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Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

kb.netgear.com

81–90 of 197 posts

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#81
post #32

My new clothes washer has an app. It requires access to location, and phone settings or the app closes by design. I don't think this stuff stops without legislation.

Things like this are why I buy "dumb" equipment, which will remain obedient to you and not the manufacturer. My white goods are all many decades old. Washer and dryer are both entirely computer-free (mechanical controls) and don't even contain a single semiconductor (unless you count the indicator bulbs I replaced with LEDs.) Many people often think the house/life of a software developer is filled with "smart" things…

Out of all the terrible trends in technology today, I’m convinced that “unnecessary cloud-tethering” is the absolute worst. I should not need to sign in and get permission from the device manufacturer to use or configure a device or software I supposedly bought. I should not need you as an intermediary when I’m using it. I should not need to give you analytics on how I’m using it. You should not even know I’m using it! I don’t want an ongoing relationship with your company. Our relationship ends when I swipe my credit card.

It getting harder and harder to avoid this trash too. I fear it will be normal one day.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#82
post #2

> You can login and access all features through the local browser UI 3 times without registering the switch through your netgear.com account. How generous, for a device that people buy (not rent) from them, and pay actual money for (not receive for free). And apparently Netgear didn't even feel the need to bother including any contrived excuse as to why this is being introduced. What a time to be alive.

What is the benefit/incentive for Netgear? Why are they pulling such a move?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surveillance_capitalism

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#84
post #56
post #38

I recently bought a couple of Netgear Managed Switches (for Business)⁰ and in their datasheet they list "Local-only management" as a feature. Only after they arrived we discovered that you only get limited functionality in the Local-only management mode, you have to register the switches to your Netgear Cloud account to get access to the full functionality. Reading up on it, this was achieved only after a community o…

I ran into a similar issue with a Linksys consumer router. Needless to say, that was back in the box and to the retailer in a new york minute. I ended up going with Ubiquiti equipment for now, since it was available locally. Much more expensive and complicated but Linksys convinced me it was worth any cost to get the hell away from them. But I will definitely be looking into the Turris Omnia, pfSense devices, and may…

Which is why I really really want Apple to come back to the Router Market.

I miss my Airport Extreme.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#85
post #2

> You can login and access all features through the local browser UI 3 times without registering the switch through your netgear.com account. How generous, for a device that people buy (not rent) from them, and pay actual money for (not receive for free). And apparently Netgear didn't even feel the need to bother including any contrived excuse as to why this is being introduced. What a time to be alive.

I wonder how long until this gets hacked, and someone releases a cracked firmware with this idiocy removed. Clearly, the functionality is already there if it can be accessed "3 times". This is the dark side of the "update culture" --- forcing you to take all the things you don't want along with the bug fixes. Aided by dire security warnings of not updating, it's a perfect way to achieve control over your userbase.

More likely there to be a security breach at Netgear & similar companies within next 2-5years. Of course the registered data would be exposed and downloaded.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#87
post #2

> You can login and access all features through the local browser UI 3 times without registering the switch through your netgear.com account. How generous, for a device that people buy (not rent) from them, and pay actual money for (not receive for free). And apparently Netgear didn't even feel the need to bother including any contrived excuse as to why this is being introduced. What a time to be alive.

The money is in managed services.

Unless you use some cloud offering they have, there is no need for “managed services”.

Buy router, plug it in, change password and rarely any setting required for average user.

Not worth the monthly fees and data collection on users (name, email, location, credit card,...)

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#88
post #86

Why no backlash for iOS and Android? We have to register to use the devices.

You dont have to register for ios and android. For sure not with you real data. Anonymous email suffices. And you do get services by both platforms for free included in your purchase. Push notifications, automatic updates, free messaging and not to speak about tons of free apps to use.

Re: Netgear Firmware Requires Online Registration

#90
post #33
post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it not? I disabled diagnostic and analytics reporting, though it does occasionally ask me to turn it back on. Is there additional telemetry that cannot be disabled?

When they pushed the firmware, iirc the telemetry was done without notice, opted in and enabled by default, and there was no way to actually opt out until _another firmware update after the uproar_

Ubiquiti has never cared about security, if they did they wouldn't have been scammed for $40,000,000 via a literal scam email.

If Ubiquiti staff has the non-existent procedures and corporate security for this to happen, they surely don't care about your privacy or security.

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