26 ms·

Don't buy a Wifi router from Google. We all know that they are incentivized to collect data from you

shadowgovt 7y ago
Alternatively, do, and go in with eyes open on the fact it might collect data from you.
dewey 7y ago
I think the more worrying aspect is that they probably deprecate it in a few years and you don't get any firmware updates any more.
- uniformlyrandom 7y ago
  Every single router vendor does this. It is an issue, but it is not a google issue.
  - prepend 7y ago
    I had an ASUS N66U for over five years. It was released in 2011 [0] and I got rid of it last year for a mesh system. But looking at Asus’ support page, it still gets firmware updates [1] with the most recent in June. Most reputable vendors put out firmware updates for a long time. Routers should not be disposable consumer devices, I think. I have this belief both from a security standpoint (frequent updates are important) but also as someone who supports quite a few family members. Switching out routers over the phone is not easy for an 80 year old. [0] https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-N66U https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-N66U [1] https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTN66U/HelpDesk_BIOS/ https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTN66U/HelpDesk_BIOS/
  - dewey 7y ago
    Apple released an update for the deprecated AirPort from 2013 just in May this year. https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/30/airport-base-station-firmware-7-9-1/ https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/30/airport-base-station-fi...
  - allset_ 7y ago
    Every consumer router vendor, yes. If you spend a bit more for something in the prosumer line, such as Unifi or pfSense you get updates virtually forever.
drakenot 7y ago
I bought Google Wifi because I wanted a mesh wifi network and I expected their firmware to reasonably secure. Most of the major router companies have atrocious security records.
devm0de 7y ago
That and their support is terrible. I had a google wifi AP die 3 days outside of its 1 year hardware warranty and their support told me, nothing I could do but throw it in the trash. They don’t repair them and wouldn’t replace it for me. Google also doesn’t have a great track record of long term support for hardware devices. Although with Nest division that might be different.
bpodgursky 7y ago
"Don't buy consumer electronics from Google to help them build non-advertising revenue streams, we want to make sure that only DoubleClick is ever profitable."
- wmf 7y ago
  The HN hive mind theory is that Google consumer electronics exist solely to collect more data to target ads at you better. It's all advertising.
- rainyMammoth 7y ago
  So we should help a company that is known for gathering as much information on us getting into a different business line all the while giving them the benefit of the doubt that they will not spy on us with those devices ? Those might be good devices but the downside is simply too dangerous to be ignored so .... Hell no.

Alternatively, do, and go in with eyes open on the fact it might collect data from you.

I think the more worrying aspect is that they probably deprecate it in a few years and you don't get any firmware updates any more.

uniformlyrandom 7y ago
Every single router vendor does this. It is an issue, but it is not a google issue.
- prepend 7y ago
  I had an ASUS N66U for over five years. It was released in 2011 [0] and I got rid of it last year for a mesh system. But looking at Asus’ support page, it still gets firmware updates [1] with the most recent in June. Most reputable vendors put out firmware updates for a long time. Routers should not be disposable consumer devices, I think. I have this belief both from a security standpoint (frequent updates are important) but also as someone who supports quite a few family members. Switching out routers over the phone is not easy for an 80 year old. [0] https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-N66U https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-N66U [1] https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTN66U/HelpDesk_BIOS/ https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTN66U/HelpDesk_BIOS/
- dewey 7y ago
  Apple released an update for the deprecated AirPort from 2013 just in May this year. https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/30/airport-base-station-firmware-7-9-1/ https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/30/airport-base-station-fi...
- allset_ 7y ago
  Every consumer router vendor, yes. If you spend a bit more for something in the prosumer line, such as Unifi or pfSense you get updates virtually forever.

drakenot 7y ago

I bought Google Wifi because I wanted a mesh wifi network and I expected their firmware to reasonably secure. Most of the major router companies have atrocious security records.

devm0de 7y ago

That and their support is terrible. I had a google wifi AP die 3 days outside of its 1 year hardware warranty and their support told me, nothing I could do but throw it in the trash. They don’t repair them and wouldn’t replace it for me. Google also doesn’t have a great track record of long term support for hardware devices. Although with Nest division that might be different.

bpodgursky 7y ago

"Don't buy consumer electronics from Google to help them build non-advertising revenue streams, we want to make sure that only DoubleClick is ever profitable."

wmf 7y ago
The HN hive mind theory is that Google consumer electronics exist solely to collect more data to target ads at you better. It's all advertising.
rainyMammoth 7y ago
So we should help a company that is known for gathering as much information on us getting into a different business line all the while giving them the benefit of the doubt that they will not spy on us with those devices ? Those might be good devices but the downside is simply too dangerous to be ignored so .... Hell no.