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Norton Announces Core, a Smart Router To Protect Domestic IoT Devices (cnet.com)

fiannaFailMan writes: Norton has announced the launch of a smart router designed to protect connected home devices from intrusions. The Symantec-owned company says the device aims to keep safe up to 20 devices connected to it, including Windows computers, Macs, phones, tablets or any internet-of-things devices, in real time. Norton Core, shaped a little like a geodesic dome, can isolate an infected device from the rest of your network to prevent the spread of any malware. Some of the technical specifications include a dual-core 1.7GHz processor, 1MB of system memory and 4GB of flash memory, and the latest 4x4 AC2600 Wi-Fi standard, with a top speed on the 5GHz band of 1.73 megabits per second and up to 800Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. It also features four Gigabit LAN ports and can cover between 3,000 and 5,000 square feet.

119 comments

  1. And probably running the same version of linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Can't believe how many people think leaving an internet-connected device running an unpatched OS to run unmanaged is a good idea.

    1. Re:And probably running the same version of linux by justthinkit · · Score: 1

      Promise you'll block my Windows 10 PC from calling home and I might be interested.

      --
      I come here for the love
    2. Re:And probably running the same version of linux by unixisc · · Score: 1

      Probably an OS that uses Veritas as the filesystem?

    3. Re:And probably running the same version of linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Problems is that PATCHING the OS is the current trend to implant spying software. It is being abused, and nobody is immune. This is the trend I notice since 2007. Unless if an international regulation by UN is put in place, this malware implants on our systems won't stop. I think my current system, where I am typing this post is infected by Chinese and Western spying malware. Very slow keyboard and screen blinks from time to time, no not in OS, it is in BIOS, it is in DVD drive firmware or HD firmware, GPU firmware or heck even LAN card firmware. I am sure it is there, because I tried to reinstall my OS and there's a registry entry I cannot delete even after 4 re-installalation. Advanced Linux user here.

    4. Re:And probably running the same version of linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Advanced Linux user should know that Linux doesn't have a registry...

      http://unix.stackexchange.com/questions/3004/what-is-the-linux-equivalent-of-the-windows-registry#answer-3006

    5. Re:And probably running the same version of linux by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It does (sort of) if you're using systemd.

      Of course advanced Linux users avoid systemd like the plague.

  2. Frosty Piss by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Why is there not an automatic frosty piss post?

    1. Re:Frosty Piss by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      There's no point automating what numerous morons do for free.

  3. 5 GHz seems slow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    It's probably a typo but 1.73 megabits per second on 5 GHz band seems dismally low...

    1. Re: 5 GHz seems slow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Seems on par for a system with 1MB of RAM...

    2. Re:5 GHz seems slow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's probably a typo but 1.73 megabits per second on 5 GHz band seems dismally low...

      Its running norton anti virus, that is really fast.

    3. Re:5 GHz seems slow by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      it was, should be MB, not Mb....

  4. Norton? Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    So I guess it's acceptable for this to let practically everything by while slowing down the network to a crawl?

    1. Re:Norton? Really? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Next: Kaspersky suing Norton for violating their business patents on protecting systems from malware by consuming all available resources. (Don't sue me, this is joke, not a business proposition.)

    2. Re:Norton? Really? by watice · · Score: 1

      what, you can't survive a streaming session on 1.73 megabits per second to ensure the safety of your household?

  5. Norton? Uh-oh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    1) Install Norton security router.
    2) Discover that your electricity bill is now $3000 per month and every device that's connected to it runs verrrrryyy slowwwwly.
    3) Attempt to remove it from your home, and find that no matter how many times you do so, bits of it are still left under your couch, inside the walls, glued to the ceiling...
    4) Realize that removing it from your home properly requires complete demolition and ground-up rebuilding.

    No thanks.

    1. Re:Norton? Uh-oh. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You didn't purchase the uninstall license for $9.99 a month.

    2. Re:Norton? Uh-oh. by NoNonAlphaCharsHere · · Score: 2

      TFA was misquoted. Actual article title was "Norton announces Core, a smart router to consume every remaining byte and CPU cycle on your IoT device".

    3. Re:Norton? Uh-oh. by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

      3) Attempt to remove it from your home, and find that no matter how many times you do so, bits of it are still left under your couch, inside the walls, glued to the ceiling...

      You'd have that problem even if you applied Norton-standard pre-emptive fault finding to the device before unpacking it. (1kg of C4 explosive followed by a wash with red fuming nitric acid.)

      --
      Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
  6. 1GB? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    An old wrt54g had 16MB

    1. Re:1GB? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      My current router has 4GB of memory, and the flash is 64GB. I realize that's overkill for a home router, but it's not 3 orders of magnitude overkill! 1MB of memory? Seriously?

  7. Security Theater by bragr · · Score: 4, Insightful

    So the attackers will just have to buy one of these to make sure their malware passes, just like they do already with desktop AV? I guess that's good for Norton's bottom line.

    1. Re:Security Theater by XparXnoiaX · · Score: 2

      It's a good idea, you should have a router protecting devices from the raw internet, but can you really trust Norton to do anything right? Ironically, anti-virus companies don't have a culture of security.

      --
      Irresponsible disclosure is responsible
    2. Re: Security Theater by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And it gives you a three-digit score to tell you how great your security theater is. Three-digit score, where have I seen that before. Oh right. It's like a credit score for security theater.

  8. Bitdefender BOX by DigiShaman · · Score: 1

    So effectively, NGF (Next Generation Firewall) "lite" technology is coming to the home. Norton is not the first to this market. I'm pretty sure that might be BitDefender BOX, but I could be mistaken.

    --
    Life is not for the lazy.
  9. An entire megabyte? by bhoar · · Score: 2

    That's so...1989.

  10. Does It Have The Bitmap? by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 2

    Does it have the Peter Norton bitmap on the case or packaging? That's an essential part of any 'Norton' product.

    1. Re: Does It Have The Bitmap? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It's a shame Peter Norton sold out, because I've read his detailed technical books on data recovery, and he really did know his stuff back in the day.

    2. Re: Does It Have The Bitmap? by Cmdln+Daco · · Score: 1

      His books on DOS programming were substantial and well done as well.

      It was doubtless a pretty rewarding sellout, and what they've done with his bitmap since was probably worth it for what they paid.

  11. CVE-2017-666 by WaffleMonster · · Score: 4, Insightful

    How many days till we see an advisory for Norton core enabling attackers a method of leveraging Norton core to compromise systems it is supposed to be protecting?

    http://fortune.com/2016/06/29/...

    Also apparently if you don't renew your subscription your Norton paper egg turns into a Norton paper weight as they disable all access controls on spite not just the scanning/heuristic subscriptions but basic ACL shit too.

    1. Re:CVE-2017-666 by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      How many days till we see an advisory for Norton core enabling attackers a method of leveraging Norton core to compromise systems it is supposed to be protecting?

      I'll take a guess here, and say, it's going to be slightly longer than the time it takes the hackers to finish pissing themselves laughing.

  12. Assinine Design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    From their FAQ:

    What do I need to set up Norton Core?

    For initial setup, you will need an iOS or Android mobile device that has Bluetooth (BLE) enabled and a data connection. Download the Norton Core app from the Apple Store or Google Play, open the app, and follow the instructions to complete the set up6. The Core app supports both iOS 8.0 or later and Android 4.4 or later.

    1. Re:Assinine Design by phantomfive · · Score: 4, Interesting

      I stayed at a hotel recently that required scanning a QR code to get on the internet. So, my laptop had no internet that night. I didn't stay at the hotel a second night.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    2. Re:Assinine Design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      > So, my laptop had no internet that night.

      You... didn't think to call the front desk and have them read you the credentials? _Seriously_?

      a) -Incredibly-, not many phones have bar/QR-code scanner installed on them.
      b) Many people don't have smartphones.
      c) Where the hell is your geek card? Your failure to call the front desk makes me think that you've never had one.

    3. Re:Assinine Design by phantomfive · · Score: 2

      You... didn't think to call the front desk and have them read you the credentials? _Seriously_?

      They told me I needed to use the QR code.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    4. Re:Assinine Design by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      c) Where the hell is your geek card? Your failure to call the front desk makes me think that you've never had one.

      Call someone? Talk to people? Where the hell is your geek card?

      I'm sitting in a restaurant right now piggybacking on the neighboring hotel wifi by using an icmp tunnel.
      I called no one, because I'm a geek.

      Which hotel am I using anyway? Oh sweet. It's a Hilton.

      Nothing in this world can stop us tonight
      I can do what she can do so much better
      Nothing in this world can turn out the light
      I'm gonna make you feel alright tonight.

      http://www.metrolyrics.com/nothing-in-this-world-lyrics-paris-hilton.html

    5. Re:Assinine Design by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      What did the QR code do? I've never seen a wifi system where the QR code did anything other than pass a URL to a device or pass a stock standard config string like: "WIFI:T:WPA;S:mynetwork;P:mypass;;" to your phone from which you could effortlessly read both the network to connect to and the passcode, not to mention that most popular QR code apps give you a confirmation showing you the data before you click continue.

    6. Re:Assinine Design by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      I suspect that's what it did, but I was in a foreign country and didn't have my phone.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    7. Re:Assinine Design by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      Okay well that sucks. But really you're right to bitch about the front staff in any case. I've had my fair share of hotels with QR code for wifi access but so far only one didn't have a wifi password also written somewhere, and that hotel's front desk staff did manage to get me online.

      What I hate more though is those stupid websites where you need to register. Extra negative points if it's run by a third party and it boots you off every 20min.

    8. Re:Assinine Design by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      I've been considering setting up a proxy over DNS, since that seems to be allowed through without registering.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    9. Re:Assinine Design by thegarbz · · Score: 1

      heh yeah. Reminds me of http://hackaday.com/2016/08/07...

  13. Money Grab! by EndlessNameless · · Score: 5, Informative

    FAQ this:

    What happens if I don’t renew my subscription?

    "If you don’t renew the Norton Core Security Plus subscription in the second year, Norton Core will continue to function as a high performance router. All network, IoT, and device level security, plus parental control features will be unavailable if the subscription is not renewed."

    Yeah, thanks, but I prefer my equipment to function for more than a year.

    --

    ---
    According to the latest ruleset, this post should be modded as Vorpal Flamebait +5.
    1. Re:Money Grab! by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 1

      Sounds to me like it does still function after a year, it just doesn't have the extra security.

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
    2. Re:Money Grab! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is pretty common for UTM firewalls. Threat signatures aren't static, so a subscription is normal to keep up.

      But, most of them are complicated to setup and maintain for most people. Maybe Norton can figure this part out. Maybe not.

    3. Re:Money Grab! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Sounds to me like it does still function after a year, it just doesn't have any security anymore.

      Fixed that for you.

    4. Re:Money Grab! by thegarbz · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Sounds to me like it does still function after a year, it just doesn't have the extra security.

      So it continues to function except for the one feature for which you would buy this very expensive device. Why do I get the feeling I would be better off spending $40 on a TP-LINK router.

    5. Re:Money Grab! by higuita · · Score: 1

      Probably then install openwrt on it, setup some iptables and dns filtering like pi-hole and configure some cron scripts and you replace 90% of the features.

      or buy directly one new router and install openwrt directly :)

      --
      Higuita
    6. Re:Money Grab! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      A normal router costs half as much. Or less.

      So either you're paying a lot specifically for those security features, or you're throwing money away.

      But it's nice to know those extra features are available free for the first year.

  14. A dynamic firewall in a box? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Like the original Tron, program?

    It's called Tron. It's a security program itself, actually. It monitors all contacts between our system and other systems. Finds anything going on that's not scheduled, it shuts it down.

  15. Not that I'm paranoid, but . . . by mmell · · Score: 1
    I wonder what else this router will do? Phone home? Monitor and report (Symantec's definition of) suspicious network traffic? Throttle/block hardware/software that Symantec or their Redmond-based business partner hasn't blessed?

    Yeah, I'm just being paranoid. Just 'cuz I'm paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get me.

  16. 20 devices? by YuppieScum · · Score: 1

    Twenty devices?

    I've got 15 internet-capable devices in my house already - laptops, tablets, phones and media devices - so (were I clinically insane) I could max out this thing just by putting "smart" light-bulbs in my living room.

    Are we supposed to have one of these per room?

    --
    This sig left unintentionally blank.
    1. Re:20 devices? by Kiralan · · Score: 1

      From the FAQ, the 20 device limit is for other than the IOT devices, which are 'unlimited'. Stills seems low, but at least a more realistic limit.

      --
      V for Vendetta: People should not be afraid of their governments. Governments should be afraid of their people.
  17. 20 devices isn't enough by adisakp · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I had to ditch my Netgear Nighthawk Router because it only supported 64 WiFi devices. I have close to 100 WiFi devices (mostly IoT) in my house at this time. I switched to Google WiFi Mesh Router because it can actually handle all the devices I have.

    But here's a short list of most of what is connected to my WiFi Network and I plan on adding more in the future:

    Haiku Homes Lights (40), Switches (10), and Fans (7)
    Mitsubishi Ductless Heating System (4 Headers)
    Ecobee (controls a Boiler)
    Nest Thermostat (controls a forced air HVAC system)
    Nest Cameras (4 Outdoor, 3 Indoor)
    Nest Smoke and CO Alarms (4)
    TP-Link Switches (2 lights, 5 others)
    GE Dishwasher
    Samsung Washer + Dryer
    Sense Electrical Monitor
    Amazon Echos (2 regular, 2 dots)
    Yamaha Receivers (2)
    Samsung TVs (4)
    Google Chromcast (4)
    Apple TV (2)
    Amazon Fire (2)
    Harmony Ultimates (2 Remotes, 2 Hubs)

    My guess is people who are actively pursuing Smart Home Technologies will need much higher than 20 device capacity.

    1. Re:20 devices isn't enough by adisakp · · Score: 1

      Oh... and I forgot

      August Locks (2 Connect Modules)
      Samsung SmartThings Hub

    2. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Pascoea · · Score: 5, Funny

      You're gonna be fucked when your house becomes sentient.

    3. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      You forgot the wife's Sybian.

    4. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You're gonna be fucked when your house becomes sentient.

      Or when a Ham Radio operator moves in nearby.

    5. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      you have a lot of "shit"

    6. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      You're gonna be fucked when your house becomes sentient.

      I didn't see any connected sex toys there. That is a serious omission in this connected age.

    7. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You sure seem like a sucker.

    8. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Your home sounds awful. Personally I prefer to live in my home, not be it's sysadmin / full-time carer.

    9. Re:20 devices isn't enough by magarity · · Score: 1

      For a wild time, pack all that up and move to one of those towns where all the people live who claim to be allergic to WiFi.

    10. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      LOL. What's the IP?

    11. Re:20 devices isn't enough by phantomfive · · Score: 2

      Serious question......what benefit do you get from a dishwasher being attached to the internet?

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    12. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Serious question......what benefit do you get from a dishwasher being attached to the internet?

      Access to the Dish network?

    13. Re:20 devices isn't enough by pr0fessor · · Score: 1

      3 PC, 2 Laptops,2 tablets, 4 smart TVs, 4 Cell phones, xbox one, and PS4. Granted the PS4 and xbox one aren't used at the same time the smart tv features are but a regular family w/ 3 kids can hit that 20 mark fairly quick even without trying to automate the home.

    14. Re:20 devices isn't enough by SpelledBackwards · · Score: 1

      Sometimes you have to wade through tons of mediocre Slashdot comments to find diamonds in the rough like this.

    15. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      What's the electric bill like for all that?

    16. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      You? None
      The company? Lots

      They get cycle numbers, favorite wash settings, temperatures, favorite times, and component hours & failure rates.

      With this info they 'could' remind you when it's about time for more soap, improve factory parts, get rid of some buttons, (ie: if no one uses rinse-only), add buttons, (if people use heavy-wash twice for example they could add a super-heavy button), and other things that the company claims will help you in turn.

      But really, you get nothing directly. They do.

      _

    17. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I have close to 100 WiFi devices (mostly IoT) in my house at this time.

      Dude, run some wires. Seriously. How many of those WiFi devices never get moved once you've installed them? Do ethernet over powerline if you're too lazy or incompetent to run Cat5.

      You do realize that there's really no such thing as a WiFi firewall, right? Anyone who really wants to just intercepts the signal between the device and the access point (although it might slow down someone trying to do it from the other side of the planet).

    18. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The irony is that, although AFAIK Dish isn't doing anything with dishwashers yet, they do have a contract with Samsung to have their techs fix the washing machines that Samsung did a recall on. (They have a nationwide system of techs within a relatively short drive of almost anyone in the US, because satellite receivers aren't tied to urban areas like cable is.)

    19. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Let's give adisakp the benefit of the doubt. Hopefully he's the device.

    20. Re:20 devices isn't enough by TJ_Phazerhacki · · Score: 1

      - That's a lot of ... totally useful devices. Yeah, sure. Totally... You're the WiFi version of the guy I used to know with like 15k worth of X10 gear wired all over his house. Of course, he spent enough time fiddling with his crap that his wife regularly cheated on him, but to each his own... Electrical monitor? Dishwasher?!?!
      - But seriously, you bring up a quasi valid point. There is a pretty severe deficiency between people who are going nuts over smart-home crap and the stock 'prosumer' grade all-in-one networking gear you can get. I'm not sure if there is a device limit using custom firmware on the Nighthawk, as I don't have more than 30 connections at a time to mine, but I've heard your complaint from other people using the factory stuff, and it's not going to be acceptable for long to say you have to use something custom.
      - I don't think that sticking WiFi on every lightbulb is going to be a reliable option for very long, regardless. It's a really kludgey fix for now, but there are half a dozen other options that make sense for 'smart' devices that don't actually need a god-damned IP address and that are going to generate less noise and eat less power. Honestly, if I was younger, I would be amused fucking with people's 'smart' lightbulbs and appliances just to irritate people like you - but you either use something open, fat, and lazy like WiFi/IP, or you have a proprietary PLC-SCADA, and I'm honestly not sure which is the better solution.

      --
      Physics is nothing like religion. If it was, we'd have an easier time trying to raise money!
    21. Re:20 devices isn't enough by adisakp · · Score: 1

      Serious question......what benefit do you get from a dishwasher being attached to the internet?

      You can monitor how much time is left in the cycle, it will notify you if the rinse agent is low and needs refilling, and if you use dish detergent pods, you can have it automatically keep track of how many pods you've used and reorder pods on Amazon for you (similar to Amazon Dash Button) automatically when you are running low.

      For more details click here.

    22. Re:20 devices isn't enough by adisakp · · Score: 1

      You can also connect the Dishwasher to IFTTT to Trigger actions on a number of events.

    23. Re:20 devices isn't enough by phantomfive · · Score: 1

      cool.

      --
      "First they came for the slanderers and i said nothing."
    24. Re:20 devices isn't enough by Agripa · · Score: 1

      You're gonna be fucked when your house becomes sentient.

      That was his house posting using his account.

    25. Re:20 devices isn't enough by antdude · · Score: 1

      You need wifi for washers? Why?

      --
      Ant(Dude) @ Quality Foraged Links (AQFL.net) & The Ant Farm (antfarm.ma.cx / antfarm.home.dhs.org).
  18. with a top speed on the 5GHz band of 1.73 megabits by El_Muerte_TDS · · Score: 1

    How is is a shitty 5GHz wifi a selling point?

  19. yea, so.. by lord3nd3r · · Score: 2

    I trust their hardware like I trust their antivirus...

    --
    g0t b33r?
  20. Titanium and gold are two different metals - sigh. by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 4, Funny
    From TFA caption under photo of two units in different colors:

    The Norton Core comes in titanium gold and granite gray.

    I hate marketing people.

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  21. So it is just a Router and Firewall by Mr.+Flibble · · Score: 2

    This is just a home router and firewall. It isn't like a whole class of systems already do this.

    Maybe it adds deep packet inspection, or gives you reports on the exact attacks that have been blocked - but so what? What exactly does the average home user need to know about blocking the hundreds of attacks your average home based IP per day?

    --
    Try to hack my 31337 firewall!
    1. Re:So it is just a Router and Firewall by unixisc · · Score: 1

      One thing I wonder - does it support IPv6? Or is NAT their idea of enforcing security?

    2. Re:So it is just a Router and Firewall by AmiMoJo · · Score: 1

      It seems to be doing DPI on packets it thinks are IoT related, and matching them against a database of known exploits. Much like now Norton AV works, i.e. slow and ineffective.

      --
      const int one = 65536; (Silvermoon, Texture.cs)
      SJW, n: "Someone I don't like, and by the way I'm a fuckwit" - AC
  22. Does it have a microphone listening in on by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    your conversations? That's the first thing I thought of when I saw the "geodesic dome shape" description. Sorry, no Amazon Echo for me and no Norton microphone router either. Kthxbye

    1. Re:Does it have a microphone listening in on by fiannaFailMan · · Score: 1

      your conversations? That's the first thing I thought of when I saw the "geodesic dome shape" description. Sorry, no Amazon Echo for me and no Norton microphone router either. Kthxbye

      No. But if you wear a tinfoil hat I hear that can stop such things from working.

      --
      Drill baby drill - on Mars
  23. Privacy policy also quite interesting by WaffleMonster · · Score: 5, Informative

    What they collect (e.g. everything including Your F***ing passwords...)

    Wireless network SSID/password (encrypted);
    * Device information, including any Personal Information you include when assigning device name(s) and, if provided,
    the name of the person to whom the device is assigned, and device user agent data/app user agent data, including
    device type, manufacturer, and model; operating system; and IP address;
    * Data regarding device usage, including data regarding the time of last device use, internet usage time for each
    connected device, and gateway logs detailing network connection activities;
    * Website addresses for parental control settings, including blocked websites, visited websites, and time and content
    filter information;
    * Personal Information you may enter into your profile, including username and your picture;
    * Personal Information you provide for customer support and connectivity assistance, such as userID, name, role,
    policies, and device information;
    * Attempts to download executable files/mobile apps;
    * Shipping address and related information.

    What they do with it...

    * Norton Core uses Google Analyticsâ(TM) Measurement Protocol with IP anonymization parameters to transmit critical error
    information (including IP address) and information on your feature usage services (âoeNorton Core Telemetryâ) to Google
    Analytics, which is not owned or operated by Symantec.

    * Understanding product usage and alerts to inform you of better ways to benefit from a productâ(TM)s features

    * Statistical analysis of product deployment

    * Providing us with business and marketing information

    How they use it...

    * We are a global organization and may transfer Your Data to other countries, including countries that may have less protective data protection laws than the country in which you are located.

    * may be disclosed in connection with any proposed or actual sale or other transfer of some or all assets of Symantec in the event of a reorganization, merger, acquisition, or sale of our assets;

    * may be disclosed and shared if we are
    required to do so by law or in response to a request from law enforcement authorities; ...Here they are clearly saying anyone in law enforcement can simply request data and receive it even if not required by law...

    * To promote research, awareness, detection, or prevention of security risks, Symantec may disclose Your Data to relevant public
    and private entities such as cybersecurity or identity theft research organizations and security software vendors.

    Apparently also customers responsibility to make sure their down line users and guests are informed their data is also being collected. Note that "your disclosure" actually means going to the management portal and configuring a new device.

    It is your responsibility to ensure that any disclosure by you to Symantec of Personal Information of your users or third parties is
    in compliance with applicable privacy and data security laws, including informing users and third parties that you are providing
    their Personal Information to Symantec, informing them of how it will be transferred, used, or processed, and gathering
    appropriate consents and other legal measures required for such transfer, use, or processing.

    1. Re:Privacy policy also quite interesting by Nothing2Chere · · Score: 1

      Sounds like they should be paying me to install this thing, not the other way 'round.

    2. Re:Privacy policy also quite interesting by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      This is one reason why Google Analytics is blocked at my firewall.

  24. Re:with a top speed on the 5GHz band of 1.73 megab by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1

    5GHz isn't shitty. It doesn't go through walls very well, but that is a different story. The shitty Band is the 2.4 GHz, which if you live anywhere civilized is crowded to the point of being non-functional. I can see at least a dozen 2.4 GHz WiFi APs on my scanner while sitting in my living room. I can see exactly three 5 GHz, with several bands available (no usage).

    While coverage isn't great, the bands are more or less free from everyone else's crap.

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  25. 1MB of system memory by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    runs verrrrryyy slowwwwly.

    Guaranteed. Unless of course everything fits in the cache.

  26. IoT devices are not ready by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If an IoT device has to be protected then it is not internet ready.

  27. Not in my home by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    As y'all know, the world of IoT has, basically, no security at all. This device does not seem to do anything but put a band-aid on it. I do not anticipate having any IoT devices in my home. No lights that change color, no refrigerator to tell me to buy milk, etc. Plus, Comcast cable internet is not 24x7x365 around here--what does one of these gizmos do when it cannot talk to its mother ship?

  28. Re:with a top speed on the 5GHz band of 1.73 megab by InvisiBill · · Score: 2

    5GHz isn't shitty.

    It is on this router if it only does 1.73Mbps. I'm also curious about the 1MB of RAM. (Other pages indicate that it's 1.73Gbps and 1GB of RAM, which is in line with modern routers.) Another correction, it's got 4 gigabit ports total, 3 LAN and 1 WAN. This comes as a huge shock, but it seems the editors can't be bothered to proofread anything.

  29. Re:Titanium and gold are two different metals - si by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 1

    They might as well have offered it in Titanium Gold and Gold Titanium.

  30. Working for the "Empire" by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Now we finally know what those things are that sit on top of the Imperial Star Destroyers....

  31. To protect your IoT devices by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Just don't have any. And if you can't get away from having one because it is "built in", just don't let it attach to any network. IoT for homes is a fool's solution.

  32. 1MB of System RAM by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Where do they even get such small chips anymore???

    1. Re:1MB of System RAM by Joe_Dragon · · Score: 2

      no that is what is left over for user apps after all of the Norton bloat.

  33. What IS a recommended secure wifi router? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Honest question: what IS a good, secure router. I need a new one (old one just died). Given the new router attacks, I went looking for a secure router. The Wirecutter did an overall decent job, but security of the router itself wasn't touched. I found routersecurity.org, and the one they recommend (Peplink Surf SOHO) is a bit pricey (but the security sounds impressive).

    1. Re:What IS a recommended secure wifi router? by AHuxley · · Score: 2

      Make sure the passwords are not on some support forum or default pass, user, password.
      Buy CCTV or some other vital IoT that will talk to your cell phone without needing the internet when altered.
      Remove all the things from the network that need the "internet" when not at home. Be able to chart, log, respond to changing network conditions when at home.
      Get away from wifi and upgrade to ethernet to connect only important devices.
      Get some AV to test your network. Something like https://www.avast.com/f-home-n... to see if any issues need fixing.
      Get a good secure router. Don't keep it internet connected when it is unattended. If a very important device needs to call out e.g. CCTV, try a cell network.
      The router attacks are looking for a device thats got default login name/password for now.
      Until device makers care about security, do users really need an IoT thats junk and can swarm the net to always be connected?

      --
      Domestic spying is now "Benign Information Gathering"
    2. Re: What IS a recommended secure wifi router? by Voyager529 · · Score: 2

      Depends on the kind of security you're looking for. I'm generally a fan of the Asus family of routers that support the Padavan firmware - they all support DD-WRT as well if that's your thing.

      What makes this router something warranting a slashdot discussion is the fact that it does unified threat management, something that tends to require an appliance beyond a simple router/switch/AP combo. The cheapest ones with integrated Wi-Fi are from Sonicwall, but they're all kinds of awkward to have in a home setting (NAT translation is a pain, no UPnP, etc.). Fortinet also has some prosumer units, but good luck getting one - it tends to involve a whole lot of middlemen and quotes and all that other sales red tape that's quite obnoxious.

      If you're cool with a more DIY solution, break it out. A gigabit switch is more or less a gigabit switch; 8-port units are $40 or less now. Most routers can function as a simple access point (aforementioned Asus being among them), but if you're looking for multiple access points, Ubiquiti is my favorite as the $130 access points do AC1750, there's a central configuration utility, they handle roaming and frequency hopping quite well, and they're a whole lot less expensive than most of the alternatives.
      As far as the router itself, get a desktop and a second NIC, and you've got choices. I'm an Untangle fan myself, and $5/month for the home version gets you the kitchen sink for your home - virus checking, content filtering, ad blocking, spam filtering, multi-wan, VPN, the whole shooting match, in the simplest configuration console I've used. pfSense (and its recent fork opnsense) is free, and gives nearly all the same features, but in a somewhat more Spartan interface with more manual control required. Sophos has an excellent UTM, though it has a 50-endpoint limit and resembles Sonicwall in its NAT configuration. Other honorable mentions worth exploring would be Endian (simplest past Untangle), Smoothwall (best QoS), and IPFire (runs on a 133mhz Pentium), again, depending on the feature set you're looking for.

      Happy exploring!

    3. Re:What IS a recommended secure wifi router? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      mikrotik, they're cheap and routerOS is awesome.

  34. Re:Titanium and gold are two different metals - si by magarity · · Score: 1

    The Norton Core comes in titanium gold and granite gray.

    They should at least keep the different-same theme going and use "granite marble".

  35. Re:Titanium and gold are two different metals - si by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 2

    They might as well have offered it in Titanium Gold and Gold Titanium.

    Reminds me of when I had a 1969 VW Beetle. They have one double-arrow dashboard indicator for the turn signal, with only one bulb. A friend once asked how do you know if it's indicating left or right? I said, completely seriously, for left it blinks off first then on and for right it blinks on first then off. He stared at me looking really confused. I went through it twice more before he realized it was BS. Good times...

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  36. Re:Titanium and gold are two different metals - si by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 1

    Alloy

  37. Re:Titanium and gold are two different metals - si by fahrbot-bot · · Score: 1

    Alloy

    Then, according to the CERN writing guidelines (and others) that would be "titanium-gold" so bzzzt... thanks for playing :-)

    Chemical compounds

    Chemical compounds and alloys should be hyphenated, but the elements should not be capitalised:
    The current in the dipole magnets is carried by cables made of niobium-titanium (NbTi).

    --
    It must have been something you assimilated. . . .
  38. Yeah, right... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    From https://www.cnet.com/au/products/norton-core/preview/: "The Norton Core is now available for preorder at $200, with a regular price of $280, in either titanium gold or granite gray. The price includes one year of subscription to its security protection, called Norton Core Security Plus, after which the ongoing cost is $99 per year." Fuck that subscription shit.

  39. Reinventing the wheel by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Its literally just a pfsense box with snort installed.

    What a sham.

  40. dont we already have these by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    so, its a firewall?

    1. Re:dont we already have these by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Probably an iptables frontend with eye candy GUI.

  41. Re:Titanium and gold are two different metals - si by ThatsMyNick · · Score: 1

    No one has to follow CERN writing guidelines.

  42. Best Norton product is free by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Norton ConnectSafe DNS is free, comes in 3 policies (use the IP addresses for the policy you want).

    Set that on your router, override either google or your favorite on your personal devices, done.

    It's the only norton product I recommend right now.

  43. Safer Routers? Make 'em here! by Neuronwelder · · Score: 1

    The fact that there are practically no routers made in the USA is unnerving to me. Any attempt to make one here, makes me feel better. (At least someone tried!) We need security and control over routers, software and the hardware on our own soil. I personally experienced a lot of joy in 1997 when the WWW opened up. It was fantastically safer place to be before the malicious idiots came on to wreck it with Worms, Trojans, Root kits, Zombie bots, and the like. Plus it didn't have a lot of garbage you had to rummage though before you could find something substantial. It now also contains false/misinformation because some of the people publishing the page had a motive to gain profit from it. Critical thinking, comparison, seeing the source before you read it, and sound judgement are essential to get to the truth these days.

  44. The Core already exists. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    The Core is a speaker system by Mass Fidelity.

    https://www.massfidelity.com/products/core

    Symantec is about to be sued for trademark & copyright violation.

  45. Re:Titanium and gold are two different metals - si by ItsJustAPseudonym · · Score: 1

    That's excellent.

  46. Re:with a top speed on the 5GHz band of 1.73 megab by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 1

    editors can't be bothered to proofread anything

    Welcome to Slashdot, you must be new here! ;) (yes, this is a joke)

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  47. Sad truth of routers (how I avoid it) by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    See subject & proof of a sad truth on routers - 100's of them https://it.slashdot.org/comments.pl?sid=9995967&cid=53488785/ FAR from a "complete list" too!

    APK

    P.S.=> I avoid a LOT of inefficiency, security bugs galore (remote DNS, antivirus, addons sold out to NOT work, & yes router issues etc,) doing MORE for FAR LESS more efficiently vs. their issues via NEW version APK Hosts File Engine 9.0++ SR-5 32/64-bit https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&source=hp&biw=&bih=&q=%22APK+Hosts+File+Engine%22+and+%22start64%22&btnG=Google+Search&gbv=1/ (NEW version released today)... apk

  48. Does not offer 100% protection by zennling · · Score: 1

    On the product page there is a link to a youtube video - at 00:26 it says 'And protect them from malware"...at the bottom of the video in small writing it ALSO says 'Core does not give you 100% protection' - does that mean I dont have to give you 100% of my subscription fee if malware gets through?