The agency argued that the public interest would be better served by allowing these limited updates rather than freezing software support entirely. According to the FCC, the waiver provides regulators time to consider a more permanent framework while avoiding immediate cybersecurity risks to users currently operating affected devices.
Importantly, the waiver does not reverse the broader restrictions or remove the devices from the Covered List. Instead, it applies only to already-authorized products and to software- and firmware-related changes intended to maintain safe and secure operation. Manufacturers must still comply with other FCC requirements governing permissive changes and equipment certification.
The move highlights the increasingly complex balancing act regulators worldwide face as governments seek to secure communications infrastructure without inadvertently creating new cybersecurity vulnerabilities.
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Etiido Uko is an engineer and technical writer with over nine years of experience in documentation and reporting. He is deeply passionate about all things gadgets, technology, and engineering. ","collapsible":{"enabled":true,"maxHeight":250,"readMoreText":"Read more","readLessText":"Read less"}}), "https://slice.vanilla.futurecdn.net/13-4-23/js/authorBio.js"); } else { console.error('%c FTE ','background: #9306F9; color: #ffffff','no lazy slice hydration function available'); } Etiido Uko Social Links Navigation News Contributor Etiido Uko is an engineer and technical writer with over nine years of experience in documentation and reporting. He is deeply passionate about all things gadgets, technology, and engineering.
Cyber_Akuma Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I have a huge conscern that they made them agree to put backdoors in their updates as part of this sudden "change of heart" to suddenly allow firmware updates for the next three years. Reply
USAFRet Cyber_Akuma said: Call me a conspiracy theorist, but I have a huge conscern that they made them agree to put backdoors in their updates as part of this sudden "change of heart" to suddenly allow firmware updates for the next three years. They don't have to. Part of the original functionality is a log of when, where, how high, and for how long. They just need to get that from the mothership. I have a log in my HolyStone app that shows all that, going back 3+ years. Reply
hwertz This is so dumb. So OK you aren't allowing new models from these vendors (which is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.) But how does barring software updates on already deployed hardware benefit anyone? At least they've extended it (probably extended enough, since Netgear, D-Link, etc. aren't exactly known for providing many years of updates anyway.) Reply
John Kiser hwertz said: This is so dumb. So OK you aren't allowing new models from these vendors (which is a whole 'nother kettle of fish.) But how does barring software updates on already deployed hardware benefit anyone? At least they've extended it (probably extended enough, since Netgear, D-Link, etc. aren't exactly known for providing many years of updates anyway.) The FCC is currently full on idiocy. We don't have the domestic production and it is easy enough to monitor network traffic for telse that know what they are doing to tell if something is good or bad. Reply
saunupe1911 This is confusing. So basically don't buy any router at this point? Reply
phead128 Is this the same FCC that tried to ban Jimmy Kimmel because they don't like his jokes? Is this the same FCC that removed Net Neutrality because Internet giants lobbying? Is this the same FCC that banned foreign made routers and giving Netgear a solo monopoly as of that makes things more "secure"? Who is to say Netgear isn't giving backdoors to NSA in return for monopoly? Is this the same FCC that banned new models of foreign drones because of "muh national security" when there is no evidence of national security issues? FCC is run by a bunch of incompetents that exceed even Kash Patel's or Pete Kegsbreath' level drunkard incompetency. Reply
daftshadow Surveillance state… the US is becoming. Reply
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Reference reading
- https://www.tomshardware.com/networking/routers/SPONSORED_LINK_URL
- https://www.tomshardware.com/networking/routers/fcc-reverses-course-allows-software-updates-for-foreign-made-drones-and-routers-until-2029-agency-says-blocking-security-patches-could-create-cybersecurity-risks#main
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