Spyware using Vodafone Wireless Cards?

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noddy

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Wannabe Geek

#5671 16-Nov-2005 10:25

Using my Voda Connect data card IE starts giving be a Javascript error. I fond the following lines of Javascript at the foot of *every* page I visit.

bmi_SafeAddOnload(bmi_load,"bmi_orig_img");

I think I have a virus. However, I disconnect from Voda and use my ethernet connection instead. Javascript mysteriously disappears and no more errors on IE. Exactly the same behaviour on Firefox - even with a "Hello world" page I can set up.

I think I may have found the answer here:
http://www.cre8asiteforums.com/viewtopic.php?p=129950

So, Voda's compression system algorithm breaks IE mucks up my images (at least I can stop tweaking my video settings now) looks like spyware and, of course, slows my web browser down to a crawl - nice one.

wtf

38 posts

Geek

#23781 24-Nov-2005 13:05

The optimiser software should not (AFAIK) be sending you any javascript. I'll bring it to the attention of people in a position to investigate.

There is now an APN where you can avoid the optimiser if you wish. (thanks to a request from another user on this forum) The APN is direct.vodafone.net.nz. The downside of course is that it will take longer to load pages generally, and of course will cost more since the content is not compressed. On the other hand, you won't have to load the graphics twice to get full quality. (you can get the uncompressed graphics by using shift-reload or the equivalent for your browser)

Jama

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#23783 24-Nov-2005 13:19

The Optimiser is a farce and one of the biggest lies in Voda marketing history (which is saying something).

From the testing I have done the biggest saving I have made was 7% across loading multiple web sites. Very far from the 'claimed' 50%. Don't be sucked in with the 'it will cost you more' claim from not using Optimiser. If data was $30 p/meg then sure Optimiser would save you money but at about $1 p/meg you save micro cents. The 'saving' is not worth it in my opinion when you get broken graphics, low res images and out-of-date web pages.

Take the advice of WTF, use the other APN and avoid Optimiser like the plague!

johnr

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#23785 24-Nov-2005 13:21

When roaming on some carriers it is $30 per meg

Jama

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#23786 24-Nov-2005 13:23

Very true Johnr - is that what Voda are still charging?

freitasm

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#23787 24-Nov-2005 13:36

johnr: When roaming on some carriers it is $30 per meg

But do you still use the Optmiser when roaming in another network?

Yes, I found it was $10 only on Vodafone netwoks and $30 in others (such as Cingular). My Vodafone bill came as $600 when I spent three weeks in the US. And this was most for MSN Messenger and the odd ActiveSync for the first 10 days. For my tablet PC I used the hotel's broadband, which was much cheaper on a per day basis. And for the rest of the stay I used my friend's wireless at home...

When is Vodafone bringing the single charge for the 24 hour period roaming?

Mind you I used the Harrier on CDMA for voice calls because the voice roaming (TNZ on Sprint) is cheaper.

johnr

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#23789 24-Nov-2005 13:56

Yes you sure do

sbiddle

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#23797 24-Nov-2005 16:43

wtf:
There is now an APN where you can avoid the optimiser if you wish. (thanks to a request from another user on this forum) The APN is direct.vodafone.net.nz.

Is this the new APN which is also not firewalled and doesn't block any ports?

Quic Broadband

Move to New Zealand's best fibre broadband service (affiliate link). Note that to use Quic Broadband you must be comfortable with configuring your own router.

wtf

38 posts

Geek

#23804 24-Nov-2005 21:40

Firewalls...AFAIK no ports are actually blocked, for either the compressed or uncompressed APN's although there are ports some that you are not supposed to use under the TOC, so I suppose they would be within their rights to block them. What is done for both www and direct is that only mobile originated traffic is permitted, which prevents you being charged for unsolicited traffic from the wild web. This is one thing that is a bit different about a mobile connection...it is one thing to be DOSed or port scanned on a fixed connection, but to be DOSed AND have to pay volume charges for it would suck even worse. So it is pretty general that mobile operators apply some firewalling to block unsolicited traffic, and I think they would get sued if they did not.

I think the compression does a better job than implied a few messages above, but is aimed at the "ordinary" web user. If you have geeky needs then it may not suit. Or if you are using applications that can't be compresssed for instance. So not having an easy way to avoid it may not have been very smart. Just like an ordinary ADSL connection probably suits most home users, but may not make you happy if you want to serve content.