EFF releases test version Open Wireless Router firmware

The Electronic Frontier Foundation is working on router firmware with an emphasis on securely sharing an Internet connection. The digital civil rights movement has now released an alpha version of its Open Wireless Router for the Netgear WNDR3800 router.

The firmware developed by EFF is based on CeroWRT, a spin-off of OpenWRT. This firmware has been named Open Wireless Router and should eventually be able to run on numerous routers. In the run-up to further development, the EFF has chosen to release an early alpha version during the Hope X Hackers Conference. It currently only runs on the Netgear WNDR3800.

The purpose of the modified firmware is to make it easier to share the Internet connection on a router with others. While many routers include a so-called guest mode, these implementations are often insecure, according to the EFF. The Open Wireless Router firmware is said to offer a more secure guest environment over WiFi.

In addition to a more secure sharing function, the EFF states that the Open Wireless Router is also optimized for more efficient sharing of an Internet connection via a Wi-Fi router. This would also allow guest users to get higher speeds without noticeably affecting the provider’s connection. The configuration of the router can also be accessed via a secure ssh connection and a web interface, and updates are offered via the Tor network.