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[jshackles]

「ニンテンドーWi-Fi USBコネクタ」および「ニンテンドーWi-Fiネットワークアダプタ」使用中止のお願い｜サポート情報｜Nintendo

「ニンテンドーWi-Fi USBコネクタ」および「ニンテンドーWi-Fiネットワークアダプタ」使用中止のお願いです。

www.nintendo.co.jp

In a recent blog post, Nintendo informs its customers that they should discontinue using their Wi-Fi dongle in their PCs. This is predominantly because their 17-year-old hardware still uses WEP encryption which is now easily bypassed.

For security protection, we ask that customers who are currently using the product stop using it immediately and switch to a commercially available network device.

I'm not exactly sure why they've just now decided to post this, as WEP has been inherently insecure for years. It was even pretty insecure in 2005.

 

[Nautilus]

I'm not exactly sure why they've just now decided to post this, as WEP has been inherently insecure for years. It was even pretty insecure in 2005.

Probably a lawsuit the public doesn't know about?

 

[ManaByte]

I'm not exactly sure why they've just now decided to post this, as WEP has been inherently insecure for years. It was even pretty insecure in 2005.

1. It's Nintendo.
2. It's the Internet.

I fully expect them to discover VoIP technology sometime around 2037.

 

[Deft Beck]

There's a good chance that a decent chunk of their userbase from the Wii/DS days bought the thing to play Mario Kart and never bothered to upgrade.

 

[a multicultural team of v]

1. It's Nintendo.
2. It's the Internet.

I fully expect them to discover VoIP technology sometime around 2037.

The Nintendo ISDN service is gonna be lit

 

[Ma-Yuan]

I have one of those still but in its original package.

 

[hemo memo]

1. It's Nintendo.
2. It's the Internet.

I fully expect them to discover VoIP technology sometime around 2077.

Ftfy

 

[Skifi28]

You can't tell me what to do.

 

[22:22:22]

You can't tell me what to do.

Do what thou will

 

[jshackles]

You can't tell me what to do.

 

[Skifi28]

 

[Estocolmo]

Picture needed thx

 

[35cent]

I remember meaning to buy one of those for my DS but I never got around to actually buying one lol

 

[chromhound]

 

[Skifi28]

Indeed. It's up to us to decide how to use our dongles and where to insert them. My dongle, my choice.

 

[chromhound]

Indeed. It's up to us to decide how to use our dongles and where to insert them. My dongle, my choice.

 

[Werewolf Jones]

I used this in 2006 to play Jump Ultimate Stars. DAMN.

 

[Drew1440]

I'm surprised both this and the original DS didn't support WPA, it was already commonplace for routers in 2004.

 

[Impotaku]

Even back in the day i used this but it was hit & miss getting it to work with my firewall up. People give nintendo shit nowadays about online but i have had zero problems connecting online for playing or buying from eshop with my switch or even 3DS i can't say the same for my PS4 for whatever reason it's absolutely shit when i try to connect to the store maybe 4 times of about 10 attempts i can get in. Weirdly downloading is fine but getting past the blue cycling ps logos is a trial and a half i have to use the website to get PS4 games.

 

[Kadve]

I'm surprised both this and the original DS didn't support WPA, it was already commonplace for routers in 2004.

Well it came out in 2004. A year after the release of WPA.

The PSP also lacked WPA2 support despite coming out a year (2005) after that

 

[daveonezero]

Probably a lawsuit the public doesn't know about?

There can’t be a lawsuit of people using insecure technology.

If so all SMS and SIM card providers would be open to lawsuit.

If you look at 0 days and vulnerabilities people do network scans and show huge amounts of servers, devices, routers usually leave exploits open because no one runs the security update.

 

[jshackles]

This kinda reminded me of this Onion article from a few years ago:

Toyota Recalls 1993 Camry Due To Fact That Owners Really Should Have Bought Something New By Now

TOKYO—Saying it was simply time for drivers to move on, Toyota Motor Corp. issued a recall of its entire 1993 Camry model line Wednesday due to the fact that its owners really should have bought something new by now. “We understand that the 1993 Camry was tremendously dependable, but, honestly...

www.theonion.com

 

[SmokedMeat]

What about their 2005 online service?

 

[Eddie-Griffin]

I didn't even know they had one.

 

[Deerock71]

 

[Shifty]

 

[CS Lurker]

I bought one to play MK DS online in 2006 (2007?). That thing was a pain in the ass. The chances of it not working properly were 50%.

 

[Tams]

I'm surprised both this and the original DS didn't support WPA, it was already commonplace for routers in 2004.

No, I remember there being lots of WEP devices around at the time. There were quite a few news articles going over the difference and why people should upgrade, but with plenty of warnings about some devices not working anymore.

And honestly, if you live in a rural location you don't need WPA2/WPA/WEP. I mean, it's good practice, just in case, but that chances of a snooper coming around are almost zero.

 

[BlackTron]

Man I forgot this thing existed. A really strange piece of kit. I can see it in 2005, but who could possibly be using this today? Its only use case is if you have a Wii or DS you want to take online, no Wifi network, and a PC with internet access.

A bit late on this memo, Nintendo....

 

[Tams]

Man I forgot this thing existed. A really strange piece of kit. I can see it in 2005, but who could possibly be using this today? Its only use case is if you have a Wii or DS you want to take online, no Wifi network, and a PC with internet access.

A bit late on this memo, Nintendo....

They don't sell either device anymore. But people do still use them.

As already speculated, perhaps some legal action sparked this warning. .Or perhaps someone at Nintendo/Nintendo's legal team were reviewing things and this popped up. By having an official comment in it, rhey absolve themselves of any legal repercussions should someone have their security compromised by using these devices.

 

[BlackTron]

They don't sell either device anymore. But people do still use them.

As already speculated, perhaps some legal action sparked this warning. .Or perhaps someone at Nintendo/Nintendo's legal team were reviewing things and this popped up. By having an official comment in it, rhey absolve themselves of any legal repercussions should someone have their security compromised by using these devices.

I know they don't sell them anymore lol, but again does anyone really still use this? A person with a net-connected PC and no wifi network who wants to connect their Wii or DS online? I mean you'd have to try harder to have a connected PC and no wifi network, they usually come in the modem/gateway now lol.

I can buy that they wanted to cover their asses, but not because anyone is still using it...

 

[Tams]

I know they don't sell them anymore lol, but again does anyone really still use this? A person with a net-connected PC and no wifi network who wants to connect their Wii or DS online? I mean you'd have to try harder to have a connected PC and no wifi network, they usually come in the modem/gateway now lol.

I can buy that they wanted to cover their asses, but not because anyone is still using it...

Considering that mobile netork plans can be really quite expensive, yes.

A very, very small number of people (at least in developed countries) might have a computer that has Internet access, but can't share it. There are still a lot of old computers out there in use.

Now, such a person is unlikely to have a Nintendo console, but still.

 

[Deerock71]

Funny. I'm watching Commando right now. But not...COMMANDO.

 

[BlackTron]

Considering that mobile netork plans can be really quite expensive, yes.

A very, very small number of people (at least in developed countries) might have a computer that has Internet access, but can't share it. There are still a lot of old computers out there in use.

Now, such a person is unlikely to have a Nintendo console, but still.

You spelled it out for me. The conditions to make it useful are just too narrow.

1) You must have a Wii or DS you want to take online
2) You must have a PC with Internet, and no Wifi network.
3) It must be more viable in 2022 to use this old dongle than to just get or create a wifi network.
4) With the option to create a hotspot with a phone, it's even less likely.

I'm not saying Nintendo was wrong to issue the warning, just that it was about a decade late being potentially useful reaching anyone.

 

[Ev1L AuRoN]

Funny I've never seen a Wi-Fi dongle that only do WEP encryption, I didn't even know this is a hardware feature... Probably another case of Nintendo refusing to license the tech in order to save pennies.

 

[anthony2690]

Someone at bandai namco & capcom reading this:


"Oh shit"

 

[alabtrosMyster]

Probably a lawsuit the public doesn't know about?

This is what wikipedia says, the Australian lawsuit is against Buffalo, not Nintendo:

Discontinuation[edit]​

While Nintendo hasn't come forward explaining the reason for the discontinuation of the device, manufacturers Buffalo Technology are reportedly no longer licensed to distribute it due to a successful recent lawsuit[12] by the Australian Government's technology research agency CSIRO (Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization). As a result, the company has been prevented from trading in any products adhering to the 802.11a/g standards in the US,[13][14] including the Nintendo Wifi USB connector.

 

[Evil Calvin]

http://[URL]https://www.nintendo.co.jp/support/information/2022/0720.html

[/URL]

In a recent blog post, Nintendo informs its customers that they should discontinue using their Wi-Fi dongle in their PCs. This is predominantly because their 17-year-old hardware still uses WEP encryption which is now easily bypassed.



I'm not exactly sure why they've just now decided to post this, as WEP has been inherently insecure for years. It was even pretty insecure in 2005.

*UNsecure

 

[Tams]

You spelled it out for me. The conditions to make it useful are just too narrow.

1) You must have a Wii or DS you want to take online
2) You must have a PC with Internet, and no Wifi network.
3) It must be more viable in 2022 to use this old dongle than to just get or create a wifi network.
4) With the option to create a hotspot with a phone, it's even less likely.

I'm not saying Nintendo was wrong to issue the warning, just that it was about a decade late being potentially useful reaching anyone.

A decade ago there were still many devices using just WEP around. It was sort of an accepted security hole. And phones supporting hotspotting, and carriers that let you, were still uncommon.

The link also says that the dongle ceased being shipped in 2010. The Japan-only device in October 2013.

 

[Tams]

Funny I've never seen a Wi-Fi dongle that only do WEP encryption, I didn't even know this is a hardware feature... Probably another case of Nintendo refusing to license the tech in order to save pennies.

This has already been covered in this thread. At the time of both these products' releases, especially the dongle, WEP was still very common.

And the dongle was made by Buffalo.

 

[LordOfChaos]

I'm not exactly sure why they've just now decided to post this, as WEP has been inherently insecure for years. It was even pretty insecure in 2005.

Nintendo gonna Nintendo. It's possible an active attack using this devices vulnerability was recently found that we don't know about yet.

 

[jigglet]

A decade ago there were still many devices using just WEP around. It was sort of an accepted security hole. And phones supporting hotspotting, and carriers that let you, were still uncommon.

The link also says that the dongle ceased being shipped in 2010. The Japan-only device in October 2013.

It's not about how many of them were around. It's about public consciousness. Even at that time, the average internet-goer knew WEP was shit. It's not like that was only really known in hardcore cyber security circles. If you're matter-of-factly just saying this is how it was, ok fine. But if you're sticking up for Nintendo, then they really don't deserve it.

 

[cireza]

They are only saying this because they are using this accessory in huge quantities to handle the entirety of the Nintendo network, and just discovered that it was obsolete.

 

[EverydayBeast]

Built in Wi-Fi on the PS3 was a game changer, 360 not having that was crazy.

 

[Tams]

It's not about how many of them were around. It's about public consciousness. Even at that time, the average internet-goer knew WEP was shit. It's not like that was only really known in hardcore cyber security circles. If you're matter-of-factly just saying this is how it was, ok fine. But if you're sticking up for Nintendo, then they really don't deserve it.

Many people did not. You are misremembering almost two decades ago.

And I'm not 'sticking up for Nintendo'. It's a none issue for a device that they stopped selling over a decade ago.

 

[Hendrick's]

 

[jigglet]

Many people did not. You are misremembering almost two decades ago.

And I'm not 'sticking up for Nintendo'. It's a none issue for a device that they stopped selling over a decade ago.

Many people did. It’s you who is misremembering this. But of course we could go around in circles on this forever so what’s the point.

The real point is this: look at the number of times you’ve replied to this thread. Clearly there’s passion behind it. If it’s not fanboyism then what is it, some unusual attachment to the WEP protocol? Your actions tell all.

 

[Raven77]

Nobody tells me what to do with my own dongle.

 

[Tams]

Many people did. It’s you who is misremembering this. But of course we could go around in circles on this forever so what’s the point.

The real point is this: look at the number of times you’ve replied to this thread. Clearly there’s passion behind it. If it’s not fanboyism then what is it, some unusual attachment to the WEP protocol? Your actions tell all.

Nah, I'm just bored with too much free time.

Each post takes, what? 2 minutes at most to type out?

 

[theclaw135]

Funny I've never seen a Wi-Fi dongle that only do WEP encryption, I didn't even know this is a hardware feature... Probably another case of Nintendo refusing to license the tech in order to save pennies.

The DS and its software stack (original DS game cards can't use WPA when played via backwards compatibility) never supported anything better. Even though WEP was already deprecated prior to the DS launch, Nintendo went ahead with releasing the system the way it was.