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Cisco Pushing 'Cloud Connect' Router Firmware, Allows Web History Tracking
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."
Not to mention I didn't even click-through an EULA on that router that could get them an idea they have some kind of "right".
It's MY router, I bought it. and it's not some quasi-goods digital product. This is a physical item. You want to back-door my router and install crippled firmware? I'll sign up with the class action if this is the case.
I don't want anyone *at all* to be able to update my router from the internet (or WiFi for that matter). In fact, almost every router has remote (i.e. internet) side administration disabled for obvious security reasons. Now they include the word 'cloud' and it's OK?
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.
Then I see things like this and can't help but smile at the "progress" :
Re: EA4500: weird login screen; can't login
Options
06-26-2012 05:10 PM
I found a hole... Dynamic DNS password is displayed in plain text
You can get rich if you own a politician, but you have to be rich to buy one in the first place.
Although this is pure speculation, but I have reasonable suspicion as a former employee of Cisco, that this really plays well with law enforcement and other three letter government agencies, having the ability to track all Internet activities. That's all I have to offer on this subject. Be careful.
This is typical of the short-term thinking that is all too common among corporations today. They're throwing away their credibility with professional users – you know, the ones who buy the expensive Cisco gear that generates most of their profits – so they can grab a few quick bucks by data-mining the consumer market. How many network administrators are going to hear about this and rule out Cisco for future consideration? Keep in mind that the silent and unprompted nature of the update implies that there already was a back door into the routers, even before this recent change. And I don't think that Cisco can cleanly separate its credibility in the home and enterprise markets, even if this is what they're planning to do.
Let me explain about trust...
Help stamp out iliturcy.
So who just plugs in a firewall/router and starts using it out of the box without changing the password and checking over all the settings?
Average users.
Under the Administration / Management tab, you'll find a radio button clearly marked "Remote Management", and beneath that settings for Remote Upgrade. The day I installed it I discovered remote management was enabled by default, so I immediately set it to disabled. I remember thinking "My god, that's f*ing stupid! Who would ever want to expose router management to the wild side?" Apparently this answers my question.
This should never have been enabled by default. It's terrible security practice: the default settings should be as secure as is reasonably possible, and any loosening of those settings should have to be explicitly approved by the user/administrator. This is especially true on a consumer focused product that many users aren't going to be configuring at all.