The "Enable Smart Parental Controls on Your Router" nag ad pops up EVERY time I login to my router.

[kelvinkewl]

    Ever since I applied the V1.0.4.98_10.0.71 firmware update, I am presented with a ""Enable Smart Parental Controls on Your Router" pop-up every time I login. There is no checkbox to disable this Circle ad. I never had Circle, nor will ever need any parental controls. My parental controls are  disabled and have never been enabled.

1. Re-applied firmware 

2. Tried 4 different browsers

3. Cleared my cache for every browser.

     Does anybody know how to stop this Circle nag ad? 

Image of the ad (also attached):

https://ibb.co/XZrWKr7

[DarrenM]

I will report this issue to the engineers.

DarrenM

[Slightshadow]

Same issue with V1.0.4.98_10.0.71 firmware.  EVERY time I log in to the router I get this "Enable Smart Parental Controls on Your Router" Circle advertisement popup.  It's annoying as can be to have to click this advertisement off EVERY time before I can manage my router.  Whoever thought that putting popup advertisements in a firmware update was wrong.  Please fix this.

[kelvinkewl]

What have the engineers said? This advertisement is completely uncalled for.

[eidco]

I'm getting the same thing. I don't want this...ever!  It's ridiculous and insulting. Why not show professionalism by adding a checkbox "Don't show this again."?

Seriously.  What kind of amateur did this?

[kelvinkewl]

Netgear!

     This post is coming up on 2 months old. Where are you at with removing the forced advert you are making me see every time I login to my router?

[kelvinkewl]

What is being done about this forced advertisement? 

[MajTom]

I'll dump Netgear if this B.S. continues - get rid of the pop-up ads on my router or give product owners the ability to disable them.

[JoeQ51]

Even Microsoft let's me disable unwanted ads!  Let's get rid of this.

[mbajkowski]

Absolutely agreed, this needs to go. It is very furstrating to have to klick this away every single time.

[Hayashida]

This feature is really nuts and totally not professional.

I found a workardound using an Ad Blocker. With "Ads killer Adblocker plus" for Chrome, you can add a filter below to kill the pop up.

192.168.0.1###circle-info-modal

I have never heard that you need an ad blocker for an admin menu in a router.

[Flakie]

Absolute knobheads. New router on order (and its not from NetGear).

[Flakie]

Cheers, exactly the same in AdBlock.

[kujayhawk]

I agree this "Enable Smart Parental Controls on Your Router" popup is extremely annoying. I log into the router often and have to close it. It's someting that'll make me think twice before buying another Netgear router.

[Bpjb]

If any of their engineers are reaching this, this is a major bug. Having a blocking advert prevents the nighthawk app from connecting to the router.

The Adblock solutions area not for everyone. Fix the solution, and then it's recommended to turn off auto firmware updates if they are only to add spam to routers!

[kelvinkewl]

Netgear,

     I have provided you ample time to respond and you have provided nothing. I will now be filing a complain with the Better Business Bureau and the Secretary of the State of Texas. This is unacceptable and unprofessional.

Regards,

Eric Collins

[kelvinkewl]

    When going to the Netgear - San Jose, CA BBB account, it shows an "F" rating. 

[kelvinkewl]

Complaint Submitted

Your complaint has been submitted and assigned the ID 14880137. For your reference, a copy of your complaint appears below. You will receive an email with further information once your complaint is processed by the BBB.

The complaint is being handled by the dispute center listed below. Please contact them with any questions.

Better Business Bureau (Phoenix, AZ)
1010 E Missouri Ave
Phoenix , AZ 85014-4585

[kelvinkewl]

    I received an update from the BBB that they have initiated an enquiry to Netgear.

The Better Business Bureau serving the Pacific Southwest (BBB) has received your correspondence involving NetGear. Thank you for contacting BBB and allowing us the opportunity to assist you with resolving this matter. Your case number is: 14880137; please make a note of this number for future reference.

BBB acts as a neutral third-party to foster an ethical marketplace. As part of its mission, BBB assists businesses and consumers by opening lines of communication with the facilitation of disputes, and providing company reports to summarize how a company responds to and resolves any issues that may arise.

While your Better Business Bureau is teleworking to continue serving our communities, we know that many businesses have closed completely or are working under a reduced schedule or under alternative operating arrangements. 

Your complaint has been reviewed and forwarded to NetGear and we have asked that they respond. We will send you any response they provide. 

[pjyoung1]

The Netgear manager that decided this was a good idea really should be fired!  Why would you deliberately piss off your customers *every* time they log in to administer their router? 

The kicker is that Circle is a very poor product.  I tried it and it's very difficult to use and configure.  The app is designed to work only on phones and is crap on an iPad or PC.  It's clearly nothing more than a marketing ploy and not a serious security product.  So, not only is Netgear making me angry every time I log into my router, but they are reminding me how little regard they have for true security every time they do it.

[kelvinkewl]

     I have now posted to r/NetGear on  Reddit "Netgear firmware forced "Circle" Advertisement Netgear Nighthawk 6700v3 and other models. I AM DONE WITH NETGEAR forever and why." I will continue to share this terrible experience across most forms of social media and communication.

[Retired_Member]

Which idiot thought this was good idea? Whomever it was should be fired.  Netgear, fix this and give us the means to shut it off permanently.

[Retired_Member]

Any hopes of some action to fix this abomination?

[Bpjb]

Only way to fix is to downgrade the firmware. It only contained security risks, so hopefully the next firmware will contain security and get rid of this abomination. The firmware is available on https://www.netgear.com/support/product/r8000.aspx under firmware / "other versions". The previous version 10.0.4.58 works with both the app and the website without advertising.

SmartConnect doesn't work properly with either(!) but if you go back another version it is worse!

[Retired_Member]

Downgraded to 10.0.4.58 and have 'lost' the ad.  However I am concerned that any new security fixes are now not installed.  Netgear really do need to get their act together.  I have been looking at othe makes of router and they also all have their issues.