Way to Go, FCC. Now Manufacturers Are Locking Down Routers

TechLady

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"HEY, REMEMBER WHEN the FCC reassured us last year that it wasn’t going to lock down Wi-Fi routers? And everyone breathed a sigh of relief, because custom router firmware is actually a really good thing? Sure, it’s fun to improve your router by extending the range or making your network friendlier for guests. But open firmware is important for other reasons: it enables critical infrastructure, from emergency communications for disaster relief and building free community access points to beefing up personal security.

Well, there goes that. Because even though the FCC said its new requirements were not intended to lock down router software or block the installation of open source firmware, at least one large manufacturer has reacted by doing just that. And more could follow.

Way to go, FCC."

http://www.wired.com/2016/03/way-go-fcc-now-manufacturers-locking-routers

My favorite brand TP-Link just did this :(
 
"HEY, REMEMBER WHEN the FCC reassured us last year that it wasn’t going to lock down Wi-Fi routers? And everyone breathed a sigh of relief, because custom router firmware is actually a really good thing? Sure, it’s fun to improve your router by extending the range or making your network friendlier for guests. But open firmware is important for other reasons: it enables critical infrastructure, from emergency communications for disaster relief and building free community access points to beefing up personal security.

Well, there goes that. Because even though the FCC said its new requirements were not intended to lock down router software or block the installation of open source firmware, at least one large manufacturer has reacted by doing just that. And more could follow.

Way to go, FCC."

http://www.wired.com/2016/03/way-go-fcc-now-manufacturers-locking-routers

My favorite brand TP-Link just did this :(

Won't matter. It's all a big distraction story. They act like these routers were always "flashable" and modifiable.... quite to the contrary, these things were hacked into submission. It will continue.
 
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