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SurfControl Discontinuation - Q&A

 

Web Content Filtering by category has been provided on the DrayTek routers by the Surfcontrol service. When a user purchases a DrayTek router, they can purchase an annual subscription to enable the feature. The new owners of SurfControl (both companies are independent to DrayTek) has announced that they will be discontinuing the SurfControl service, so the facility will no longer function on your DrayTek routers. DrayTek will introduce a new replacement service instead of SurfControl.

  1. I have already paid for a Surfcontrol subscription; will it stop working?

    No; all existing Surfcontrol subscriptions will continue to be honoured and operate for the full term of the subscription (to expiry).

  1. I have only just bought my router; can I still subscribe?

    Until September 2008 (est.), yes, you will still be able to take out a new subscription to Surfcontrol from your router and the service will operate for the full term of your subscription, however, see below as there may be no need.

  1. What happens at the end of my subscription?

    It will not be possible to renew your subscription to SurfControl. By then, DrayTek should have the new replacement service available which you will then be able to subscribe to instead.

  1. If I have a SurfControl subscription, will it be automatically converted into a subscription to the new service?

    No; the services are operated by different companies but you can continue to use SurfControl for the full life of that subscription and then subscribe to the new service.

  1. I have only just bought my Vigor router and would prefer to wait for the new service rather than subscribe to Surfcontrol

    If you upgrade your router to the latest firmware (assuming it doesn't already have it) you will be able to use the SurfControl feature temporarily without having to subscribe (i.e. free of charge). It is hoped that this will continue to operate until the new service is available, at which point you will be able to subscribe to the new service.

  1. Once the new service is available, will I have to change anything on my router in order to subscribe?

    Yes; you will need to upgrade your router with new firmware (a software patch) which you will be able to download from the DrayTek web site in due course. You will then purchase your subscription from your usual DrayTek dealer; that comes as a licence pack containing a unique key which you will enter into the router's web interface.

  1. I have an older/discontinued model; will there be a firmware upgrade for that?

    It depends on how old your product is and/or how long ago it was discontinued however. More information will be provided in due course.

  1. Why is SurfControl being discontinued?

    The new owners of SurfControl (Websense) were previously a competitor of SurfControl. WebSense have their own hardware URL filtering appliances and software solutions which directly compete against the OEM products which SurfControl previously partnered with so WebSense have discontinued the SurfControl product which DrayTek's feature made use of.

LATEST NEWS: DrayTek's replacement Web Content Filtering service, GlobalView, will be available from Q2 2010 (est). GlobalView's categories are more granular (64 vs. 40) and the real-time database now also blocks normally legitmate sites which are found to have been compromised. A firmware upgrade for Vigor 2710, 2110, 2930, 2820, 2950 and 5510 series should be available at the same routers time and the new subscription packs should also be available from your normal DrayTek supplier. Other/Older DrayTek models will not support Globalview so when Surfcontrol do 'switch off' their server, categoric web site filtering will no longer be available.

©2009 SEG / DrayTek UK. The information contained in this page is presented in good faith but subject to change at any time. Please check on the latest status and availability.