Bambu Lab Authorization Control System: Difference between revisions

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The manufacturer states this change is required for security, but community members note that many of the security vulnerabilities being addressed stem from Bambu's own cloud-centric design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control<ref name="bambulab-forum-134549/12">https://forum.bambulab.com/t/bambu-studio-1-10-2-public-beta/134549/12</ref>. The update forces users into using Bambu Connect middleware if they want to retain cloud functionality.

This can be characterised as a significant post-purchase reduction in functionality for existing owners who bought their printers with the understanding they could use third-party software and home-automation tools, but also only affects users actively choosing to use Bambu Cloud at the same time. The inability to revert these changes, combined with the mandatory nature of the update for new printers, is used to demonstrate how manufacturers can use software updates to unilaterally modify the capabilities of hardware products after purchase, although in this case the changes affect only people already choosing to use the cloud service<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/9</ref>.

This can be characterised as a significant post-purchase reduction in functionality for existing owners who bought their printers with the understanding they could use third-party software and home-automation tools, but also only affects users actively choosing to use Bambu Cloud at the same time. The inability to revert these changes, combined with the mandatory nature of the update for new printers, is used to demonstrate how manufacturers can use software updates to unilaterally modify the capabilities of hardware products after purchase, although in this case the changes affect only people already choosing to use the cloud service<ref name="bambulab-forum-3643/9">https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/9</ref>.

For users that would want to use a third-party slicer while using their cloud service, Bambu would require those users to download and install Bambu Connect in order to send gcode wirelessly over LAN or over the cloud. While Bambu claims that they were in contact with SoftFever, the developer of OrcaSlicer, as of writing, SoftFever still does not have any keys for Bambu Connect and the new firmware is only available as opt-in beta at the moment.<ref name=":1">https://x.com/fever_soft/status/1880630570809795034?t=qJyh4SGFZFllcYrqexGW-Q&s=19</ref>

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* Camera feeds and operational data are processed through Bambu's servers while on a different network

* Users have limited visibility into how their data is collected, stored, and used in the cloud

* The system creates dependence on Bambu's cloud services availability for basic printer functionality<ref~~>https://forum.~~bambulab~~.com/t/full~~-~~non~~-~~cloud-based-network-option-needed/~~3643/9</~~ref~~>

* The system creates dependence on Bambu's cloud services availability for basic printer functionality<ref name="bambulab-forum-3643/9" />

While Bambu Lab maintains that cloud processing is necessary for security and functionality, community members argue this represents unnecessary data collection that could be handled locally<ref name="bambulab-forum-134549/12" />. The company's cloud infrastructure costs are significant, leading some users to speculate that future monetization of the cloud services may be planned<ref name="bambulab-forum-3643/5">https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/5</ref>. Therefore, people should assess if their use case mandates the use of the cloud service and disable it when it doesn't.

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== Customer reactions ==

Customer reactions have been overwhelmingly negative.<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/bambu-studio-1-10-2-public-beta/134549/4</ref><ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1i2psvz/firmware_update_introducing_new_authorization/</ref> Bambu Lab has historically pushed cloud-based printer interaction while offering limited LAN mode functionality.<ref~~>https://forum.~~bambulab~~.com/t/full~~-~~non~~-~~cloud-based-network-option-needed/~~3643/9</~~ref~~> Many customers argue that the security issues this locked-down firmware claims to address are actually consequences of the company's cloud-based design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control<ref name="bambulab-forum-134549/12" />, which continues to infuriate users who are now told that security is the justification for a loss of freedom. As a result of the announcement of the shift, customer ratings on sites like Trustpilot rapidly dropped<ref>https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bambulab.com?sort=recency</ref>, with many reviews citing the restrictions as the reason for the bad reviews.

Customer reactions have been overwhelmingly negative.<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/bambu-studio-1-10-2-public-beta/134549/4</ref><ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1i2psvz/firmware_update_introducing_new_authorization/</ref> Bambu Lab has historically pushed cloud-based printer interaction while offering limited LAN mode functionality<ref name="bambulab-forum-3643/9" />. Many customers argue that the security issues this locked-down firmware claims to address are actually consequences of the company's cloud-based design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control<ref name="bambulab-forum-134549/12" />, which continues to infuriate users who are now told that security is the justification for a loss of freedom. As a result of the announcement of the shift, customer ratings on sites like Trustpilot rapidly dropped<ref>https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bambulab.com?sort=recency</ref>, with many reviews citing the restrictions as the reason for the bad reviews.

The shift raises privacy concerns as user print data, including file names, print settings, and camera feeds, must now pass through Bambu's cloud infrastructure.

@@ Line 78: / Line 78: @@
 The manufacturer states this change is required for security, but community members note that many of the security vulnerabilities being addressed stem from Bambu's own cloud-centric design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control<ref name="bambulab-forum-134549/12">https://forum.bambulab.com/t/bambu-studio-1-10-2-public-beta/134549/12</ref>. The update forces users into using Bambu Connect middleware if they want to retain cloud functionality.
-This can be characterised as a significant post-purchase reduction in functionality for existing owners who bought their printers with the understanding they could use third-party software and home-automation tools, but also only affects users actively choosing to use Bambu Cloud at the same time. The inability to revert these changes, combined with the mandatory nature of the update for new printers, is used to demonstrate how manufacturers can use software updates to unilaterally modify the capabilities of hardware products after purchase, although in this case the changes affect only people already choosing to use the cloud service<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/9</ref>.
+This can be characterised as a significant post-purchase reduction in functionality for existing owners who bought their printers with the understanding they could use third-party software and home-automation tools, but also only affects users actively choosing to use Bambu Cloud at the same time. The inability to revert these changes, combined with the mandatory nature of the update for new printers, is used to demonstrate how manufacturers can use software updates to unilaterally modify the capabilities of hardware products after purchase, although in this case the changes affect only people already choosing to use the cloud service<ref name="bambulab-forum-3643/9">https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/9</ref>.
 For users that would want to use a third-party slicer while using their cloud service, Bambu would require those users to download and install Bambu Connect in order to send gcode wirelessly over LAN or over the cloud. While Bambu claims that they were in contact with SoftFever, the developer of OrcaSlicer, as of writing, SoftFever still does not have any keys for Bambu Connect and the new firmware is only available as opt-in beta at the moment.<ref name=":1">https://x.com/fever_soft/status/1880630570809795034?t=qJyh4SGFZFllcYrqexGW-Q&s=19</ref>
@@ Line 183: / Line 183: @@
 * Camera feeds and operational data are processed through Bambu's servers while on a different network
 * Users have limited visibility into how their data is collected, stored, and used in the cloud
-* The system creates dependence on Bambu's cloud services availability for basic printer functionality<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/9</ref>
+* The system creates dependence on Bambu's cloud services availability for basic printer functionality<ref name="bambulab-forum-3643/9" />
 While Bambu Lab maintains that cloud processing is necessary for security and functionality, community members argue this represents unnecessary data collection that could be handled locally<ref name="bambulab-forum-134549/12" />. The company's cloud infrastructure costs are significant, leading some users to speculate that future monetization of the cloud services may be planned<ref name="bambulab-forum-3643/5">https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/5</ref>. Therefore, people should assess if their use case mandates the use of the cloud service and disable it when it doesn't.
@@ Line 191: / Line 191: @@
 == Customer reactions ==
-Customer reactions have been overwhelmingly negative.<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/bambu-studio-1-10-2-public-beta/134549/4</ref><ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1i2psvz/firmware_update_introducing_new_authorization/</ref> Bambu Lab has historically pushed cloud-based printer interaction while offering limited LAN mode functionality.<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/full-non-cloud-based-network-option-needed/3643/9</ref> Many customers argue that the security issues this locked-down firmware claims to address are actually consequences of the company's cloud-based design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control<ref name="bambulab-forum-134549/12" />, which continues to infuriate users who are now told that security is the justification for a loss of freedom. As a result of the announcement of the shift, customer ratings on sites like Trustpilot rapidly dropped<ref>https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bambulab.com?sort=recency</ref>, with many reviews citing the restrictions as the reason for the bad reviews.
+Customer reactions have been overwhelmingly negative.<ref>https://forum.bambulab.com/t/bambu-studio-1-10-2-public-beta/134549/4</ref><ref>https://old.reddit.com/r/BambuLab/comments/1i2psvz/firmware_update_introducing_new_authorization/</ref> Bambu Lab has historically pushed cloud-based printer interaction while offering limited LAN mode functionality<ref name="bambulab-forum-3643/9" />. Many customers argue that the security issues this locked-down firmware claims to address are actually consequences of the company's cloud-based design choices rather than inherent risks of local network control<ref name="bambulab-forum-134549/12" />, which continues to infuriate users who are now told that security is the justification for a loss of freedom. As a result of the announcement of the shift, customer ratings on sites like Trustpilot rapidly dropped<ref>https://www.trustpilot.com/review/bambulab.com?sort=recency</ref>, with many reviews citing the restrictions as the reason for the bad reviews.
 The shift raises privacy concerns as user print data, including file names, print settings, and camera feeds, must now pass through Bambu's cloud infrastructure.