Has anyone just received an email from Verizon Notifications with the subject:
"Changes to Veriizon online terms of service effective April 19, 2011"
I haven't opened it.
Considering they have it posted in the announcements section of the main site, it appears to be legit. If you would like to go directly to the announcement and avoid the email, here's a link: Effective April 19, 2011 - Important Information Regarding Changes to Your Verizon Online Terms Of Service
It also appears you can get the latest announcements by going to http://verizon.net/announcements
I've bookmarked the announcements page.
Thank you.
Everyone NEEDS to read this TOS! I'm reaching out to my legislators and state attorney general. They assert a right to access your computer NOT just traffic flowing across the network. That's called invasion and trespassing in any other context. Also, they can lock you out of your router. Although probably well intentioned, they provide no protection at all to you the end user in explaining when or why or to what extent they have invaded. They simply promise to tell you they made changes after the fact!
@Gem wrote: Everyone NEEDS to read this TOS! I'm reaching out to my legislators and state attorney general. They assert a right to access your computer NOT just traffic flowing across the network. That's called invasion and trespassing in any other context. Also, they can lock you out of your router. Although probably well intentioned, they provide no protection at all to you the end user in explaining when or why or to what extent they have invaded. They simply promise to tell you they made changes after the fact!
Oh for heavens sake! Did you actually read the changes? The changes say they can access the router, not your computer.
The router is a box that Verizon provides to you, containing programming Verizon provides. And Verizon can update that software in the router and have been doing it for years. All the TOS change is about is that they can make sure that you haven't left the password of the router a simple default ("password" or "password1") that can easily be hacked, and change that password if you have. Verizon actually did this some time back, the only people affected were those who had left their password as the default. And what they changed the password to was the serial number of your particular router. And they sent out emails telling people they had done that.
This is for your protection to ensure someone can't hack into your router and redirect your traffic to nefareous sites!
__________________________________JustinVerizon FiOS TV, Internet, and phoneQIP7232, IMG 1.8, Build 02.54Keller, TX 76248
Did you?
"You agree to permit us to access your computer and Equipment and to monitor, adjust and record such data, profiles and settings for the purpose of providing the Service. You also consent to Verizon's monitoring of your Internet connection and network performance, and to our accessing and adjusting your computer and Equipment settings."
Protecting the network by disconnecting you at the router is one thing, going beyond the router is a whole different matter and a very slippery slope.
Hi Justin,
Verizon's intent may well be to avoid "default passwords" and I have no issue with that.
But the new ToS are much broader than just "changing a default password on the router". And that is why so many of us are upset.
Your understanding may well be Verizon's intent and, if so, I'm waiting for them to publish it in the ToS. The ToS as released so far are way broader than just changing a default password.
Ball's in Verizon's court now ...
