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

Wow!

[Anonymous Coward]

I guess it is time to switch to a different brand.

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.

Yup

[rholtzjr]

Not sure I like the "feature" if it is not configurable to either enable or disable (e.g. opt in/out).

Notgear...

[Svartalf]

I'm unsure I even like this "feature" with it being controllable.

Clarification: Netgear collects your data

[the_other_chewey]

It's not made clear at all in TFS, and could be read as if Netgear routers now supported more network stats available to the router's owner.

That's not it: "Analytics Data" collection is done by Netgear, remotely.

Re:Clarification: Netgear collects your data

[GrumpySteen]

If you'd clicked on the link,, or even hovered over it to see the url, you'd have seen "What router analytics data is collected and how is the data being used by NETGEAR?" which makes it pretty obvious that they're talking about data that's sent to the company.

Hence my new pet name for them...

[Svartalf]

Notgear.

Re:It's a fad!

[arth1]

IMHO this shouldn't be more of an outrage than all of the tracking companies involved in collecting user data on various websites,

Well, yes, it should. A web site only tracks users who visit it, using web browsers that cooperate.
A router sees all traffic to and from all addresses for all users.

The collected data from a router would also be of great help to anyone trying to penetrate the network.

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.

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.)