Comcast is once again jumping into its customers’ browser space to display messages, this time pushing for a modem upgrade, a report from The Consumerist indicates.
According to the report, a Comcast subscriber “BB” said he experienced an interruption in his web browsing experience when Comcast targeted him with a pop-up ad encouraging him to upgrade his modem. BB said the incident followed months of letters and phone calls pushing him to do the same.
The customer said he has refused to upgrade because his service is already sufficient and he doesn’t see the point in spending the money to buy or rent a new modem. He characterized the pop-up ad as “invasive.”
The tactic was reportedly used in an area where Comcast recently upgraded its network. A Comcast executive told The Consumerist that the pop-up alert was an “educational tool” for consumers who may have outdated equipment.
But this isn’t the first time Comcast has injected itself into its users’ browser space.
In 2013, Comcast was one of five Internet service providers to adopt the Copyright Alert System, which notified users when they were violating copyright law. Comcast’s notices appeared as a series of five or six pop-up ads warning users of their infractions.
According to Gizmodo, Comcast users can avoid the notifications – and make their browsing more secure – by using HTTPS with an extension in their browser.