Cisco Systems, Inc.: Difference between revisions
Added information about Cisco Bug Search tool withholding crucial data from non-paying customers |
Added Cisco removing access to critical downloaded and dated a cited source in withholding bug details. |
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It would be good to find it archived somewhere since CNet is probably considered more reputable than Networkworld. Or we could maybe link to a Google Translate link for the Golem article. --> | It would be good to find it archived somewhere since CNet is probably considered more reputable than Networkworld. Or we could maybe link to a Google Translate link for the Golem article. --> | ||
===== Withholding bug details from customers without a service contract ===== | =====Withholding bug details from customers without a service contract===== | ||
Cisco hides bug details (most importantly the "resolution/workaround" of a bug) from non-paying customers. You are required to log into a Cisco account to view bug details, and even then you are only permitted to view 200 bugs a month without paying for a service contract.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cisco Bug Search Tool |url=https://bst.cisco.com/quickview/bug/CSCvu61065 |url-status=live}}</ref> | Cisco hides bug details (most importantly the "resolution/workaround" of a bug) from non-paying customers. You are required to log into a Cisco account to view bug details, and even then you are only permitted to view 200 bugs a month without paying for a service contract.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-25 |title=Cisco Bug Search Tool |url=https://bst.cisco.com/quickview/bug/CSCvu61065 |url-status=live}}</ref> | ||
"Bug information is viewable for customers and partners who have a service contract. Registered users can view up to 200 bugs per month without a service contract." | "Bug information is viewable for customers and partners who have a service contract. Registered users can view up to 200 bugs per month without a service contract." | ||
===== Removing access to critical downloads for products that are "end-of-support" ===== | |||
Cisco removes all downloads for products that are past their "end-of-support" date, making it impossible to obtain software or firmware from official sources for your Cisco product. Cisco claims "'''Note:''' For security purposes, upon retirement of a product, Cisco Systems purposely removes documentation, downloads, and product pages from the Cisco.com website, though you may be able to obtain peer support in the Cisco Community.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2026-02-25 |title=Retired Products |url=https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/security/retired.html |url-status=live}}</ref>" This is considered [[security through obscurity]]. If you, a consumer, have obtained obsolete Cisco hardware and wish to utilize it in a working environment, Cisco has deliberately made it harder to update your device to shield against security issues, or add features. | |||
==References== | ==References== | ||
Revision as of 00:37, 25 February 2026
| Basic information | |
|---|---|
| Founded | December 10, 1984 |
| Legal Structure | Public |
| Industry | Computing, Information Technology |
| Also known as | |
| Official website | https://www.cisco.com/ |
Cisco Systems, Inc. is an American multinational digital communications technology conglomerate corporation headquartered in San Jose, California. Cisco develops, manufactures, and sells networking hardware, software, telecommunications equipment and other high-technology services and products.[1]
Cisco's founders were crucial to many of modern day implementations and protocols of Local Area Network systems we have today.
Consumer-impact summary
Company Issues
Business model
Cisco Meraki
Meraki is a cloud managed IT infrastructure division of Cisco acquired in 2012. Cisco Meraki devices include network firewalls, switching, wireless access points and security cameras all managed from their online web portal.[2]
All Cisco Meraki devices require paid licensing to work and are very strict if this becomes out of compliance. Failure to obtain proper licensing will not only remove your access from configuring your equipment in the portal, it will cease all internet traffic from moving on previously working devices.
"What happens when I reach my co-termination date?
Immediately after reaching your co-termination date, you will receive a 30-day grace period ... If you chose not to renew before the end of the 30-day grace period, the organization will be "shut down"(License Problem - Out of Compliance). You will no longer be able to manage your devices via the Meraki cloud and your Meraki network devices will cease to function. This means that you will no longer be able to configure or make changes to your Meraki network equipment, and your Meraki network products will no longer allow traffic to pass to the Internet."[3]
Complicit in implementing state-operated internet censorship in the People's Republic of China
According to internal PowerPoint presentations from 2002 that surfaced online, Cisco systems knowingly supplied hardware used in China's Golden Shield project, informally known as The Great Firewall of China. This is the infrastructure used by the CCP to heavily censor the internet in China for its citizens and to block access to independent information.[4][5]
Withholding bug details from customers without a service contract
Cisco hides bug details (most importantly the "resolution/workaround" of a bug) from non-paying customers. You are required to log into a Cisco account to view bug details, and even then you are only permitted to view 200 bugs a month without paying for a service contract.[6]
"Bug information is viewable for customers and partners who have a service contract. Registered users can view up to 200 bugs per month without a service contract."
Removing access to critical downloads for products that are "end-of-support"
Cisco removes all downloads for products that are past their "end-of-support" date, making it impossible to obtain software or firmware from official sources for your Cisco product. Cisco claims "Note: For security purposes, upon retirement of a product, Cisco Systems purposely removes documentation, downloads, and product pages from the Cisco.com website, though you may be able to obtain peer support in the Cisco Community.[7]" This is considered security through obscurity. If you, a consumer, have obtained obsolete Cisco hardware and wish to utilize it in a working environment, Cisco has deliberately made it harder to update your device to shield against security issues, or add features.
References
- ↑ "FORM 10-K" (PDF). 2012. Archived (PDF) from the original on 8 Jul 2025. Retrieved 9 Apr 2025.
- ↑ Constine, Josh (18 Nov 2012). "Cisco Acquires Enterprise Wi-Fi Startup Meraki For $1.2 Billion In Cash". TechCrunch. Archived from the original on 9 Jul 2025. Retrieved 9 Apr 2025.
- ↑ "Meraki Licensing FAQs". Meraki. 16 Jan 2025. Archived from the original on 23 Aug 2025. Retrieved 9 Apr 2025.
- ↑ Bort, Julie (2011-05-23). "Cisco sued over its alleged part in Great Chinese Firewall scandal". Networkworld. Archived from the original on 20 Aug 2025. Retrieved 2025-06-06.
- ↑ Broache, Anne (2008-05-20). "Senators weigh new laws over China online censorship". Archived from the original on 2008-09-07.
- ↑ "Cisco Bug Search Tool". 2026-02-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Retired Products". 2026-02-25.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)