Hi people!

I have a problem. We use dsl internet, which was taken offline the other day by att without notice. It came back on the next day, but required "reinstallion" and it strongly discouraged the use of linux. So I followed the procedures on the windows machine we have - this seemed the easiest and fastest way to get back on line. Sometimes you just have to work with the crooks.

The installation required - no exceptions - that att software be loaded to proceed with installation. So I allowed this.

So now the home page on that computer is always, "att.net" and a lot of other att crap. And I'm worried that there is now an att spambot on there doing god-knows-what and watching everything we do on the internet, collecting passwords and all sorts of things.

My question is: how do I get rid of all of the downloaded att software? Our lan worked just fine without it before. I'm really angry about this.

That software is only required to get the modem up and running, once it's up you can remove the software and put the modem back on your LAN like normal.

I ran the stupid ATT DSL modem into a router which fed quite a few Linux and Windows machines for several years. Every once in a while the modem would freak out and I would have to plug a Windows laptop directly into it, with the ATT software loaded, to reset the modem and get it working again. Once it was working again I would plug it back into the router and everything would be back up and running like normal.

I'm not sure where ALL of the software they install lives, but you should be able to get rid of the vast majority of it through Add/Remove programs on your Windows box. Just be aware that the next time the modem freaks out, you'll need to reload the software. It might be worth just using a junk laptop for the job (if you have one).

1 members found this post helpful.

Thanks for the help suicidaleggroll! I'm sorry I'm not the only one who got abused this way. I can always save the files to a thumb drive or something, with their file addresses.

But how do I find out where all the files are, and do you know if the only thing the software does is help setup the modem? Do I need to worry about an att software bot stealing passwords and stuff? I know that's a bit radical, but frankly I just don't trust companies that operate behind the copyright and patent one-way glass window. Also, it has been years since I did anything with the win os. Guess I'll have to brush up a bit, as much as I hate that.