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/

  • SomeGuy69@lemmy.world
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    5 months 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.

  • Xanis@lemmy.world
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    5 months 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.

  • DevCat@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    If I bought one of their routers and this came up, I would simply be returning it and giving the person at the counter a printout as to why. Sorry, but this router is not “suitable for purpose”. Look up that phrase and “merchantability”.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
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      5 months ago

      I would rather not have less options in this world and force companies not to be dicks. I guess to each their own. My router is also 2y old so no returns available.

    • makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml
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      5 months ago

      Agree. Straight back for refund. In Australia we can legally choose the manufacturer, or the retailer. I’d go straight to Asus, to give them the message directly.

      • Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz
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        5 months ago

        Trying to refund through Asus will result in them dragging their feet, being as unhelpful as possible, or claiming you damaged the product.

        • makingStuffForFun@lemmy.ml
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          5 months ago

          I’ve been down that road with Samsung. One mention of our consumer laws, with a link to the contact form where I can report them, and refund issued immediately. Australia has good laws. People just need to flex em.

        • Taleya@aussie.zone
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          5 months ago

          Which will result in federal agencies going straight up their arse.

          Many countries outside the US have actual consumer protections

          • Fubarberry@sopuli.xyz
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            5 months ago

            I would hope so, but Asus has been doing things like this for at least 10+ years which makes me doubtful that anything will change soon.

    • DevCat@lemmy.world
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      5 months ago

      For the downvoters, in the US:

      https://www.findlaw.com/consumer/consumer-transactions/what-is-the-warranty-of-merchantability.html

      The implied warranty of merchantability guarantees that a product sold to you will work for its intended purposes. In other words, it means you can expect a toaster to toast your bread. If it doesn’t, you have legal protection against losing money on a product that doesn’t work.

      If you bought the router expecting it to work as advertised, you may make a claim if it doesn’t. They would have to spell out ahead of time what the limitations and requirements are in order to avoid trouble.

      • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
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        5 months ago

        You have no claim. The update does not disable the router and even if you opt out, the router itself still functions, except with a few additional features missing. Telemetry and data collection does not void a warranty. There is no claim here.

        • DevCat@lemmy.world
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          5 months ago

          That would be for the legal system to decide. If you purchased it for a specific advertised feature, and that feature was disabled unless unspoken terms were agreed to, you would have a case.

        • WolfLink@lemmy.ml
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          5 months ago

          Protecting your network from internet-bound threats is one of the most important jobs of a router, and that involves receiving security updates. Once your router no longer receives security updates, you should stop using it.

    • PM_Your_Nudes_Please@lemmy.world
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      5 months 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.

  • zaph@sh.itjust.works
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    5 months ago

    I mean if you’re using their servers for all of that cloud management can you really expect them not to take a look? You can buy a router and install open source firmware that doesn’t scrub your data or keep giving money to giant corporations that put profits over customers.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
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      5 months 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.world
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        5 months 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
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          5 months 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
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          5 months 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.world
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        5 months 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.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
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      5 months 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.

  • ky56@aussie.zone
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    5 months ago

    FYI the open source OpenWRT based Banana Pi R3 AX 4x4 is a thing. Don’t buy closed source Routers/APs on purpose.

    • Possibly linux@lemmy.zip
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      5 months ago

      You can just buy a off the shelf router and flash OpenWRT many devices are supported. If you want to be sure just look it up before you buy.

  • Etterra@lemmy.world
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    5 months ago

    Because nobody has ever lied on one of these lol. Still criminally stupid of ASUS though.

    • shottymcb@lemm.ee
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      5 months ago

      They don’t care if you’re under 16. They have to ask if they want to collect and sell your data. This is a big red sign that says “WE’RE WATCHING EVERYTHING THAT GOES THROUGH YOUR NETWORK AND SELLING IT TO WHOEVER WILL PAY US!”

      • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
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        5 months ago

        Yeah I don’t get why so many focus on “well, just lie and say you’re under 16.” Literally nothing to do with the state of affairs.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
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      5 months ago

      This isn’t pornhub buddy. This is a setting on a purchased product. Also, lying has nothing to do with collecting telemetry or forcing customers into it. You may want to realign your priorities.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
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      5 months 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.

    • meseek #2982@lemmy.caOP
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      5 months ago

      Probably. But still so shady to give the choice when it doesn’t actually work. Feels worse this way TBH.