CM700 can't find my firmware version

I am very frustrated right now.  I have followed as many instructions as I can find on how to find out what version of the firmware is currently installed on my CM700.  I can't get any of them to work.  I need someone to help me figure out what to do:

I have an iPhone that is running iOS 14.3.

On my iPhone, I have the Nighthawk app running version 2.7.2.19

I am getting the message "issues connecting with -name of my router network-

Per the suggestions, I went to the nighthawk app settings, and "Local Network" IS enabled.

I went to my iPhone WiFi and ensured that I am connect to my router's network

I came back to Nighthawk and clicked on "Still haveing issues?"  None of the listed help topics was helpful.

So then I went to my Microsoft Surface to try to find out my firmware version.

My surface is running Windows 10, version 2004, OS Build 19041.685.

I also have McAffee protection on my Surface.

Per the instructions, I put this IP address in my Chrome browser - Version 87.0.4280.88 (Official Build) (64-bit) - http://192.168.100.1

and I got the message “Your connection to this site is not private”  and asking for me username and password.  WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?

Why would Netgear take me to a site that is not https, and then ask me for my username and password?????

The other option that I was given was to connect my computer to the modem using an ethernet cord.  WHAT IS UP WITH THAT?
Doesn’t Netgear know that many many people are not using PC’s anymore?  I can’t use an ethernet cable on my Surface.

I have wasted over two hours trying to find out something that should be (1) Easy to do, and (2) Totally transparent to find out.

And I still have NO idea what version of firmware my Netgear modem is using, to verify if my ISP has pushed the latest version to my device,
to ensure that I have a safe connection. 

The whole reason that I bought a Netgear modem is because I read that it is the safest one, and that it is much better than the one provided by my ISP in terms of safe connectionts.  But Netgear is telling me that they rely on that same ISP to have coorectly pushed the most recent version of the firmware to my modem?  REALLY? 

I find this whole thing completely unsatisfactory.  If Netgear really IS the safest modem, then (1) why does Netgear they rely on ISP’s to push firmware instead of allowing the user to update the firmware (like EVERY OTHER product I’ve EVER used)?  And (2) why does Netgear make it so hard to verify if the firmware is the most recent version?  And (3) why does Netgear have the Nighthawk app that won’t actually connect to the router to log into the modem?  And (4) why does Netgear think that everyone can use an ethernet cord to plug into their modem if they are really on top of current technology?

Finally I want to apologize for being so snarky in this message.  But I have tried to do this multiple times over the last 6 months, and every time I end up completely frustrated and give up.  If I can’t get help to make this work, I am going to have to try and return the modem to Amazon because it is not functioning correctly.  Thanks for any real help that I might be able to get.