UntangleⓇ Inc., a security software and appliance company, announced the release of a revolutionary new operating system (OS) for consumer Wi-Fi routers today at DEF CON 24. 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. Today, Untangle announced that NG Firewall is available to be flashed onto the Asus AC3100 RT-AC88U.
NG Firewall delivers a comprehensive solution for small-to-medium businesses and modern digital homes that require enterprise-grade perimeter security with the flexibility of a convergent Unified Threat Management (UTM) device and the ease of use of a consumer product. Untangle’s industry-leading approach to network traffic visibility and policy management gives its customers deep insight into what’s happening on their network via its database-driven reporting engine and 360° dashboard.
“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.”
Wi-Fi Router Firmware Shortcomings
In early 2016, The Wall Street Journal looked at the security capabilities of the top 20 home routers. Only six of those had up-to-date firmware at that time, and just two of them had good password processes. The recent ASUS settlement with the Federal Trade Commision over the critical security flaws in their home routers is further proof that home router manufacturers don’t take security seriously.
What Untangle Brings to Home Routers
The biggest challenge facing home networks isn’t necessarily even security: it’s the lack of visibility into and control over the traffic. This is where Untangle can help. 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. NG Firewall allows users to create rules for managing access to websites, applications, and content based on criteria like device, user, time of day, day of week and more. Customers can see the effect of those rules through drill-down reports that can be monitored via the 360° Dashboard, a single pane of glass view into what’s happening on the network.
The Threat of Lockdown
In November, 2015, the FCC issued a clarification to its SOFTWARE SECURITY REQUIREMENTS FOR U-NII DEVICES regulations. While the intention of the FCC was to restrict modifications that would take devices out of compliance, router manufacturers (notably TP-LINK) used the requirements as an excuse to lock down their routers so that alternative firmware could not be installed on routers distributed in the United States. This action shuts out open source firmware that extends router capabilities via improvements to range, network segmentation, security and more –– including Untangle’s. Grassroots action from organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and Save Wi-Fi to combat this outcome continue.
Untangle firmly believes that users have the right to modify the software on the hardware they purchase. As a downloadable, open source software firewall distribution, Untangle’s NG Firewall is predicated on the idea that hardware exists to deliver value from software, not the other way around. Untangle is committed to fighting for the users and their right to install the software of their choosing on the hardware (servers, routers, phones and more) they purchase.
Pricing & Availability
Untangle NG Firewall firmware is available as a free download. For more details about the release, please visit untangle.com.
DEF CON 24
Untangle will be onsite at DEF CON 24 at the Paris & Bally’s Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. Visit us at booth #17.
Follow along for all of our DEF CON 24 announcements: @untangle_inc. Fight for the users along with us by tagging your tweets with @untangle_inc and #root or #ownyourhardware.
About Untangle
Untangle is an innovator in cybersecurity for the below-enterprise market, safeguarding people’s digital lives at home, work and on-the-go. Untangle’s integrated suite of software and appliances provides enterprise-grade capabilities and consumer-oriented simplicity, bringing a new generation of smart security to homes and small-to-mid-sized businesses. Untangle’s award-winning network and endpoint security solutions are trusted by over 400,000 customers, protecting nearly 5 million people, their computers and networks around the world. Untangle is headquartered in San Jose, California. For more information,
[Source: Dark Reading]
