If you have a Linksys E2700, E3500, or E4500, Cisco is watching you!

[photon]

If I had one I'd get rid of it:

http://www.extremetech.com/computing...eir-discretion

If the auto-update feature was left on (it ships with it on), then you now have to subscribe to Cisco Connect Cloud to use your router.

The second major problem with Cisco’s Cloud Connect is its “supplemental privacy policy.” This policy is an addition to Cisco’s Privacy Statement. As of June 27, the fifth paragraph read as follows:

When you use the Service, we may keep track of certain information related to your use of the Service, including but not limited to the status and health of your network and networked products; which apps relating to the Service you are using; which features you are using within the Service infrastructure; network traffic (e.g., megabytes per hour); internet history; how frequently you encounter errors on the Service system and other related information (“Other Information”).

This paragraph has been excised entirely from the current version of the Supplemental Privacy Policy, but that proves nothing — Cisco has the right to update its privacy policy at any time, without legal penalty. Both versions of the document contain a further statement that may raise a few eyebrows. The next-to-last sentence reads: “In some cases, in order to provide an optimal experience on your home network, some updates may still be automatically applied, regardless of the auto-update setting.”

In a plot twist that could’ve been predicted by an eight-year old, users were enraged at having their routers stealth-updated, angry at being forced to register for a cloud service that provides no benefit whatsoever, concerned about privacy implications of the original Privacy Supplement, and unhappy at being initially told that there would be no way to roll back to the earlier firmware. Cisco has since retracted this and has provided a public link to the old firmware and a detailed guide on updating the router.

The Terms and Conditions of using the Cisco Connect Cloud state that Cisco may unilaterally shut down your account if finds that you have used the service for “obscene, pornographic, or offensive purposes, to infringe another’s rights, including but not limited to any intellectual property rights, or… to violate, or encourage any conduct that would violate any applicable law or regulation or give rise to civil or criminal liability.”

It then continues “we reserve the right to take such action as we (i) deem necessary or (ii) are otherwise required to take by a third party or court of competent jurisdiction, in each case in relation to your access or use or misuse of such content or data. Such action may include, without limitation, discontinuing your use of the Service immediately without prior notice to you, and without refund or compensation to you.”

[Rathji]

ok, wtf.

This apply to the E3200 as well?

[FanIn80]

Wow. I think I might just build my own router. I'm tired of dealing with crapily-built residential products anyway. This is really just the final straw for me, and I don't even use a linksys device.

[photon]

Originally Posted by Rathji

ok, wtf.

This apply to the E3200 as well?

Not sure, just the 3 models in the title were listed in the article.

Bottom line, buy a Netgear WNDR4000 and flash it with an open source firmware

[FanIn80]

Hmm... I have a WNDR4500...

What's the best firmware nowadays? Tomato? DD-WRT? Is it possible to just virtualize this stuff? I was thinking about building a cheap Linux box and setting up a DNS/DHCP/... actually, now that I really think about it, I wonder if it's possible to virtualize JunOS in an ESXi layer. I know Barracuda offers this option for their OS...

[Flash Walken]

I am literally going to pick up a 3200 in 20 minutes.

I had planned on flashing it with DD-WRT.

I am assuming this would fix the problem. True or False?

[Rathji]

The 3200 doesn't appear to have this problem, but if it did, then it would fix it to put DD-WRT on it.

[Daradon]

Yikes. I got a E2000. Probably an older model as it doesn't come with the cloud functions so I'm probably safe, but don't like the companies policy obviously.

Originally Posted by photon

Bottom line, buy a Netgear WNDR4000 and flash it with an open source firmware

Uhmmm, wha? Flash... it?

[photon]

Originally Posted by Daradon

Uhmmm, wha? Flash... it?

There's open-source firmware out that you can use on commodity routers.

Flash is what they call it when you overwrite NVRAM or EEPROM or whatever kind of memory they use to hold the firmware.

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by photon

There's open-source firmware out that you can use on commodity routers.

Flash is what they call it when you overwrite NVRAM or EEPROM or whatever kind of memory they use to hold the firmware.

Well that didn't help at all. The only thing I understood in that sentence was firmware.

If I am to change out the router, which I was thinking of doing anyway, (it's been dropping out on me, and I have no idea way. It's not that old and has never been abused in any way) that would be your recommendation?

[photon]

Lol sorry, if firmware was the only thing you got then it's best to not worry about that kind of thing.

Some people like to do things like replace the firmware of their router with a firmware that didn't come from the manufacturer at all, firmware that other people wrote. These people are crazy and will spend inordinate amounts of time performing tasks that reach arbitrary goals that have no value in the real world but satisfy some nebulous desire that only other crazy people can understand

In your case I'd just get a good router and don't worry about. I have a Netgear (http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX27696) and am happy with it.

[Titan]

I love these techy threads. I get a little further than firmware but that is about it.

Some obvious noob, like me, asks a question and Fan and Photon and mostly Sclitheroe jump in with what seems like a kindergarten answer to them and it is just WHOOSH on this end. I tend to read through the threads only understanding about every ten words but can't seem to stop. Fan's post above is the perfect example of something I have no idea what he was talking about.

Anybody want to know some law talking words? I am good at those!!

[sclitheroe]

Originally Posted by Titan

I love these techy threads. I get a little further than firmware but that is about it.

Some obvious noob, like me, asks a question and Fan and Photon and mostly Sclitheroe jump in with what seems like a kindergarten answer to them and it is just WHOOSH on this end. I tend to read through the threads only understanding about every ten words but can't seem to stop. Fan's post above is the perfect example of something I have no idea what he was talking about.

Anybody want to know some law talking words? I am good at those!!

I try not to cause the whoosh I like to help/educate where I can.

I don't have anything to add to this thread since I've not used any of the current Linksys/Cisco offerings. My general advice is to buy the best quality "no-frills" router you can - something without filtering, sharing, apps, etc. Routers should route, and everything else just adds instability and weird situtations like this fiasco.

Speaking of which, is this getting any air time/geek outrage/media play other than the original article linked? It seems absolutely incredible/unbelievable that they'd remote update firmware without intervention.

[Swayze11]

I have the E4200, I hope I'm ok.

[Titan]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

I try not to cause the whoosh I like to help/educate where I can.

Don't get me wrong. The info you provide is awesome and you are incredibly helpful. You always seem to reply to even the dumbest of questions and your answers are always good. Thanks for that. Been meaning to tell you that for a while actually.

sappy thank you/

(the extent of my programming)

[Bobblehead]

Originally Posted by sclitheroe

I try not to cause the whoosh I like to help/educate where I can.

I don't have anything to add to this thread since I've not used any of the current Linksys/Cisco offerings. My general advice is to buy the best quality "no-frills" router you can - something without filtering, sharing, apps, etc. Routers should route, and everything else just adds instability and weird situtations like this fiasco.

Speaking of which, is this getting any air time/geek outrage/media play other than the original article linked? It seems absolutely incredible/unbelievable that they'd remote update firmware without intervention.

That article seems to be the lightening rod - I've seen other posts referring to it. No idea how much of a head of steam this is going to get.

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by photon

Not sure, just the 3 models in the title were listed in the article.

Bottom line, buy a Netgear WNDR4000 and flash it with an open source firmware

I have a Netgear WNDR3700v2 and love it. Great router.

[Daradon]

OOT, I noticed your new user title Photon. I laughed.

[FanIn80]

Originally Posted by Titan

Don't get me wrong. The info you provide is awesome and you are incredibly helpful. You always seem to reply to even the dumbest of questions and your answers are always good. Thanks for that. Been meaning to tell you that for a while actually.

sappy thank you/

(the extent of my programming)

I concur 100%. Believe me, I get almost just as much from reading his posts as you do. Some with photon and a couple others.

Extending your point a little further, this is why I love creating threads about topics I know very little about. If I stumble across an article that touches on a topic interests me, but is something I know very little about, I'll post it somewhere on this board, and then just sit back and let the people who do know about it discuss it. It's that whole "if you're stupid, surround yourself with smart people; if you're smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you" thing.

It's amazing how much I can gleam off an informed discussion by people who both know what they're discussing, and are clearly happy to be discussing it. It sounds kinda weird to me, but I learn much more from that than I do from asking specific questions and trying to understand their answers, or just reading from a book, etc. (Unless, of course, I have a specific issue I need help with.)

[Flash Walken]

Originally Posted by FanIn80

I concur 100%. Believe me, I get almost just as much from reading his posts as you do. Some with photon and a couple others.

Extending your point a little further, this is why I love creating threads about topics I know very little about. If I stumble across an article that touches on a topic interests me, but is something I know very little about, I'll post it somewhere on this board, and then just sit back and let the people who do know about it discuss it. It's that whole "if you're stupid, surround yourself with smart people; if you're smart, surround yourself with smart people who disagree with you" thing.

It's amazing how much I can gleam off an informed discussion by people who both know what they're discussing, and are clearly happy to be discussing it. It sounds kinda weird to me, but I learn much more from that than I do from asking specific questions and trying to understand their answers, or just reading from a book, etc. (Unless, of course, I have a specific issue I need help with.)

In the context of being helpful, it's 'glean'.