Your definition of Open is different

Cisco recently pushed an update to their routers that required users to sign up for a privacy-crushing “cloud service” or forfeit management abilities on the router. This caused all sorts of outrage. Cisco quickly changed their privacy statement and is trying to appease concerns as detailed on their blog.

But the simple fact is that your definition of “open” is different from Cisco’s (not to mention Google, Microsoft and Apple among countless other vendors). The internet was built on the premise of free communication and exchange of ideas. It is the wild-wild-west it was designed to be. Cisco just wants your network to be “open” and thinks you should be ok with that.

I can see where Cisco is coming from; they saw an opportunity for possible add-on services and vigilant citizens of the internet caught this greedy and reckless shift in policy. I imagine that Cisco is going by the notion that people have “nothing to hide” which is completely irresponsible and a dangerous way of thinking. Living with the 21st century internet, consumers have to be vigilant of what services they consume as well as countless devices that may be mishandling private data without their knowledge. Your privacy is valuable. Hopefully Cisco learned a lesson.