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Netgear Data Collection
https://hothardware.com/news/netgear-adds-data-collection-to-r7000-router-firmware Any opt out? Mdoerator please find out. Thanks.
Hello everybody, here is our latest update regarding Router Analytics Data Collection.
Let's trust Netgear to do the right thing and not collect anything when it is disabled. It would be too easy to discover something underhanded. The negative publicity wouldn't be worth it. They'll probably get enough data from all of the people who don't know about an opt-out feature. :smileysad:
The ethical thing to do woould have been to make it an opt IN feature not an opt OUT. NG is relying on the average Joe (and Jane) who would not even notice or if they did would not undetstand the raminfications. I don't think NG has any nefarous intents but the data could be compromised due to poor security by NG. Still its an invasion of privacy, What if your local telco put a listening device in your home and in small print insider the jack said you can opt out of our recordings? Most Janes and Joes may not ever review the GUI post installation.
GearNetRouter wrote:
The ethical thing to do woould have been to make it an opt IN feature not an opt OUT. NG is relying on the average Joe (and Jane) who would not even notice or if they did would not undetstand the raminfications.
There is saying that goes something like, "Features that are disabled by default don't get used." Obviously, it's not a universal truth but it applies here. If Netgear were to make this opt-in, almost no one would willingly turn it on, which would defeat its purpose as far as they are concerned.
I don't think NG has any nefarous intents but the data could be compromised due to poor security by NG.
I don't think Netgear has nefarious intents, either. From their support article:
Technical data about the functioning and use of our routers and their WiFi network can help us to more quickly isolate and debug general technical issues, improve router features and functionality, and improve the performance and usability of our routers. Such data may include information regarding the router’s running status, number of devices connected to the router, types of connections, LAN/WAN status, WiFi bands and channels, IP address, MAC address, serial number, and similar technical data about the use and functioning of the router, as well as its WiFi network.
There's really not much evil anyone can do with information.
Still its an invasion of privacy, What if your local telco put a listening device in your home and in small print insider the jack said you can opt out of our recordings? Most Janes and Joes may not ever review the GUI post installation.It's not this bad. Netgear isn't recording your data traffic. It's more like your telco putting in a device that records the number of telephones you have in your home, their brands, how many are cordless, what frequencies they use and connection quality. In the grand scheme of things, this is relatively harmless. Haven't said that, I still wouldn't turn it on, either. :smileywink:
ISPs are already collecting way more personal information. They can build a pretty good profile by inspecting your traffic, especially the DNS queries.
You can count Google and FB as well doing some form of data collection. :smileymad: Wheres the opt "IN" option with them? :smileyfrustrated:
