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Comcast Using JavaScript Injection To Serve Ads On Public Wi-Fi Hotspots

Posted by Soulskill on from the perfectly-in-character dept.

An anonymous reader writes: For some time now, Comcast has setting up public Wi-Fi hotspots, some of which are run on the routers of paying subscribers. The public hotspots are free, but not without cost: Comcast uses JavaScript to inject self-promotional ads into the pages served to users. "Security implications of the use of JavaScript can be debated endlessly, but it is capable of performing all manner of malicious actions, including controlling authentication cookies and redirecting where user data is submitted. ... Even if Comcast doesn't have any malicious intent, and even if hackers don't access the JavaScript, the interaction of the JavaScript with websites could "create" security vulnerabilities in websites, [EFF technologist Seth Schoen] said. "Their code, or the interaction of code with other things, could potentially create new security vulnerabilities in sites that didn't have them," Schoen said."

4 of 230 comments (clear)

  1. so don't use them! by lophophore · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't use random hot spots. It's like safe sex, only for your computer. Stay away from sketchy connections.

    --
    there are 3 kinds of people:
    * those who can count
    * those who can't
    1. Re:so don't use them! by dissy · · Score: 4, Funny

      Don't use random hot spots. It's like safe sex, only for your computer.

      [me] Aight baby, play with that packet. You know how I like it
      [ap] tee hee *beep*
      [me] oh yea, deeper inspection, deeper inspection! oh yea!
      [ap] *56k carrier sound*
      [me] That's what I like to hear! Now, I put on my robe and wizards hat
      [ap] ... *stp-broadcast* ...
      [me] baby-aye-pee you still there? Where'd ya go??

  2. Re:Copyright violation? by jamesjw · · Score: 4, Funny

    STFU

    Why is ComCast's marketing dept posting as 'AC'? :)

    --
    -- If at first you don't succeed, lie!
  3. Re:Copyright violation? by Jason+Levine · · Score: 4, Funny

    Well, then obviously, you charge those ad distributors for a silver ad plan that gets by the filters.

    Then charge customers for a silver ad blocking plan that blocks them.

    But a gold ad plan will get by that.

    But a gold ad blocking plan will block that.

    But a platinum ad plan will get by even that....

    Queue Comcast's CEO singing "We're In The Money!"

    --
    My sci-fi novel, Ghost Thief, is now available from Amazon.com.