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>I'm not sure how a router like this could actually perform this functionality without sending information to an upstream service to manage the data. Simple lo

>I'm not sure how a router like this could actually perform this functionality without sending information to an upstream service to manage the data. Simple logging and graph construction aren't a big deal and don't take up many resources. Most likely the development work would have cost x dollars but Trend called up and said they'd do it for free, by selling this data, so ASUS took the deal. Your ASUS has a 1GHz dual-core ARM Cortex A9 processor. That's on par with entry-level server CPUs from less than 5-6 years ago and beats the Intel Atom today. Its not some anemic chipset unable to do anything. There's a powerhouse in that little box. Let's not excuse greedy corporate decisions that ultimately victimize customers. If there's no corporate political will for privacy then this stuff will only continue. We certainly have the CPU, RAM, and storage heft to handle this even on budget devices.

haswell 9y ago
See other comments, but I think this is less about raw computing power and more about the nature of those features. Classification of services/apps, storing multiple dimensions of historical data, etc. Certainly the case for the other features that aren't just bandwidth related. I'm sure there's some truth to your point as well. The reality is probably somewhere in the middle: it's not a super easy problem to solve with a local-only solution, and farming it out to Trend Micro makes things easier for ASUS. Interestingly, the Trend Micro relationship is presented as a feature in their marketing/product materials. Probably not unlike the Symantec badges that end up on some products. > Let's not excuse greedy corporate decisions that ultimately victimize customers. Look, I don't love the way these features were implemented, but let's be fair. Trend Micro is a security software company. The router is sold as "Trend Micro on board". You don't have to like the feature, but don't think it's fair to characterize this as "victimizing customers".
- drzaiusapelord 9y ago
  >The router is sold as "Trend Micro on board". As a somewhat informed consumer and sysadmin I would automatically assume that means something like gateway AV, not unbelievably levels of snooping. I imagine most people would feel the same way and the marketing language is careful crafted to give that impression. Example in the wild: "bought an ASUS AC-87U Router, do I still need an AV?" https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/bought-an-asus-ac-87u-router-do-i-still-need-an-av.371643/ https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/bought-an-asus-ac-87...
  - brokenmachine 9y ago
    After looking through that thread, I can't help but think that Mayahana and Mortal Raptor are both shills for Asus, and probably the same person. I wonder what they were banned for. Their posts read like ads for the router.

haswell 9y ago

See other comments, but I think this is less about raw computing power and more about the nature of those features. Classification of services/apps, storing multiple dimensions of historical data, etc. Certainly the case for the other features that aren't just bandwidth related. I'm sure there's some truth to your point as well. The reality is probably somewhere in the middle: it's not a super easy problem to solve with a local-only solution, and farming it out to Trend Micro makes things easier for ASUS. Interestingly, the Trend Micro relationship is presented as a feature in their marketing/product materials. Probably not unlike the Symantec badges that end up on some products. > Let's not excuse greedy corporate decisions that ultimately victimize customers. Look, I don't love the way these features were implemented, but let's be fair. Trend Micro is a security software company. The router is sold as "Trend Micro on board". You don't have to like the feature, but don't think it's fair to characterize this as "victimizing customers".

drzaiusapelord 9y ago
>The router is sold as "Trend Micro on board". As a somewhat informed consumer and sysadmin I would automatically assume that means something like gateway AV, not unbelievably levels of snooping. I imagine most people would feel the same way and the marketing language is careful crafted to give that impression. Example in the wild: "bought an ASUS AC-87U Router, do I still need an AV?" https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/bought-an-asus-ac-87u-router-do-i-still-need-an-av.371643/ https://www.wilderssecurity.com/threads/bought-an-asus-ac-87...
- brokenmachine 9y ago
  After looking through that thread, I can't help but think that Mayahana and Mortal Raptor are both shills for Asus, and probably the same person. I wonder what they were banned for. Their posts read like ads for the router.