Cisco Pushing 'Cloud Connect' Router Firmware, Allows Web History Tracking 351
Myrv writes "Reports have started popping up that Cisco is pushing out and automatically (without permission) installing their new Cloud Connect firmware on consumer routers. The new firmware removes the user's ability to login and administer the router locally. You now must configure the router using Cisco's Cloud connect service. If that wasn't bad enough, the fine print for this new service allows Cisco to track your complete internet history. Currently, it appears the only way to disable the Cloud Connect service is to unplug your router from the internet."
Upgrade Instructions for Cisco Clients (Score:5, Funny)
1. Unplug router
2. Open garbage can lid
3. Insert router
4. Close garbage can lid
5. Purchase new router
That shit? Fuck it.
Last post! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Last post! (Score:4, Funny)
wait! don't leave just yet, remember to run out and get a non linksys router
oh damn he already left
Re:wow (Score:5, Funny)
It's MY router, I bought it. and it's not some quasi-goods digital product. This is a physical item.
The firmware remains the property of the company. It's software. Therefore, you don't own it. Of course, without firmware, it's useless, but I doubt you'll get many judges to sign on with the idea that you own the firmware too. Thank you copyright law.
I'll sign up with the class action if this is the case.
Your terms of service have been patched. That option was removed by v43 of SCOTUS. It was a mandatory update to legal.sys. You'll have to use the legacy mode 'civil_action' after setting has_lawyer to true and extra_money to lots. Be aware, the legacy mode is really buggy; It produces different results depending on the locale set during install. Enabling it also occasionally causes the processor and memory to jump to 100% utilization and the I/O is doggedly slow.
Hell, this isn't even cloud architecture anyway. It's just a web-based (pseudo-remote) remote administration tool. You'd think Cisco of all people would understand that.
Cisco engineers do. Cisco marketing does not. Cisco marketing sees the value of having a complete web browsing history of a substantial cross-section of the world, and has chosen to leverage that to increase profits post-SCOTUS patch, and since the CEO and the board signed a legally binding agreement to maximize profits, the engineers had no choice. You should welcome your capitalist overlords, and as a IT worker, you can help increase their efficiency as they enslave others in their salt mines.
Re:One more reason to buy Juniper (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Upgrade Instructions for STUPID OWNERS (Score:5, Funny)
I told my parents they should be ashamed. They first wanted to know what pwnd meant and if it involved urination. Then then wanted to know what Remote Management meant and how they get it. They looked for a radio button on the router, but couldn't find any stations they liked to listen to, and when they tried to dial the radio button, the antenna fell off.
They weren't worried about the interwebs though, as they were sure they had a floppy for it in their desk drawer...