ASUS rolled out an update to its firmware (3.0.0.6.102_34791) that now requires users to be over the age of 16 and to send a slew of metrics and data back to ASUS. If you do not agree or do not check the box to verify you are 16y or older, you cannot use the router. At this time, I’m not sure if ASUS has meant to disable the router for anyone under 16 or if it’s a bug.

You can opt out at any time but lose access to a slew of features:

Please note that users are required to agree to share their information before using DDNS, Remote Connection (ASUS Router APP, Lyra APP. AiCloud, AiDisk), AiProtection, Traffic analyzer, Apps analyzer, Adaptive QoS, Game Boost and Web history. At any time, users can search the contents of the terms at this page or stop sharing their information with other parties by choosing Withdraw.

Moreover, ASUS disables automatic firmware updates and worse, all security upgrades unless you opt into the data sharing. Security upgrades perform the following:

Security upgrade incorporates security measures that continuously update its security file and scans to protect against malware, malicious scripts, and emerging threats in order to secure the router and ensure system stability. Some upgrades addressing important security issues or meeting legal/regulatory requirements will still be downloaded and installed automatically, even if “Security Upgrade” is turned off.

Edit: I have personally contacted their CEO’s office, but if others would like to voice their disapproval as well, here is a link: https://www.asus.com/us/support/article/787/

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
      51·
      29 days ago

      It doesn’t seem like they give a shit. This is the company that strong armed NexusGaming with their repairs and have scammed a slew of people thru their warranty system.

      If you search for “ASUS repair scam” they have a sorted history of this kind of douchery.

      • PseudorandomNoise@lemmy.worldEnglish
        21·
        29 days ago

        Watching the GN video was insane because I had that exact same experience with ASUS 10 years ago. Back when they made the Nexus 7. I had to RMA 3 of those dam things and each time I had to go through that song and dance with the RMA forms. I think when the 4th one failed I just gave up, recycled it, and moved on from this company as a whole.

        Looks like nothing’s changed, which means this way of treating their customers is endemic at this point. They’re a lost cause.

        • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
          9·
          29 days ago

          That’s brutal that they get away with that crap. I will never buy anything ASUS branded again. They are on my embargo list now, right under Sony, which I haven’t purchased a single thing from them for about 18 years since they screwed me out of repairs on my phone. Only way IMO.

        • zod000@lemmy.ml
          8·
          29 days ago

          My experience was similar, but I gave up after my first RMA because I saw everyone else going through the same thing. The N7 started as such a delight and ended up as one of worst product experiences.

      • halcyoncmdr@lemmy.worldEnglish
        11·
        29 days ago

        And in return Gamers Nexus is teaching all of their viewers what their consumer rights are, and how to report fraudulent activity to the proper regulatory authorities. This isn’t the first time Gamers Nexus has gotten regulatory agencies involved with computer part manufacturers fucking over customers, and the history of those incidents didn’t go very well for other companies involved.

        On the other hand Gamers Nexus has also gone out of their way to point out companies that have done the right thing when issues came up, to make sure those companies are getting kudos for NOT fucking over consumers. Because sadly that’s all we really want.

        If the FTC gets enough complaints to warrant the manpower to investigate ASUS warranty fraud, there is no doubt in my mind that they’re gonna be fucked based on what we’ve seen so far.

  • SomeGuy69@lemmy.world
    30·
    29 days ago

    Asus would do good in hiring a real lawyer. Parents accept, kid uses router, data collected of child, illegal. So easy to rip them a new one.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
      9·
      29 days ago

      I worry about that more than I should. But yeah, that is the central hub that everything goes thru. I actually don’t even want it to ping Asus’s update servers because I can’t be sure what kind of data is being sent.

      I moved to Merlin firmware and hoping that doesn’t have any telemetry. Unfortunately OpenWRT doesn’t support wifi 6/6E routers and even the rare ones it does support, aren’t really the greatest.

      I want the asus hardware, just not their shitty software.

  • Xanis@lemmy.world
    25·
    29 days ago

    Give it a minute: Tech Jesus and his Nexus friends are having a great time with ASUS recently. I’m sincerely looking forward to how far they take things.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
      10·
      29 days ago

      NP. I was pretty pissed as they haven’t released a new update in almost a year and when they did, this is all that’s been changed.

      Good news is moving to WRT Merlin is a piece of cake and even carries over all your original settings. Hopefully they rip out this crap with their own firmware.

      • Kilgore Trout@feddit.itEnglish
        1·
        28 days ago

        It builds on devices’ source code published by ASUS. The is no data sharing with ASUS.

        Merlin’s privacy disclosure:

        The only outbound connection made with me by this firmware is when the firmware checks for availability of a new version.

            • TheFinn@discuss.tchncs.de
              2·
              27 days ago

              Here are some screenshots from my router administration pages. Notice the “Powered by Asuswrt-Merlin”.

              In the first image you can see that I have a particular feature disabled.

              When I toggle it on I receive a warning that my information will be collected by Trend Micro.

              I included another screenshot showing the location where I would withdraw my consent to having my data collected, were I to actually use the advanced features of the router, that I thought I was paying for at the point of sale. Instead I was apparently paying for the privilege of having the option dangled in front of me, behind an agreement for yet another, separate company to collect my family’s data.

  • macniel@feddit.de
    16·
    29 days ago

    Because they aren’t legally allowed to spy on minors they add this shit to bypass it?

      • fluckx@lemmy.world
        9·
        29 days ago

        Is the train of thought that if the adult approves they can harvest data from minors regardless? It harvests data from anybody using the internet, not just person handling the settings. It doesn’t seem legal that the data harvest agreement binds all users in a household rather than the one managing the settings?

        Is that legal in Europe? is it legal to suddenly semi brick a device if you dont allow them to data harvest? Is it really considered giving consent freely when the device you paid $$ for suddenly no longer does 90% because you disagree with sudden data harvest practices?

        I can understand a feature not working because you disagree on sharing something. E.g: can’t tell you which pizza place is near you if you dont share your location.

        But this? I hope it’s illegal and they get sued into oblivion for this. This is super invasive.

        • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
          2·
          29 days ago

          I think it’s literally just legalize to appease law makers with regards to collecting info from a minor. That’s typically a no-no in NA. If you lie and click the box but you’re 15, that’s on you. There isn’t any legal recourse if someone just lies. I’m totally ok not needing to send anyone “proof” of my age for anything on the net (this, porn, NSFW, etc,).

          • fluckx@lemmy.world
            1·
            29 days ago

            But that’s the point. You, the 15 year old, never click or see the box. Your data is harvested because somebody somewhere else agreed to it.

            It’s like giving any website the right to farm your data because somebody else on the same shared IP clicked accept all.

            I’m also totally okay not having to send any identity data over the net. I fully agree there. It’s just their standpoint of “let an admin click it and we can farm everybody’s data behind that device” seems like a very unstable legal standpoint.

            Then again. I’m not a lawyer and the law doesn’t work based on how lawful i feel something is or should be.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
      5·
      29 days ago

      Yeah. When I bought my ASUS router I was looking into OpenWRT supported routers but they are really hard to come by (at least in NA) and quite dated. Router manufacturers really don’t want to have their telemetry removed.

      • space@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        1·
        29 days ago

        One of those tiny low power PCs with OpenSense is a good alternative, but a bit more work. The only downside is that you need a separate switch and wifi access point.

  • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
    11·
    29 days ago

    OpenWRT is better for a lot of reasons. It isn’t as user friendly but if you know a little networking you will be fine. The big thing is that automatic updates aren’t a thing so make sure you manually update.

      • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
        4·
        29 days ago

        It isn’t half bad but it does use a lot of terminology and can be overwhelming because it has so many options

        • BorgDrone@lemmy.one
          31·
          28 days ago

          It isn’t half bad but it does use a lot of terminology

          That’s why it’s user friendly. Try configuring one of those “user friendly” consumer grade crap routers. Due to the use non-standard descriptions in a misguided effort to be user friendly no one actually has any clue what settings actually do.

          • Possibly linux@lemmy.zipEnglish
            1·
            28 days ago

            Good point but most people don’t have a good networking background. That’s why some companies ship openWRT with custom skins

            • PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world
              5·
              28 days ago

              Good point but most people do have a good networking background.

              Relevant xkcd

              I know the target demographic for a privacy community will likely have a good networking background. But “most” is likely an overstatement. I think most people don’t even know what a router does, much less how to configure one.

            • BorgDrone@lemmy.one
              2·
              28 days ago

              But with those ‘user friendly’ UI’s no one knows what they’re doing. The user doesn’t know regardless and now the expert they ask for help has no clue either.

    • PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world
      10·
      28 days ago

      Unfortunately, lots of ASUS routers (especially the “gamer” oriented ones) use Broadcom chipsets. Broadcom support is severely lacking, (because Broadcom has refused to allow open source drivers) so in many cases switching to openwrt will severely cripple the router. Even basic shit like WiFi will stop working, because there isn’t a WiFi driver available.

  • Wilzax@lemmy.world
    9·
    28 days ago

    Top level comment to remind the Open WRT fanboys that this ASUS router uses a Broadcom chipset, which is not supported on OpenWRT. Been seeing it recommended by a lot of replies to comments when it won’t be helpful in this case, since Broadcom chips don’t have open drivers

    • You999@sh.itjust.works
      6·
      29 days ago

      There’s a few routes (pun intended) you could go.

      DIY with opnsense on an old PC will give you the most flexibility and will allow you to build your router to your exact needs.

      Ubiquiti is also another choice albeit a contentious one. Their hardware is pretty good which also doesn’t require a recurring charge to use (unfortunately rare when you get into the enterprise grade gear). The software side is where people have such mixed feelings as for consumers and prosumers it’s pretty good but when you start getting into enterprise level configurations you’ll find their software pretty lacking. For example if you need a L3 switch for inter VLAN routing you’ll want to go with a different vendor as ubiquiti’s L3 is practically broken.

      • bobs_monkey@lemm.ee
        1·
        29 days ago

        And Ubiquiti’s support is non-existent. Don’t get me wrong, I like their hardware, and their software works just fine for my needs, especially at their price point. But if you have issues, you’re searching forums or are SOL.

        Ruckus gear is pretty good too, though I don’t have much hands-on experience with it. And it’s expensive. Like really expensive.

        • You999@sh.itjust.works
          1·
          29 days ago

          I’ve actually never had any problems with their support the two times I had to RMA some dead products but maybe I’ve been lucky.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
      2·
      29 days ago

      Man, idk. I installed WRT Merlin in hopes this doesn’t make it there. OpenWRT is really hard to get onto routers. Even the ones that support it (which tend to be pretty dated) have a ton of hurdles or restrictions as manufacturers really don’t want to lose the telemetry.

      Asus makes great hardware unfortunately. Some of the fastest and most performant routers out there. Moreover, they don’t rely on subscriptions to gate some of the features like pretty much every one else.

      I tried TP Link and Netgear (if their “legendary” Nighthawk) and the Asus just blew them away on every level. Especially stability and reliability.