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story category My DLink Router Is Spamming Me
DLink goes Belkin on new DIR-655 firmware
(old news - 09:16AM Thursday Nov 06 2008)
tags: business · hardware · spam · networking
Tipped by wvcaver See Profile
Back in 2003, you might recall that Belkin decided to develop a router feature that redirected you to an Internet advertisement for their products every eight hours or so. Belkin took a lot of heat for including the "feature" in their products, tried to explain the feature by claiming they were just looking for a way to make sign up for their subscription parental control service "very easy," and then ultimately backed off the idea entirely. Now user wvcaver See Profile writes in to note that DLink is paying homage to Belkin with the DIR-655, as explained by this blogger:
I decided to update my firmware (because updates often fix instability). I had 1.10 which had been working pretty nicely. I installed 1.21 and restored my settings. I logged onto msn and warhammer online and everything was working again. It wasn’t until later in the day when I attempted to do a google search where I noticed the router hijacked google.ca and sent me instead to it’s own domain at bsecure.com where it attempted to sell me a security software subscription at a discount or a trial.
You can opt-out of the system once you've dug through the router settings, but this isn't explained in the user manual, as the "feature" was added post-sale via a firmware update. You can also download a version of the firmware from DLink's website that doesn't have the feature in it, but the router's auto-update feature installs the spamming firmware by default. This kind of spam from a piece of purchased hardware should be opt-in, or better yet, not exist at all. I've got a sneaking suspicion that DLink will learn this the hard way by this time next week.

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Forums » My DLink Router Is Spamming Me
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pnh102
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Premium
join:2002-05-02
Mount Airy, MD

Take Control

If you have a spare computer with 2 NICs laying around, why not roll your own router? pfSense is great!
--
Reptiles Are Cuddly And Pretty
Bupkis

join:2002-07-16
Hillsboro, OR

Re: Take Control

Amen to that!

Quake110

join:2003-12-20
Ottawa, ON
Or buy a Linksys WRT54GL and load it with tomato (firmware). If you want MLPPP (combining 2 dsl lines together), get Tomato/MLPPP.

The firmware is open source so there's no way a feature like that is going to be there.

Cjaiceman
Premium,MVM
join:2004-10-12
Aurora, CO
·Comcast Workplace
·Comcast


1 edit

Re: Take Control

said by Quake110 See Profile :

Or buy a Linksys WRT54GL and load it with tomato (firmware). If you want MLPPP (combining 2 dsl lines together), get Tomato/MLPPP.

The firmware is open source so there's no way a feature like that is going to be there.
The WRT54G is underpowered for most power users, most consumer grade routers are underpowered as well. I had a WRT54G w/ tomato and DD-WRT as my router, but every time I would fire up bittorrent or a streaming HD feed it would lock up. I tried 3 of them, they just can't take the speed. A pfsense box works much better and has yet to lock up, 2 years running!

Matt
Quitting Caffeine - Argh
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..

Re: Take Control

said by Cjaiceman See Profile :

said by Quake110 See Profile :

Or buy a Linksys WRT54GL and load it with tomato (firmware). If you want MLPPP (combining 2 dsl lines together), get Tomato/MLPPP.

The firmware is open source so there's no way a feature like that is going to be there.
The WRT54G is underpowered for most power users, most consumer grade routers are underpowered as well. I had a WRT54G w/ tomato and DD-WRT as my router, but every time I would fire up bittorrent or a streaming HD feed it would lock up. I tried 3 of them, they just can't take the speed. A pfsense box works much better and has yet to lock up, 2 years running!
This was my experience as well. DD-WRT was an especially bad offender. Trying to perform QoS while running a small torrent session would choke it. Tomato was MUCH better on the same hardware, but browsing was still painful with downloading a torrent. The Buffalo WHR-G54S was a tad better, but still not powerful enough.

I have zero problems now since I switched to a real computer and I'm much happier.

Quake110

join:2003-12-20
Ottawa, ON
·Velcom

said by Cjaiceman See Profile :

said by Quake110 See Profile :

Or buy a Linksys WRT54GL and load it with tomato (firmware). If you want MLPPP (combining 2 dsl lines together), get Tomato/MLPPP.

The firmware is open source so there's no way a feature like that is going to be there.
The WRT54G is underpowered for most power users, most consumer grade routers are underpowered as well. I had a WRT54G w/ tomato and DD-WRT as my router, but every time I would fire up bittorrent or a streaming HD feed it would lock up. I tried 3 of them, they just can't take the speed. A pfsense box works much better and has yet to lock up, 2 years running!
Does pfsense support MLPPP (Because Bell throttles the DSL lines of 3rd party ISPs and MLPPP circumvents that).

Also, what's the computer you're using as a router? I have an AND K6-2 300 mhz sitting in a corner and it would be great to know if it would be powerful enough.

Sir Meowmix III




from:
LiamJunket See Profile
riturno See Profile
avd706 See Profile
blueeyesm See Profile

quote:
If you have a spare computer with 2 NICs laying around, why not roll your own router? pfSense is great!
Because not every wants another device sucking 60W+ from their outlet to do something as simple as routing when there are numerous MIPS devices which can run OpenWRT or Tomato which use a fraction of the power AND usually include a four-port switch.

WRT-54GL, WHR-G54S, etc, etc.
KodiacZiller

join:2008-09-04
73368

Re: Take Control

said by Sir Meowmix III :

quote:
If you have a spare computer with 2 NICs laying around, why not roll your own router? pfSense is great!
Because not every wants another device sucking 60W+ from their outlet to do something as simple as routing when there are numerous MIPS devices which can run OpenWRT or Tomato which use a fraction of the power AND usually include a four-port switch.

WRT-54GL, WHR-G54S, etc, etc.
Exactly. I have an old Athlon 950Mhz machine here that I could use as a router but instead it just sits in the corner.

There are three reasons it isn't used:

1) The thing sounds like a jet engine.
2) It makes the room very hot, which increases the use of AC.
3) I don't want a bunch of idle CPU cycles sucking up more energy when all the box is doing is routing which takes very little CPU power anyway.

Instead I use the WRT54GL flashed with Tomato and I see the same speeds as I do without the router, even when torrenting. Never had a problem with either. It's rock solid, doesn't use much energy, and is silent.

aaronwt
Premium
join:2004-11-07
Woodbridge, VA
·Verizon FIOS
·Comcast
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1 edit
said by pnh102 See Profile :

If you have a spare computer with 2 NICs laying around, why not roll your own router? pfSense is great!
I used a PC as a router back in the 90's. It's much easier and more convenient now to just use a standalone router.

I'm using nine Dlink Gigabit switches and a Dlink DGL4500 router. I have been very pleased with them since I have used several brands of routers and gigabit switches over the last 8 years.

LiamJunket
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Ocean City, NJ
·Comcast

said by pnh102 See Profile :

If you have a spare computer with 2 NICs laying around, why not roll your own router? pfSense is great!
That works, but there is a cost - more electricity to run a PC than a small retail WIFi router.
--
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Ask yourself one question: 'Do I feel lucky?' Well, do ya punk?

Matt
Quitting Caffeine - Argh
Premium
join:2003-07-20
Jamestown, NC
·North State Commun..

Re: Take Control

said by LiamJunket See Profile :

said by pnh102 See Profile :

If you have a spare computer with 2 NICs laying around, why not roll your own router? pfSense is great!
That works, but there is a cost - more electricity to run a PC than a small retail WIFi router.
If you have a home media server, just combine them all into one like I have.

Shuttle K45 SFF
Celeron E1200
1GB RAM
Windows 2003 R2 Standard
Routing and Remote Access
DHCP / DNS
UPnP Media Server for my Home Network (stream my DVD collection to my 360 as an extender)
PRTG for Traffic Graphing
cFos for Traffic Shaping

I kept my 802.11n router as an AP because I want to use the 802.11n PCI card for my desktop so I can move it to a location that doesn't have wired ethernet access. But you could easily turn it into an 802.11n AP too! You can do this with Linux for free, although it's a bit more difficult and not as intuitive.
Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL
but then you will need a switch and wifi AP also can that system do gig-e 2 ways like the DIR-655 can also it will need to be done for about $100 as you can get a DIR-655 for that price.
cornelius785

join:2006-10-26
Worcester, MA

i like the idea of using a dedicated computer as a firewall box thing. i have a linux box myself being used as a firewall plus much more. imo, if you are going to dedicate and entire computer, you might as well turn into a full server too, if you have the time, patience, and knowledge to do so. i have no intention of getting any special purpose firewall hardware for a home network.

Tsume
My little Toby.

join:2004-02-23
Winter Park, FL
·ViaTalk
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said by pnh102 See Profile :

If you have a spare computer with 2 NICs laying around, why not roll your own router? pfSense is great!
Because pfSense has had this irritating problem with one of my games that was never fully fixed. Can't see each other in game, game is GunZ Online. Or if we can, ping is insanely high because it's using the "firewalled" server that GunZ uses to relay traffic when two clients can't establish a direct p2p connection.

Never had this problem with any D-Link router. I complained to the pfSense people and we found a solution, but it is a PAIN TO SET UP since I have to make 3 rules for each LAN IP to get all 4 to talk to eachother. Seems like something that should "just work" - I know the problem is probably with GunZ, but for the same reason Firefox parses crappy HTML coding, pfSense should make it work with GunZ.

In summary, that is why I do not use pfSense. One game.

David
Last man standing
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join:2002-05-30
Granite City, IL
clubs:
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said by pnh102 See Profile :

If you have a spare computer with 2 NICs laying around, why not roll your own router? pfSense is great!
You can also do that with m0n0wall as well as DD-WRT

Loved m0n0wall when I had it. Don't even need a hard disk if you don't want.
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dcurrey

join:2004-06-29

Check Firmware

They also offer 1.21 nosecurespot firmware that doesn't have this feature in it. Just download the right one.

ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
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1 edit

Re: Check Firmware

said by dcurrey See Profile :

They also offer 1.21 nosecurespot firmware that doesn't have this feature in it. Just download the right one.
That is fine for those of use that know better. But what about the average user that allows for the automatic update and the spam version is the one that gets loaded.

That is where the real issue is.
dcurrey

join:2004-06-29
·ViaTalk


1 edit

Re: Check Firmware

I would have to double check but don't think you can auto update the firmware. Ftp and download site clearly label the nosecurespot versions.

Granted they should probably tell you what secure spot on the download website. I had to look it up.
Joe12345678

join:2003-07-22
Des Plaines, IL

said by ropeguru See Profile :

said by dcurrey See Profile :

They also offer 1.21 nosecurespot firmware that doesn't have this feature in it. Just download the right one.
That is fine for those of use that know better. But what about the average user that allows for the automatic update and the spam version is the one that gets loaded.

That is where the real issue is.
the auto update is not 100% auto.

ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo

Re: Check Firmware

said by Joe12345678 See Profile :

said by ropeguru See Profile :

said by dcurrey See Profile :

They also offer 1.21 nosecurespot firmware that doesn't have this feature in it. Just download the right one.
That is fine for those of use that know better. But what about the average user that allows for the automatic update and the spam version is the one that gets loaded.

That is where the real issue is.
the auto update is not 100% auto.
But is you do it through the firmwarvs. download and install yourself, do you get the option of choosing?? This is the way the average user will do it and is what my point is.
dcurrey

join:2004-06-29
·ViaTalk

Re: Check Firmware

I see his point now. I have never done it that way. Always just download from ftp and install it.

Does the firmware update section even give you an option to download it directly or does it take you to download website? If later you would see your options.

ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo


1 edit

Re: Check Firmware

said by dcurrey See Profile :

I see his point now. I have never done it that way. Always just download from ftp and install it.

Does the firmware update section even give you an option to download it directly or does it take you to download website? If later you would see your options.
My recollection of how dlink does it, is that you choose to update the firmware from the router itself and it goes out and grabs the latest copy and the name is set by dlink.

Been while, so that could have changed.

EDIT: Just looked at the online manual, and the way it is written, it looks like it takes you to a web site so you can download the version you want.
dcurrey

join:2004-06-29

Re: Check Firmware

Checking the manual, well I guess thats one way to do it.

ropeguru
Premium
join:2001-01-25
Hollywood, FL
clubs:
·VOIPo

Re: Check Firmware

said by dcurrey See Profile :

Checking the manual, well I guess thats one way to do it.
Yeah, here is what is says:

Click on Check Online Now for Latest Firmware Version to find out if there is an updated firmware; if so, download the new firmware to your hard drive.

After you have downloaded the new firmware, click Browse to locate the firmware update on your hard drive. Click Upload to complete the firmware upgrade.

BinaryXtreme

join:2004-04-20
Sparks, NV

ROFL!

That is just amazing. I've always had issues with D-Link products except for my USB hub that's lasted me years now. So yet another reason to dislike them for me.

Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA

1 edit

G-bye DLink

After many years of happily using DLink hardware, this will be my last router. I've had problems with my DIR-655 since FW 1.02 (won't allow some B clients like my old iBook to authenticate) and now these changes to a whore philosophy; no thanks.
NgtFlyer

join:2000-07-09
Marietta, GA
·Speakeasy

Re: G-bye DLink

That's not necessarily a DLink issue - I've got a client with a Powerbook that will not authenticate on any of three wireless APs setup with WPA-PSK/TKIP. The three routers are two Netgear models and a Linksys WRT54GS v2.2 running Tomato. This same powerbook fails at another location running Cisco gear configured with WPA.

All that being said, I'm not much of a DLink fan. They have had some very good products along the way, but they have been hit-or-miss over time. Most of my network is made up of Netgear stuff with some Linksys sprinkled about.

Dogfather
Premium
join:2007-12-26
Laguna Hills, CA

Re: G-bye DLink

Well, when none of my other routers or APs have the issue and it was only a firmware upgrade that "broke" it...I call that a D-Link issue.
Gardener
Premium
join:2006-10-19
Burnaby, BC

Trivial fix

Bought one of these, updated the firmware, discovered SecureSpot, and disabled the feature. It's just a checkbox.

Now, if I could discourage my scanner software from trying to sell me the full version - it doesn't understand No.
AstroBoy

join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD

Is this redirection legal?

A d-link trogen!
It seems like forged packets.
Maybe the FCC should step in?

funchords
Hello
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join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
·Verizon Online DSL
·Skype

Re: Is this redirection legal?

said by AstroBoy See Profile :

A d-link trogen!
It seems like forged packets.
Maybe the FCC should step in?
The DIR-655 is an end device, it's an end-point on the Internet, not in the middle.

That said, this is slimy and D-Link should shut it off. I own one of these routers and fortunately I didn't upload that firmware.
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AstroBoy

join:2008-08-08
Parkville, MD

Re: Is this redirection legal?

lol funchords, I know what your spinning icon is! But I have not used one in 15+ years.

funchords
Hello
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join:2001-03-11
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·Verizon Online DSL
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1 edit

Re: Is this redirection legal?

(just in case I change it later).

Wear this around and see all the weird looks you get. It's a real generation-buster!

»t-shirts.cafepress.com/item/45-r···91544691
old_wiz_60

join:2005-06-03
Bedford, MA

reviewers note

So now when web sites review this kind of product, hopefully they will tell you which routers do this kind of crap so you can avoid buying it.

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium
join:2005-06-29
clubs:

So

whats the difference bewteen the router doing it and your isp doing it? Isp do this also.

SYNACK
Just Firewall It
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join:2001-03-05
Venice, CA
·Comcast Formerly ..

Host:
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ZyXEL

Re: So

said by hayabusa3303 See Profile :

whats the difference bewteen the router doing it and your isp doing it? Isp do this also.
Not quite the same....

• Some ISPs redirect misspelled or otherwise incorrect/invalid URLs to their "search" page.
• I assume the d-link redirects (at random times) a fully valid browser request to their servers instead.

Big difference!

It is also a huge security hole. Imagine a crook could reverse engineer the firmware, post it on a legitimate looking site with a version number slightly higher that the d-link download, and inject it with redirections to malware sites. Some people would probably end up installing it.

dadkins
Can you do Blu?
Premium,MVM
join:2003-09-26
Hercules, CA
·Comcast


1 edit

Something to be said for older still working routers, huh?

I still use a DI624 REV C.
It runs on 2.42 firmware(quite old, March 2004).
Has never rebooted on it's own, can deliver 17mbps+ via wireless(22-24mbps wireless LAN) and will pound in at 195mbps across LAN via ethernet.

"Newer is not always better"

So, to the owners of the DIR 655, was the 1.10 firmware broken?
--
Think outside the Fox... Opera

hayabusa3303
Over 200 mph
Premium
join:2005-06-29
clubs:
·QuantumVoice
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Re: Something to be said for older still working routers, huh?

I use 1.12 firmware and to me its faster than 1.10 for some reason. Even wireless is faster.

I havnt tried the 1.2X firmwares do to problems i have see on here and on the dlink forums.

I still use a di-624 also i use it as a ap on a b side. running 2.50 firmware. Solid router it is.

funchords
Hello
Premium,MVM
join:2001-03-11
Washington, DC
Not as bad as 1.21 is broken.

What do you mean 195 Mbps?

HD_Ride
Premium
join:2000-10-18
Trenton, NJ
·VoicePulse
·Verizon FIOS

said by dadkins See Profile :

"Newer is not always better"

So, to the owners of the DIR 655, was the 1.10 firmware broken?
You are correct, newer is NOT always better.

I’m not sure about the 1.10 but the 1.11 was very stable. The 1.21 (without securespot) does not work for me. I tried 1.21 twice and each time it would lock-up less than a week. I’m currently on 1.20 (4.5 days so far) and if 1.20 fails I’ll go back to 1.11 or purchase another router and run dd-wrt or Tomato and be done with it

nightshade74
Yet another genxer
Premium
join:2004-11-06
Prattville, AL
·Knology
·VoicePulse

Trivial

I own this (Hardware version A3 firmware 1.20)...
What I expect from a device acting as a router
is that it *route* packets.

I dont want to have to opt out of email spam OR my
router not routing packets.

It's a sad thing because this is a decent little
home device....

peter_m
Premium
join:2005-07-13
Canada, QC

Dlink is not my favorite company

Ever since my experience with the DI-624 and their customer service I really avoid Dlink. Just one more reason for more people to do the same...

Devanchya
Smile
Premium
join:2003-12-09
Ajax, ON
·Bell Sympatico

Nov 8, and SecureSpot Default appears gone!

On Nov 08, 2008 I downloaded the new firmware for the DLink-655 using the Router’s Firmware update option.

It appears that it NOW auto-updates you to the non-secure spot version. The version downloaded automatically was:

DIR655A4_FW121B08.bin

this version appears to be secure spot free from looking at the Advanced menu, no Secure Spot item. No redirects so far.
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Forums » My DLink Router Is Spamming Me


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