Privacy Issues Asuswrt-Merlin

[bluonek]

How much of the Asuswrt source code is closed source (e.g. AiCloud)? Are there known privacy issues as with Cisco's consumer routers?

Thanks!
b1k

 

[Rankdropper84]

How much of the Asuswrt source code is closed source (e.g. AiCloud)? Are there known privacy issues as with Cisco's consumer routers?

Thanks!
b1k

What makes you ask in the first place?

 

[bluonek]

What makes you ask in the first place?

Good question, it was the include of Trend Micro's security software in the latest release. After some research I realized Asuswrt-Merlin isn't 100% open source, for some reason I was previously under the impression it was.

I fall under that category of people who values privacy as a rule - that's what it really boils down to.

thnx

 

[Rankdropper84]

Good question, it was the include of Trend Micro's security software in the latest release. After some research I realized Asuswrt-Merlin isn't 100% open source, for some reason I was previously under the impression it was.

I fall under that category of people who values privacy as a rule - that's what it really boils down to.

thnx

I am currently trying to figure out a similar question I am having relating to the two of them. If I find anything out I will be sure to post back here.

Btw I think I remember reading awhile ago from Merlin that he has access to most of the source code, although i want to say not everybody can get there hands on it, and the bit of code that he doesn't have access to is in relations to security of some form.

 

[RMerlin]

Good question, it was the include of Trend Micro's security software in the latest release. After some research I realized Asuswrt-Merlin isn't 100% open source, for some reason I was previously under the impression it was.

I fall under that category of people who values privacy as a rule - that's what it really boils down to.

thnx

Everything that isn't open source in my firmware isn't open sourced in Asus's firmware either. Every single change or contribution I've made is open sourced, and available on my Github repo. So if you have any worries about privacy, then note that they also apply 100% to the stock firmware. None of them would be exclusive to my firmware.

Privacy is actually one of the reasons why I've refused so far to implement any kind of automatic update checker in the firmware.

The reality today is if you want a router that's 100% open sourced, you will most likely have to find one of the rare models that fully supports OpenWRT (that means no Broadcom-based device for starter), or develop your own setup with a PC running Linux. Cause neither DD-WRT nor Tomato are 100% open sourced either.