customers that their service will be terminated if they dont stop using the Tor web browser. According to a report by Deep.Dot.Web, multiple accounts of Comcast customer service crossing into monitoring customer activity online have been reported to them.
Comcast agents have reportedly contacted customers who use Tor, a web browser that is designed to protect the users privacy while online, and said their service can get terminated if they dont stop using Tor. According to Deep.Dot.Web, one of those calls included a Comcast customer service agent named Jeremy, who allegedly described Tor as an illegal service. The use of Tor was then described as against Comcast usage policy.
According to the Comcast customers account, the customer service agent repeatedly asked the customer what sites he was accessing on the Tor browser. During a follow-up call the next day, another Comcast customer service agent said again that Comcast doesnt want customers to use Tor.
  EDIT: An article also on the VPN Creative site now: » vpncreative.net/2014/09/ ··· ing-tor/ |
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train_wreckslow this bird down join:2013-10-04 Antioch, TN Cisco ASA 5506 Cisco DPC3939
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Re: [CustSvc] Comcast is Telling Customers to Stop Using the Tor Web BrowserVERY creepy if true. Apparently from the conversation with a Comcast rep:
Users who try to use anonymity, or cover themselves up on the Internet, are usually doing things that arent so-to-speak legal. We have the right to terminate, fine, or suspend your account at anytime due to you violating the rules.
That's like saying "you have a lock on your door, so you MUST be hiding something bad inside."
Though that Deep.Dot.Web article does say that the only evidence of this happening were posts submitted to Reddit and then sent to Deep.Dot.Web. |
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to telcodad
Yikes. Basically, if you don't want us to monitor you, you must be up to no good. |
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your moderator at work
hidden : Off topic
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Zenit_IIfxThe system is the solution Premium Member join:2012-05-07 Purcellville, VA ·Comcast XFINITY
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Re: [CustSvc] Comcast is Telling Customers to Stop Using the Tor Web BrowserNever had a problem with X1, then again we only have 1 box so no experience with the child boxes and MOCA. Your lucky you can run to FIOS. I can run to Verizon's trash bagged DSL which is a non-starter. As for blocking Tor, might as well block all VPN's as well. Watch how well that would go over |
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tshirt Premium Member join:2004-07-11 Snohomish, WA
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to train_wreck
said by train_wreck:Though that Deep.Dot.Web article does say that the only evidence of this happening were posts submitted to Reddit and then sent to Deep.Dot.Web. That was my impression too, an awful lot speculation about anon posts on a website determined to find BAD Comcast news. Unlikely a frontline CSR would KNOW anything not PUBLISHED in internal docs. MAYBE the person talked to someone who ID'd themselves as a comcast rep, but was really an agent of the agency investigating, which if they provided a court order Comcast would be compelled to comply. Or maybe just another apocryphal story gone viral. |
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graysonf MVM join:1999-07-16 Fort Lauderdale, FL |
to telcodad
Until someone shows us an actual threatening email from Comcast, I'm calling BS. If and when I get such a threatening email, I'll gladly post it here. |
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cHarley join:2013-07-10 Boynton Beach, FL Motorola MB8600 (Software) pfSense
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to Zenit_IIfx
said by Zenit_IIfx:As for blocking Tor, might as well block all VPN's as well. Watch how well that would go over Yea, an attack only on TOR doesn't make much sense with all of the VPN services out there, and given ALL the legitimate purposes for using a VPN, good luck shutting those down without a sever backlash. |
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KearnstdSpace Elf Premium Member join:2002-01-22 Mullica Hill, NJ |
to graysonf
This until there is an actual statement from Comcast's legal department or its in the actual TOS I will call BS on TOR being a risk of service termination.
That said we could also be hearing things from an angry customer who got mad when the rep said the customer could not use the TOR browser during a support situation as it would not be a supported browser which is usually IE, Firefox, Safari and Chrome.(sometimes Opera as well but generally its the big four) |
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THZNDUPDeorum Offensa Diis Curae Premium Member join:2003-09-18 Lard |
to telcodad
If you see something, Say somethingHummm, Comcast doesn't want customers to use TOR or rather is it Comcast doesn't want to be bothered by the NSA ? I'd bet 'Jeremy' has been reading too much about EGOTISTICALGIRAFFE and is just being a good citizen.......... |
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graysonf MVM join:1999-07-16 Fort Lauderdale, FL
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Maybe it's Comcast telling users of the Tor Browser Bundle to stop complaining about the syrupy slow speed of the Tor network? |
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THZNDUPDeorum Offensa Diis Curae Premium Member join:2003-09-18 Lard |
THZNDUP
Premium Member
2014-Sep-14 3:42 pm
A very distinct probability. Comcast just trying to reduce the number of bogus service calls and just got lost in the translation to 'Jeremy' or then on to the 'customer'. Even the asking which sites visited is misconstrued, 'Jeremy' only wanted to replicate the problem. Wonder if he is a first tier or is above that paygrade........ |
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fartness (banned)Donald Trump 2016 join:2003-03-25 Look Outside |
to telcodad
Re: [CustSvc] Comcast is Telling Customers to Stop Using the Tor Web BrowserI'm guessing a lot of DSLR members use Tor and would have received letters already? |
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to graysonf
+1. I find it EXTREMELY difficult to believe they're "watching" for Tor usage and sending letters... give me a break. |
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neufuse join:2006-12-06 James Creek, PA
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to telcodad
This feels a LOT like a set up to try prevent a merger by saying Comcast wants to spy on you in a sense or give you a feeling they can control you. I'd love to see some hard evidence that this actually happened... and how would they even know you were using tor with out some kind of inspection in place? Heck, what's next you are using a IPsec VPN connection or SSL VPN connection, you are now violating the law?.... they'd never do that... too many people use them for work... but then what, they will say residential customers can't use VPN because that's a business function?..... that'd piss off a lot of work from home people that don't want to pay more for the same |
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camperjust visiting this planet Premium Member join:2010-03-21 Bethel, CT
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to nysports4evr
said by nysports4evr:I find it EXTREMELY difficult to believe they're "watching" for Tor usage...   You shouldn't find that difficult to believe. FCC To Comcast: Stop Blocking Peer-To-Peer ContentA rather dark period in Comcast's HSI-land... "Comcast denied blocking the applications when complaints first surfaced... " Comcast changed its story and admitted that it did target its subscribers' peer-to-peer traffic for interference," the FCC explained in its statement. |
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graysonf MVM join:1999-07-16 Fort Lauderdale, FL |
to telcodad
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MikeRivera
Anon
2014-Sep-15 9:18 am
I'm going to withhold judgment until Jon Livingood (Comcast VP of something or another, and an occasional answerer on this forum) acknowledges one way or another.
Basically, one customer service person does not make policy for the whole company. |
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NetFixerFrom My Cold Dead Hands Premium Member join:2004-06-24 The Boro Netgear CM500 Pace 5268AC TRENDnet TEW-829DRU
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to telcodad
All I see is an unsubstantiated claim from an anonymous source and a lot of "me too" repetition of that claim on multiple web sites.
Comcast has given us many reasons to despise them. Do we really need to fabricate more reasons?
Does "A tempest in a teapot" ring a bell here? |
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to MikeRivera
said by MikeRivera :I'm going to withhold judgment until Jon Livingood (Comcast VP of something or another, and an occasional answerer on this forum) acknowledges one way or another. Yes, Jason Livingood, jlivingood is "Vice President, Internet & Communications" at Comcast. |
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telcodad 2 edits |
Karl has a DSL Reports news item up on this now » Comcast: Report Claiming We Punish Tor Users 'Wildly Inaccurate' [47] comments and Jason Livingood (jlivingood ) had this comment: said by jlivingood:Sorry, but I have to say this story seems really inaccurate (perhaps purposefully so). If this were the case, with ~20M customers, wouldn't there logically be more than a single anonymous & unvalidated report?
In any case, customers are free to use their Xfinity Internet service to visit any website, use any app, etc. as they are in compliance with our AUP. Nothing new there. And there is no program against Tor - heck I've even used it a few times. EDIT: Also from Karl's news item: quote: I reached out to Comcast and was told by spokesman Charlie Douglas that the report is "wildly inaccurate."
"The anecdotal chat room evidence provided is not consistent with our agents messages and is not accurate," said Douglas. "Per our own internal review, we have found no evidence that these conversations took place, nor do we employ a Security Assurance team member named Kelly." Douglas proceeded to state that "Comcast doesnt monitor users browser software or web surfing, and has no program addressing the Tor browser. Customers are free to use their Xfinity Internet service to visit any website or use it however they wish."
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telcodad |
to graysonf
And the Consumerist site has a (now erroneous) story about it also: Comcast Decides Anyone Using Ultra-Private Browser Is Probably A Criminal, Threatens To Kill Their ConnectionsBy Kate Cox, Consumerist - September 15, 2014 » consumerist.com/2014/09/ ··· ections/I wonder how long it will be before they get the word that this was a hoax and post a correction? |
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NetFixerFrom My Cold Dead Hands Premium Member join:2004-06-24 The Boro Netgear CM500 Pace 5268AC TRENDnet TEW-829DRU
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NetFixer
Premium Member
2014-Sep-15 10:21 am
said by telcodad:I wonder how long it will be before they get the word that this was a hoax and post a correction? I think that very few (if any) of the web sites involved in this affair will ever acknowledge any possibility of any culpability on their part. |
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tshirt Premium Member join:2004-07-11 Snohomish, WA |
to telcodad
said by telcodad:...how long it will be before they get the word that this was a hoax and post a correction? That , unfortunately rarely makes the front page, IF it even happens. |
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At least the MCN site waited until all the facts were in: Comcast: Report About Tor Browser Policy Is Wildly Inaccurate' Says It Has No Stated Policy Against The Use Of BrowserBy Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - September 15, 2014 » www.multichannel.com/new ··· e/383844EDIT: And Ars Technica also: Comcast calls rumor that it disconnects Tor users wildly inaccurateThe Internet is mad at Comcast, but the latest rage appears to be unjustified.by Jon Brodkin, Ars Technica - September 15, 2014 » arstechnica.com/business ··· ccurate/quote: ... Nonetheless, the DeepDotWeb report was credulously re-reported by a few other news outlets (Business Insider, Inquisitr, et al) that didn't seek further confirmation. The stories are being shared by Twitter users, who often add expressions of outrage: ...
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Zenit_IIfxThe system is the solution Premium Member join:2012-05-07 Purcellville, VA ·Comcast XFINITY
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to NetFixer
I agree - it seems like people go out of their way to hate on Comcast. Then again, Comcast makes it too easy to mock/criticize it.
In the grand scheme of things though, they have been doing good work in the HSI area - IPv6 deployment nationwide, DOCSIS3, higher speeds than many other Cable MSO's and local ILEC's, maintaining their plant...
So to me, in the battle of the evils that are telecom & cable companies, Comcast is defiantly not the top ranked Public Enemy #1 in my book. That title belongs to Verizon for abandoning millions of its customers stuck on its failing copper network and plotting to replace land based broadband with LTE. Those with FIOS remain the chosen few while McAdam rolls in profits that will make Comcast blush.
i.e Comcast's Cable division made $10 billion in Q1 2014, while VZ as a whole made $30 billion dollars in Q1 2014.
VZ still has Central Offices with NO BROADBAND. They repair the copper network with trash bags, their DSL remains stuck in 2004. Comcast only has a small handful of customers who cant get HSI (its like 2000 people in very small dated Cable systems that are analog only) |
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Re: [CustSvc] Comcast is Telling Customers to Stop Using the Tor Web Browser?The official corporate response now on the Comcast Voices blog site: Setting the Record Straight on TorBy Jason Livingood, VP, Internet & Communications Engineering - September 15, 2014 » corporate.comcast.com/co ··· t-on-torquote: Here are the facts:
Comcast doesnt monitor our customers browser software, web surfing or online history.
The anecdotal chat room evidence described in these reports is not accurate.
We respect customer privacy and security and only investigate and disclose certain information about a customer's account with a valid court order or other appropriate legal process, just like other ISPs. More information about these policies can be found in our Transparency Report here: »corporate.comcast.com/co ··· y-report
We do not terminate customers for violating the Copyright Alert System (aka "six strikes"), which is a non-punitive, educational and voluntary copyright program. Read more here: »corporate.comcast.com/co ··· t-system
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telcodad |
Re: [CustSvc] Comcast is Telling Customers to Stop Using the Tor Web Browsersaid by telcodad:And the Consumerist site has a (now erroneous) story about it also:
Comcast Decides Anyone Using Ultra-Private Browser Is Probably A Criminal, Threatens To Kill Their Connections By Kate Cox, Consumerist - September 15, 2014 »consumerist.com/2014/09/ ··· ections/
I wonder how long it will be before they get the word that this was a hoax and post a correction? I see that the Consumerist site finally added this "update" to teir article and changed the title of it to " [Update] Comcast Denies Threatening To Disconnect Users Of Ultra-Private Browser" quote: UPDATE: A Comcast VP has released a statement saying that they are not asking customers to stop using Tor, or any other browser for that matter, and that, We have no policy against Tor, or any other browser or software. He adds, Our customers can use Tor at any time, as I have myself. Im sure many of them are using it right now.
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to graysonf
Re: If you see something, Say somethinglol |
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Re: [CustSvc] Comcast is Telling Customers to Stop Using the Tor Web Browser?said by telcodad:At least the MCN site waited until all the facts were in:
Comcast: Report About Tor Browser Policy Is Wildly Inaccurate' Says It Has No Stated Policy Against The Use Of Browser By Jeff Baumgartner, Multichannel News - September 15, 2014 »www.multichannel.com/new ··· e/383844 The article now has this latest update with a response from Tor: quote: Update II: An official with Tor said there was not enough information to comment on the allegations pointed at Comcast in the DeepDotWeb story, but noted that Tor does have a project called the Open Observatory of Network Interference that can track whether Internet access is being restricted. "People with uncensored connections to the Internet can use Tor to share their access with human rights defenders and journalists behind national firewalls. We tend to have good relationships with Internet Service Providers in free societies for this reason," the official added.
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