Taking automatic updates just a little too far.

[stormy13]

Linksys firmware upgrade for Wi-Fi routers angers some users - Computerworld

Some users of new Wi-Fi routers from Cisco's Linksys division complained this week that the company automatically updated the routers' firmware and pushed them toward a cloud-based administration service they didn't want.

Users posting on the Cisco Home Community forum and the U.K.-based site PC Gamer said they had turned on their Linksys EA3500 and EA4500 routers earlier this week and found they were running a new firmware version. The new firmware presented a login screen for the Cisco Connect Cloud instead of the LAN-based router management interface that had come up previously, they said.

Here's hoping that for those that are techno-newbs that the wireless security is actually enabled after this update.

 

[F5ing]

Wow!

If there are any firmware updates they need to be offering, it would be the long awaited firmware to finally "fix" the WPS issue many of their older routers have. At least to bring them up to par with most of the rest of the SOHO manufacturers.

Manual though, not automatic.

I do see in that article though that Cisco/Linksys says it only happened to user that "opted-in". If true, I wonder how easy it was for a user to unintentionally "opt-in".

 

[stormy13]

From reading some of the posts here,

EA4500 Disable Cisco Connect Cloud - Cisco Home Community

and elsewhere, it looks like it is opt-out and not opt-in as the automatic update setting is enabled by default.

 

[King Arthur]

Thanks for letting us know to steer clear of Cisco/Linksys routers for a while.

I personally hate silent automatic updates and the recent push towards absolute reliance on the cloud, and having both of them packaged into something as central as a router is just terrible. No thanks, Cisco.

 

[Lebon14]

Original firmware has been shared on page 7 of Stormy's link. Just in case.

 

[Layback Bear]

Their is another good reason I don't auto update anything.

 

[King Arthur]

Cisco locks users out of their routers, requires invasive cloud service - Neowin
Cisco’s cloud vision: Mandatory, monetized, and killed at their discretion | ExtremeTech

Further reading for those interested and/or affected.

Of particular note is that affected Linksys routers can be bricked at Cisco's discretion depending on what kind of traffic is passing through 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.”

Since the Service is the only way to access your router, killing one would effectively kill the other.

 

[HammerHead]

Cisco and Me

Cisco E4200 Firm 2.0.37.131047
When I called "Cisco Connect" up I was offered an update which I declined. The only cloud I am interested in is the one that brings us rain.
Did I do right? I have mine set to no auto update.

 

[solarmystic]

Manual Updating goes a long way in preventing these issues from manifesting themselves...

 

[Phone Man]

Cisco Backs down.

Cisco Blog » Blog Archive » UPDATE: Answering Our Customers’ Questions about Cisco Connect Cloud

Roll back the firmware.

http://www6.nohold.net/Cisco2/ukp.aspx?pid=80&login=1&app=search&vw=1&articleid=25856&donelr=1

Jim

 

[seekermeister]

As far as I know, this issue doesn't effect my E3000.

 

[chev65]

I read about this fiasco at the Cisco forums weeks ago and people were fuming mad about it. Apparently the auto update feature was enabled by default which caught people off guard.

If D-link did this to me I'd be tossing my router in the trash but luckily D-link has no intentions of doing something so deliberately sinister like this.

This move to the cloud is nothing more than the government spying on We The People and goes way beyond unconstitutional and it's only going to get worse. Between this cloud BS and the thousands of drones that are set to go spy on everyone and everything in this country, this is far worse than anything that George Orwell envisioned.

 

[Richardc269]

I'm glad I have an Airlink and not a Linksys.

 

[townsbg]

Wow that is scary.