D-Link Thinks It's a "Feature" To Hijack Your Web Connections
Some years ago, Belkin did something, which I and many others, thought to be monumentally stupid: They had their low end routers randomly redirect peoples' web sessions over to another website, which advertises security software. This was generally thought to be a bad idea and much complaining was done about it by many folks.
I decided to boycott their products and put them on my permanent shit-list. Ie, I don't buy Belkin goods of any kind, not just the tainted routers. It should be noted, they make cables, card readers, etc. I NEVER even give anything with the Belkin label a second thought and will routinely steer potential buyers to better alternatives.
Today, I hear that another company has done something similarly ill-advised: D-link. Yes, they also make consumer routers and switches. And yes, they too decided it would be profitable to redirect peoples' web sessions to another site, so that they can be offered the chance to buy the advertised product/service.
While I'm all in favor of proactively promoting security products, making something insecure or potentially exposing peoples' private information, is a poor way to do this.
What Are Companies Thinking?
Let's think about this. We are in a period where our economy is weakened. While I understand a company's desire to earn more monies, you don't want to make short term gains, but earn yourself long term losses. Something like what Belkin did and what D-link is doing, is the kind of action, that will hurt the company's branding, cause them to lose current customers, and provide a barrier to gaining future customers, thanks to the bad PR generated.
Personally? D-Link has joined Belkin on my rather short shit-list. As far as I'm concerned, D-link products are now all suspect. I will never recommend products branded under D-link's branding to anyone and will actively recommend people choose more secure and ethially minded companies.
We live in a society where people need to vote with their wallets. Companies need to realise that with tightened belts and less disposable income, people are going to be thinking about how to save time and money. Buying hardware from a company that will give them support issues now and potentially in the future, due to poor decisions, is something that I think will compell folks with their hands on the purse strings to go shopping elsewhere.
Belkin? Meet D-Link. D-Link? Meet Belkin. Welcome to my boycott-them-because-they-make-very-poor-decisions-shit-list.
~ Wing
