Hi-
 
I've been with Comcast for years (not because I like them, but because there's really no other choice where I am.) 10 days ago or so I got an email saying, "Our records show that a secondary user on your Comcast account recently changed the email password on his/her account." I changed the password on my primary and secondary accounts and then still got some spam, which I ignored. I hadn't been bothered by spam for probably 15 years or more before that.
 
I got a similar email from them today and called to follow up. After being put on hold and disconnected, calling back and put on hold again, I finally spoke to someone who told me basically what I'd gathered from their email, which was that one of my email accounts with them had been compromised. I changed my password for that secondary account and then the security rep directed me to go to idguard.com/security/cr235. Lo and behold when I went there, step three was to enroll in a $14.99 /month protection plan.
 
I'm not a conspiracy buff, but I smell a scam here. I told the rep that if she had said something like "We offer a protection plan and I can give you the web address if you'd like" instead of just telling me to go there as if it was the final step in securing my account, that would be different.
 
Aargh! At this point, I honestly wouldn't put it past Comcast to compromise an email account just so they could promote their protection plan.
 
-Susan
 
 

I recently saw the results of a customer service survey (not sure if it was only out here or nation-wide), but Comcast was ranked as having the worst customer service.  I've yet to find anyone who is surprised.  Of course, as you alluded to, without having any relevant competition, they don't see the need to make real improvements in that area.

Hi craig-
 
I think this is a new low for them (and it must be illegal) if they're actually compromising people's accounts in order to sell them a protection plan.
 
Thanks-
 
-Susan

I've always been suspicious that anti-virus/malware companies pay script kiddies to do as much damage as they can.
 
 

http://www.informationweek.com/government/cybersecurity/comcast-resets-200000-compromised-email-passwords-but-questions-remain/a/d-id/1323091
 
http://lifehacker.com/comcast-allegedly-hacked-change-your-passwords-now-1520273670
 
 
It is pretty common when an entity entrusted with securing your information finds that it has had a data breach to offer free credit or identity theft monitoring for a year or less at its expense to help minimize their liability. It is absurd to think that they will just refer you to a commercial identity theft service at your expense. It is their carelessness that caused the problem, it is their responsibility to do what they can to mitigate the damage.

If the govt can force you to buy insurance and fine you if you don't ... hey why shouldn't private companies be able to do some shady dealing too..... sounds like a good business model for solid growth..... maybe it's time to buy some comcast stock options.

Could be worse, you could have FiOS. In some areas they are deleting any email that contains a link, assuming it must be spam.

BobF
I've always been suspicious that anti-virus/malware companies pay script kiddies to do as much damage as they can.
 

Yes because script kiddies would not do anything otherwise unless they get paid to do so ;)

Susan G
Hi-
 
I've been with Comcast for years (not because I like them, but because there's really no other choice where I am.) 10 days ago or so I got an email saying, "Our records show that a secondary user on your Comcast account recently changed the email password on his/her account." I changed the password on my primary and secondary accounts and then still got some spam, which I ignored. I hadn't been bothered by spam for probably 15 years or more before that.
 
I got a similar email from them today and called to follow up. After being put on hold and disconnected, calling back and put on hold again, I finally spoke to someone who told me basically what I'd gathered from their email, which was that one of my email accounts with them had been compromised. I changed my password for that secondary account and then the security rep directed me to go to idguard.com/security/cr235. Lo and behold when I went there, step three was to enroll in a $14.99 /month protection plan.
 
I'm not a conspiracy buff, but I smell a scam here. I told the rep that if she had said something like "We offer a protection plan and I can give you the web address if you'd like" instead of just telling me to go there as if it was the final step in securing my account, that would be different.
 
Aargh! At this point, I honestly wouldn't put it past Comcast to compromise an email account just so they could promote their protection plan.
 
-Susan
 
 

Sure you were actually talking to comcast?

I hate Comcast. Customer service sucks and they price gouge on everything. I cut the cable and went with internet only. I told them I wanted internet only and to cancel cable and phone but they cancelled my whole account. That started an unfortunate chain of events that took days to resolve. I bought my own modem, router, Ooma box and media pc. Now I only pay Comcast for internet but I'm considering Century Link. The media PC solution is slick.
 
Rocky