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Forum Discussion
Does Netgear really "Push" critical security updates?
TLDR: Has Netgear "pushed" any firmware updates in the past 12 months? There have been critical security issues fixed during that period. User beware. If not: Be pro-active. Don't ass-u-me that ever...
Netgear does make firmware updates available to the live update feeds. If the device is configured for automatic updates, it will happen when available. If not - there is no unrequested or forced push of anything.
Disputable how smart the advise is to disable the automatic update as suggested. The problem was that many users had very bad experience with any kind up new updates.
schumaku wrote:Netgear does make firmware updates available to the live update feeds. If the device is configured for automatic updates, it will happen when available. If not - there is no unrequested or forced push of anything.
On the RBK50's, NG will inform the user that there are updates available. They have been doing that recently, confusing people about which ver is the latest etc. AFAIK, the user has to choose to install the updates. Is there way to configure it for automatic install?
I have removed my R9000 and I don't recall that there was a way to have the new firmwares install automatically on those.
Disputable how smart the advise is to disable the automatic update as suggested. The problem was that many users had very bad experience with any kind up new updates.
I don't like automatic installs myself. But I tend to read up about the latest issues in the news, listen to Security_Now podcast etc. The casual user is in a no-win situation: They can be on older insecure versions or enable automatic installation (if that is even available for the Orbi's) with its risks.
With my short history (2 months) w the Orbi's, I was asking if NG pushed and automatically installed fixes in 2020. Because they certainly had a couple of serious issues come up last year.
alokeprasad wrote:With my short history (2 months) w the Orbi's, I was asking if NG pushed and automatically installed fixes in 2020. Because they certainly had a couple of serious issues come up last year.
Perhaps the real question is, has anyone here had problems(?) with their system due to the 'serious issues' that came up last year you mention above?:mansurprised:
alokeprasad wrote:I have removed my R9000 and I don't recall that there was a way to have the new firmwares install automatically on those.
The feature exists for years on the R9000 (and many more devices)
Users actively managing devices will often read email notifications for security updates, will login so the firmware update annoucement will show up - before the automatic update will happen the following night. That's why many here are probably ahead of the automatic update.
Thx, schumaku. Thanks for the memories :smileyhappy: I had automatic updates disabled all along, so I never experienced an update without me initiating it. I am unaware if NG pushed automatic installations on the RXXXX devices. Are they actually updating those devices anymore?
I don't see automatic-update option (or how to turn it off) on the RBK50's web interface or user manual. The choices (from the manual p 89) are: You can use the router web interface to check if new firmware is available and update your router and satellite,or you can manually update the firmware for your router andsatellite.
So, I'm asking the community here if they, in fact, push automatic installs on the Orbi's.
I don't know what answer I like: I would not like push installs on MY Orbi. In fact, I want to turn all such automatic-anything off. But it would nice to have that be done in a reliable manner on users who don't follow the latest goins-on in IT world.
In real life, the users are stuck between a rock and a hard place: Have Systems with un-patched security holes or systems (out of warranty) that get bricked or reset overnight by NG. Sadly, I'm seeing many posts that are talking about bricking happening to them.
