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New Home Router OS Tackles Firmware Shortcomings

posted by cmn32480 on Sunday August 07 2016, @06:07PM   
from the Untangling-the-mess dept.

MrPlow writes:

Submitted via IRC for TheMightyBuzzard

Router hardware has evolved and improved over the years, but its firmware remains stuck in the dark ages when it comes to security, network traffic visibility and control. Recognizing the inherent limitations in popular commercial routers, Untangle set about making a radical new OS for home routers based on its popular, broadly installed and easy-to-use NG Firewall product.

Untangle's NG Firewall will be available to flash onto various router models, beginning with the Asus AC3100 RT AC88U.

"The open source community has known for a long time what router manufacturers are loathe to admit: router firmware is lacking," said Dirk Morris, founder and chief product officer at Untangle. "Projects like DD-WRT have gained traction because of the limitations of the operating systems developed by hardware manufacturers. Firmware has failed to provide adequate security to the modern home, let alone network traffic visibility and shaping. Untangle handles these issues and more."

The biggest challenge facing home networks isn't necessarily even security: it's the lack of visibility into and control over the traffic. Unlike commercial firmware on today's home Wi-Fi routers, Untangle NG Firewall logs traffic for rich, robust reporting into every facet of what's happening online: sites the kids are visiting, neighbors jumping on the wireless network, and the newest IP-enabled gadget phoning home.

Source: https://www.helpnetsecurity.com/2016/08/05/new-home-router-os/

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Original Submission

• Odd place to startOdd place to start (Score: 2) by frojack on Sunday August 07 2016, @07:31PM

  by frojack (1554) on Sunday August 07 2016, @07:31PM (#385026) Journal

  They mention starting with the Asus AC3100 RT AC88U as a target platform. However, that router is relatively new, and not known to be particularly wanting in terms of firmware. It has a capable processor, and not horrible software which has had updates.

  Why not start with something well deployed, has an older processor, and has not seen updates since known vulnerabilities have become known?

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  No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.

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• So they can sell itSo they can sell it (Score: 3, Interesting) by Magic Oddball on Sunday August 07 2016, @09:28PM

  by Magic Oddball (3847) on Sunday August 07 2016, @09:28PM (#385049) Journal

  My guess is that they're targeting a new high-end router so they can sell it flashed them with their OS at really high prices. (Or rather, they're targeting a new router in part to justify the high cost they'll sell at.) I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually turns out that their OS turned out to be a customized version of a relatively–modular open firmware like Tomato.

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  • Re:So they can sell it(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 07 2016, @10:52PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Sunday August 07 2016, @10:52PM (#385073)

    http://www.snbforums.com/threads/state-of-the-project-august-2016.33995/ [snbforums.com]

    And apparently ASUS is basically going to closed source.

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  • Re:So they can sell itRe:So they can sell it (Score: 2) by Magic Oddball on Sunday August 07 2016, @11:05PM

    by Magic Oddball (3847) on Sunday August 07 2016, @11:05PM (#385075) Journal

    Sorry for the mangled first sentence... I thought I hit "Preview" and instead hit "Submit." :-p
    (Wow, not my day… I apparently also hit "preview" instead of "submit" for this comment before walking off.)

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    • Re:So they can sell it(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 08 2016, @11:43AM

      by Anonymous Coward on Monday August 08 2016, @11:43AM (#385254)

      Its Jack Daniels's fault.

      Parent