I bought a Chinese RT-AC86U should I be worried about security & privacy?

[liukuohao]

Hi guys,

I bought a Chinese version RT-AC86U.

It is chinese version because of this:

How to remove it totally?

It bothers me because I don't really trust the Chinese firmware with preinstalled plug-in.

To remove it, do I need to reflash a complete new image?

Thank you.

 

[AndreiV]

You bought a Chinese router when you already know you don't trust Chinese firmware ?

You may well find you can't flash firmware for other regions .

This is not NEWS so please edit your thread title.

 

[liukuohao]

You bought a Chinese router when you already know you don't trust Chinese firmware ?

You may well find you can't flash firmware for other regions .

This is not NEWS so please edit your thread title.

The seller did not specify that the 2nd hand router was actually from China.

I have edited my Title, no more "NEWS" as prefix.

 

[ColinTaylor]

You can't remove the UU Accelerator, it's part of the base firmware (regardless of region). It only becomes visible in the GUI on Chinese models as it's a China-only service.

 

[drinkingbird]

Don't worry, that feature is only for "weather research".

 

[Yooshaw]

Isn't ASUS a Taiwanese company? Is the firmware developed in China or Taiwan? I suspect the latter, but not sure at all.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Isn't ASUS a Taiwanese company? Is the firmware developed in China or Taiwan? I suspect the latter, but not sure at all.

Asus - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

:
I wouldn't know if/how to do it using the userspace tools however, and everyone back in Taiwan who might know the answer is off for the holiday.

 

[PRSXFENG]

Is there a privacy policy you have to accept before enabling it (eg with AiProtection by Trend Micro)

I suppose you could just leave it turned off

As for if the firmware pings chinese servers, I have no idea on that, you need someone with deeper knowledge of the chinese firmware

But do note that IIRC the Chinese models have lower power outputs on the wireless due to regulations, so do be aware of that

 

[Yooshaw]

Asus - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

So for OP - your real question seems to be is if you trust Taiwanese firmware or not. Have to imagine they are not helping China collect any information in any way.

 

[liukuohao]

Don't worry, that feature is only for "weather research".

Uh? Weather research ? This something to do with gaming? is it?

 

[liukuohao]

All your comments posted are news to me. I will need to find out more information.

As far as I can tell the power supply unit is meant for China market.

 

[Yooshaw]

Power supply doesn't matter - what we're saying is even the China market routers have firmware developed in Taiwan, not China.

 

[liukuohao]

After further digging, I found this, it something to do with NetEase Games

 

[drinkingbird]

Uh? Weather research ? This something to do with gaming? is it?

Don't watch the news much?