BT Residential Broadband - beware, access with no password

nemo183

Despite working in the IT industry for the last 20 years, and having a residential Broadband connection for the last three years, I have only just realised that BT have disabled the "password" option on their login, so that in effect all you need to do to access BT Broadband is to dial your allocated number.

So, in practical terms, there is no need to enter any kind of password on the Internet Explorer dialogue box - whatever you enter (even if it's nothing) will give you a broadband connection.

I only discovered this tonight, when I found my 12 year old son surfing around some really vile !!!!!! sites. To access BT residential broadband, all he needs do is access the desktop icon, which gives the illlusion of offering password protection. However, at this point he can enter anything or nothing - either way, he gets a direct connection.

I phoned BT and was told that the password protection to Broadband for residential customers had been removed in November 2004, and an email sent to their "Primary Account" telling them. Well, I can't find a copy.

Anyway, in conclusion, firstly I'd like to make the point that anyone with a BT broadband residential account should be aware that the "Password" facility for access to broadband is useless.

Secondly, I'd be really interested in how many BT Broadband residential customers were aware that all access controls had been removed - I'd been relying on this so called "password" to prevent access to the internet, and it now turns out for the last few months I've been wasting my time.

So, If you did know about this change, please post a reply. Likewise, if you didn't please do the same.

From my own point of view, this is the final straw from BT. A quick look through this site will reveal several other service providers, who, for half the money, will provide twice the bandwidth. It seems to me it's a "No Brainer", and come Monday morning I'm off.

djohn2002uk

I've been with BT Broadband for 2 years and a week and I knew from the beginning that no password was needed. In fact I was told as much by BT before I was connected. I can't believe someone who's been in the IT industry for 20 years took 3 years to realise that no password was needed. As for BT telling you it was discontinued in November 2004, it wasn't even there in February 2003.

nemo183

No, you are right, I can't believe I was so naive!!!

I think this just proves the rule that you should never assume anything. On a more postive note, it at least has given me the push to change provider, where it seems I can get twice the bandwith for half the money.

I still find it amazing that BT can remove password protection access and claim it as "an additional customer benefit"

I'll be paying a lot more attention in future - but I imagine there must be a fair number of BT residential customers who don't know of this.

All the best,

Roger

BritBrat

No one else can use it, it authenticates with the phone line/number.

Wan't to force an IP change?

Change what is before the @ sign and it will change.

[email]anything@hg*.btinternet.com[/email]

As for BTyahoo I have just migrated to Zen internet from them due to capping comming in.