With almost all of your Internet traffic passing through your router, it makes sense to be concerned about your privacy and security, especially since the FCC has banned routers made in foreign countries because they pose serious risks. Ultimately, most router manufacturers collect data, including brands like Netgear. Which device does not collect data? Routers see an inordinate amount of it, from the websites you visit to the people you talk to. In most cases, you can review a company’s data privacy policy.
Netgear has both an official privacy policy and a data analytics policy, which outline its practices, but like most legal documents, they can be difficult to read. The list is long and this overview is not exhaustive, but it includes contact details, account information, customer records, demographics, internet activity (like ISP, speeds, error rates, app downloads), hardware usage, and other analytics.
Overall, Netgear doesn’t seem to track online activity, that is, what you actually do while browsing. An exception to tracking is if you use a product feature that monitors activity, such as Parental Controls, which reports which sites your family visits. Netgear claims that it does not share your data with third parties nor does it sell it. Most importantly, you can opt out of data collection and analysis practices, and there are several ways to do so.
How do I opt out of Netgear data collection?
In some U.S. states, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, opt-out policies carry strict consequences for businesses that do not comply. For this reason, some products available in the EU may offer easier ways to unsubscribe. For example, EU and UK residents can opt out directly from Netgear’s router analytics collection program. If you have a Nighthawk or Orbi model, during initial setup the router will simply ask you if you want to enable data analysis, but if you’ve been using a router for a while you can find the option under Settings > Data Collection.
This option may or may not be available to users of routers located elsewhere. Where available, the same methods can be used on some models of Nighthawk and Orbi routers. Log in to the router administration page and go to Advanced > Administration > Router Update, find Router Analytics Data Collection and make sure it is disabled.
Additionally, you can visit the Netgear Privacy Preferences page – Privacy Request Center – to adjust how data is processed. You can request access to available data, send personal information to someone such as a lawyer or advisor, request deletion, correct inaccuracies and submit an opt-out request so that your data is not used for marketing or advertising purposes. A final option is to submit a formal opt-out request to Analyticspolicy@netgear.com. Keep in mind that this will limit Netgear’s ability to notify you of security issues with your devices and you may not be able to access “trial or paid subscription services.”
Are Netgear policies acceptable and safe?
Although no amount of data collected can ever be completely secure, Netgear products are relatively safe to use. But it doesn’t hurt to learn a little more about the company in question and its operations. Netgear is an American communications company, with no parent organization or sole owner. If you look at who Netgear actually owns, it is a publicly traded company. Some of its major shareholders include BlackRock, Brandes Investment Partners and other financial companies. Its products are manufactured and assembled in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Taiwan, not China, which is likely why Netgear enjoys an exemption from the FCC’s router ban; as well as the fact that its routers are used for military operations.
Netgear’s data collection practices and policies align with those of the majority of other router manufacturers, including Asus, D-Link, Eero and TP-Link. Of the companies mentioned, Asus and Google (Nest) are the only other providers with a simple opt-out process. No matter what brand you own, it’s possible for your Wi-Fi router to spy on you and your data, so it’s always a good idea to be careful and approach the practice with some discernment. There is a fine line between what they can actually see and what they collect.
