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==== Removing access to critical downloads for products that are end-of-support ====
==== Removing access to critical downloads for products that are end-of-support ====
[[File:Screenshot 2026-02-25 at 1.07.39 pm.png|thumb|Cisco's Retired Products page with a note explaining that they purposely remove documentation, downloads and product pages from the Cisco.com website "for security purposes"]]
[[File:Cisco Security removes everything for discontinued products.png|thumb|Cisco's Retired Products page with a note explaining that they purposely remove documentation, downloads and product pages from the Cisco.com website "for security purposes"]]
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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222210213/https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/security/retired.html |archive-date=2026-02-22 |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Cisco Product Support}}</ref> This is considered to be [[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.
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 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20260222210213/https://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/support/security/retired.html |archive-date=2026-02-22 |access-date=2026-02-25 |website=Cisco Product Support}}</ref> This is considered to be [[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.