Netgear Adds Support For "Collecting Analytics Data" To Popular R7000 Router

An anonymous reader writes: Netgear's latest firmware update for the R7000 includes new support for collecting analytics data. The update release notes include this caution:

NOTE:It is strongly recommended that after the firmware is updated to this version, log back in to the router s web GUI and configure the settings for this feature.

An article on Netgear's KB states updated last week that Netgear collects information including IP addresses, MAC, certain WiFi information, and information about connected devices.

Comments

Good idea

[110010001000]

I had this idea a while back. When you collect analytic data like this and feed it back into a correlation engine you can do analysis and look for things like widespread attacks, malware propagation.

It would be nice to have an open source answer to this.

Re: Wow!

[Z00L00K]

Same here - I'm using a Linux box with iptables to select which traffic that I allow.

And it even more highlights that using DD-WRT is what you should look into if you want to get some level of security on your wireless.

Sounds like a good way to fuck yourself Netgear

[Khyber]

Where is this traffic being sent, DNS and IP-wise? How is the data configured for their systems?

Figure these out, and then you could just flood the shit out of their systems with legit-looking bogus data that appears to come from their routers with whatever data you want.

Bonus points if you use this to gain yourself escalated access inside their own network (which wouldn't surprise me given Netgear's security track record.)