Looking for feedback: Anyone considering AiCloud important to them?

[JGrana]

How is using AIcloud on stock FW any better ? It is a problem , there are better options I guess I never liked any"cloud" I have had access to all my files from anywhere in the world for over 20 years with no problems .Don't have to worry about the 'cloud" going bye bye or my files being
held for ransom

Agreed - there are better options - but primarily for the more technically advanced.
For the everyday, not-technical consumer it is a good Marketing point and some might actually want to use one of more of the functions.
Better said - non-techie, go stock and use AiCloud if you choose. More techie - go Asuswrt-Merlin and use other, better options.

 

[DJones]

The questions why AiCloud isn't available will be directed to RMerlin. Me, you and whoever is not using it - don't care. If he's okay with that - let be it. There will be users registering there just to ask this very question after their previous setup stopped working with Asuswrt-Merlin update. Isn't Web Access from WAN a security risk as well? It's there, Enable/Disable - user's choice. Why not remove it from Asuswrt-Merlin along with AiCloud? What about entire Firewall Enable/Disable page? PPTP VPN is also a security risk, why keep it? User access to /jffs - cut it off!

Honestly users flooding the forums asking questions is what it is. We're not obligated to answer neither is RMerlin he can put it in the forum rules or read me first. Just reply with a link to either and end the conversation.

 

[sfx2000]

Considering AiCloud's history, I am wondering if getting rid of it might not be a good idea. There are a now far better alternatives to achieve similar results (free/inexpensive cloud services, Plex, Jellyfin, a VPN, etc...)

Anyone for whom losing AiCloud in Asuswrt-Merlin would be a deal breaker for using the firmware?

(I know people who don't use it will say "just drop it", but I am more concerned in people who actually DO use it).

Only thing I can say...

Keep it simple - there's a lot of features that might not be the best idea..

 

[virus_59]

I am a simple user. I do not use VPN. I do not use external clouds.

But I use AiCloud to access my files via WebDAV.
And I use WAN access (and DDNS) to occasionally log in and wake up my NAS when I am not at home.

I need these functions. Otherwise, I do not see the point in overpaying for a fast router if it can do nothing but only routing.

Now I am thinking about switching to another brand. Keenetic.

If AiCloud is removed, then the transition is inevitable.

 

[DJones]

I am a simple user. I do not use VPN. I do not use external clouds.

But I use AiCloud to access my files via WebDAV.
And I use WAN access (and DDNS) to occasionally log in and wake up my NAS when I am not at home.

I need these functions. Otherwise, I do not see the point in overpaying for a fast router if it can do nothing but only routing.

Now I am thinking about switching to another brand. Keenetic.

If AiCloud is removed, then the transition is inevitable.

If you don’t mind my asking. Since your a simple user how does Asuswrt-Merlin benefit you more then stock asuswrt firmware. Do you use additional advanced feature offered with Merlin or amtm? If not know the stock version will keep AiCloud, it’s only Merlin’s version that he is determining the usefulness of AiCloud.

 

[virus_59]

If you don’t mind my asking. Since your a simple user how does Asuswrt-Merlin benefit you more then stock asuswrt firmware. Do you use additional advanced feature offered with Merlin or amtm? If not know the stock version will keep AiCloud, it’s only Merlin’s version that he is determining the usefulness of AiCloud.

The additional functions that I use (via scripts in the JFFS):
- redirecting the DLNA server to a specific folder
- cron script in init.start for automatic deletion of old files from the folder to which several CCTV cameras write

 

[RMerlin]

I need these functions. Otherwise, I do not see the point in overpaying for a fast router if it can do nothing but only routing.

All of these can be done far more securely by using the VPN server present on your router. I`m pretty sure that any other alternative you might find from other router manufacturers will also require you to use a VPN.

 

[virus_59]

All of these can be done far more securely by using the VPN server present on your router.

You are certainly right.
But I am also lazy, like most "ordinary" users ;-)

 

[RMerlin]

You are certainly right.
But I am also lazy, like most "ordinary" users ;-)

Then I hope for you your forum username isn't prophetic in any way...

I strongly recommend you update to the recently released test builds then.

 

[virus_59]

Then I hope for you your forum username isn't prophetic in any way...

My AX88U was already hacked in October.

BIG issue with ASUS routers killing network with upload flood

AXE16000 running Merlin firmware, AT&T fiber internet connection. The system status page reports HUGE (40MB/S!!! On a 1Gbit connection!) upload spikes, and all 4 cpu cores spike and my connection to the internet drops. I have a HomeAssistant monitor that pings google every 60 seconds and it...

www.snbforums.com

Now I have disabled AiCloud and WAN access.
And I don't like it.

 

[bennor]

Now I have disabled AiCloud and WAN access.
And I don't like it.

Sounds like this is a perfect time to go the VPN route as RMerlin suggested above. Plenty of "how-to" guides available on the internet for setting up VPN on Asus routers. What ever you do, keep the AiCloud features and WAN GUI/SSH access disabled for now.

 

[langesgnu]

I tried AiCloud a bit as I would really like to have some easy solution for sharing files temporarily, like an external dropbox, without having to expose any internal systems or giving VPN access to other people. However, AiCloud also does not really work as intended for that and other people are having difficulties to use it, so I dropped that idea again.

 

[Yota]

This thread prompted some members to test what AiCloud is, and some of them forgot to turn off AiCloud, so the number of potentially vulnerable users may have increased.

 

[sfx2000]

All of these can be done far more securely by using the VPN server present on your router. I`m pretty sure that any other alternative you might find from other router manufacturers will also require you to use a VPN.

The alt-clouds like Microsoft, Google, and Apple solutions - along with 3rd parties - they have a lot of SW engineering support to fix bugs and more importantly - security issues...

The question from a security perspective - how important is AICloud to Asus bottom line on a finance perspective...

 

[jsbeddow]

The question from a security perspective - how important is AICloud to Asus bottom line on a finance perspective...

Yeah, in many respects it's a bit of a marketing nightmare: features that were advertised (which likely included those features literally printed on the box, as well as all the online product descriptions across hundreds if not thousands of websites) are now null and void if they fully delete those features from the stock firmware.

It's one thing for @RMerlin to propose pulling those features from his firmware: remember that is an optional install, geared towards more advanced users, but a whole different subject to pull them out from the stock firmware for the above marketing reasons.

 

[Depthcommaoutof]

Just a few weeks ago I was setting up a new router with Openwrt-Merlin, of course. I feel there are a crew of regular folks working on it who would scream like a wild-child if there were nefarious shenanigans afoot and they would certainly call out garbage so I seek it out. All of this is good for me as a user.

I said, "quit being such a prude;" this AiCloud is here and you shouldn't miss out just because it looks like there is no way it works securely. Then I got infected a few hours later.

I wouldn't miss it if you removed it and would love to have the feedback that you think it is icky too.

 

[virus_59]

This whole idea of cutting off AiCloud is like amputating your arm when it hurts. You don't do that, you try to heal it.

Of course, there's always a chance that it will happen again. But cutting it off is not a solution.

 

[Plak]

Never used it once.

 

[Twiglets]

This whole idea of cutting off AiCloud is like amputating your arm when it hurts. You don't do that, you try to heal it.

Of course, there's always a chance that it will happen again. But cutting it off is not a solution.

The problem with 'Healing it' in this instance is that the 'Hurt' may happen again !!!
AiCloud being removed is an inconvenience to you BUT you do have a better solution available, as advised.
Getting rid of a potential security risk is a good idea and benefits *ALL* including you.

I suggest getting rid of the option and documenting the reasoning in a popup.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[virus_59]

The problem with 'Healing it' in this instance is that the 'Hurt' may happen again !!!

"Hurt" will happen again, and the chance is 100%.

But what will be the reason?
If it is DDNS - cut out DDNS,
If it is AiProtection - cut out AiProtection,
If it is ... - cut out ...

Is this your decision?