Cisco Systems: Linksys Privacy Policy Removed After Backlash

Cisco Systems has removed part of their privacy statement from the latest automatic firmware update for their Linksys routers, after the company received a huge backlash by users who though the company would be tracking and sharing their information.

The company’s cloud service went live last week, part of which will allow users of some Wi-Fi routers to manage their devices even when they’re not home, reports PC World. Cisco released a statement after removing the controversial portion of the privacy statement, saying:

“We removed content that could have been misinterpreted as being inconsistent with Cisco’s privacy statement based on a selective analysis.”

Times Leader reports that the specific statement users were so mad about was the following:

“We may keep track of certain information related to your use of the Service, including but not limited to the status and health of your network and networked products; which apps relating to the Service you are using; which features you are using within the Service infrastructure; network traffic (e.g., megabytes per hour); Internet history …”

David McCulloch, a spokesman for Cisco Systems, stated that, “In a nutshell, this was just a mistake.” However, PC World reports that the spokesman was unable to explain how the language was included by mistake.

The company is working to quell users’ fears that their privacy will be violated, according to Value Walk, by posting the following statement on their blog:

“When a customer signs up for a Cisco Connect Cloud account, personal information is used only to establish an account in order to provide customer support. Consistent with Cisco’s practices, Cisco Connect Cloud does not actively track, collect or store personal info or usage data for any other purposes, nor is it transmitted to third parties.”

Are you worried that companies like this will try to invade your privacy by looking at what you do on the internet?