Ravenwood - 11/07/03 06:27 PM
Ask any techie what a router is supposed to do, and he'll tell you that it passes data packets between computers or routers. That is, unless you have a Belkin router. Belkin owners who have recently upgraded the software on their router may notice that their machines are being periodically routed to Belkin advertisements, reports The Register.
The router would grab a random HTTP connection every eight hours and redirect it to Belkin's (push) advertised web page.Belkin says there is an "opt out" feature that a user can use to turn off the unsolicited advertisements. They claim that they were just trying to help advertise their new parental control features, as if it were a public service."It seems the router now supports a parental control and the market droids at Belkin got the bright idea of equipping the router with intrusive nagware," writes Uh Clem. "Of course, I have this strange notion that routers should pass data unmolested by marketeers!"
With regard to what routers do: close, but not quite. A router facilitates the passage of data at Layer 3 -- the TCP/IP layer -- between computers on different IP subnets. A device that would simply pass data between computers without reference to subnet assignments would be called a hub or repeater, or, if it allowed the definition of virtual LANs and tried to curtail unnecessary rebroadcasting, a switch.
Used to build 'em professionally, y'see.
Francis,
As someone in IT, and who has knowledge of the OSI model, I agree that your description is completely accurate. However, had I written that 99.9% of readers would have stopped reading, closed their browser and never come back here again.
I guess when I put it in simplistic terms, I shouldn't have said "Ask any techie.."
Posted by: Ravenwood at November 7, 2003 6:52 PMGee, what I got out of the post was, "Don't buy a Belkin router." And you know what? I won't.
Posted by: Ralph Gizzip at November 7, 2003 6:58 PMApologies, Rave. Couldn't help myself. I get so few opportunities to talk shop on the Web! [/facetiousness off]
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