Re: Computer virus???

[Nick Lawrence <nlaw@xxxxxxx>]

Way to go!

Frank Olson wrote:
> Nick Lawrence wrote:
>> Because Bay Alarm Company (one of the largest dealers anywhere) was
>> merely one of many dealers which has improperly employed the "local
>> programming lockout", it is a big problem in the CA marketplace. We
>> know (as does almost everyone here) of other large US regional dealers
>> doing the same evil, anti-competitive, anti-consumer acts.
>>
>> As to their "nefarious agenda", one can surmise the dealer's intent
>> when it refuses to remove the "local programming lockout" from the
>> customer-owned panel, at the customer's written request, upon
>> termination and full payment for the contract term.
>>
>> Unfortunately, "defaulting the board" (returning all programming
>> options to factory presets, thus losing zone identities, keypad alpha
>> words, user arm/disarm codes, bell timeouts, false alarm protections,
>> etc) means that the system will no longer properly work as a "local",
>> thus merely adding to the customer's misery, and robbing him of much
>> of what he paid for. Way to go!
>>
>> Alas, if only the outgoing dealer would merely remove the "local
>> programming lockout", the receiver, download and account numbers, test
>> timer etc, and return the installer code to default, leaving the
>> system fully operative as a non-reporting "local" system, the whole
>> issue could be avoided.

Of course, "defaulting the board" is exactly the bad behavior discussed
(see paragraph 3) above.

> Check.  Read the last line:
>
>>> If one of *my* customers wanted access to installer level
>>> programming, I wouldn't have a problem with *defaulting* the board
>>> and turning it over to him/her (as long as their account was
>>> current). They're also advised that the system will function as a
>>> "local" system (in other words it would no longer communicate with
>>> our CS).