This is one of the better routers on the market — and it still has gaps that matter. Netgear has been publicly criticized multiple times for requiring researcher pressure or public disclosure before issuing patches. Without router-level VPN or strict network segmentation, your work laptop, banking sessions, security cameras, and any infected smart device all share the same flat network.
A B grade is a relative ranking in a market where the floor is low. The gaps are real, they just aren’t urgent.
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When researchers find flaws in this router, fixes often arrive weeks after the attack details are already public
When researchers find a flaw in this router, the fix often arrives weeks after the attack details are already public. During that window, anyone reading security blogs has a working exploit and your work laptop, smart locks, and Ring doorbell are still behind the unpatched router.
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Netgear's slow patch response pattern: Netgear has been publicly criticized multiple times for requiring researcher pressure or public disclosure before issuing patches. This pattern has not been fully resolved.
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Without paying the subscription, your home network has no active threat detection
Without paying for the subscription, your home network has no active threat detection. Known malware traffic from an infected smart bulb or your kids' game console can pass through to your work laptop and banking app silently.
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Advanced security requires paid Armor subscription: Full intrusion prevention and threat blocking require a paid subscription. Without it, the Orbi 960 has standard but basic security.
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A small gap that still touches every device on this network
A small gap, not an urgent one — but it still touches everything on this network: your work laptop, your phone, your security cameras, and any guest device that joins the Wi-Fi.
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Authentication issues - industry pattern: Netgear has had repeated authentication issues across its product line, resolved only after public disclosure.
If a new vulnerability is found for your Netgear Orbi 960, we'll email you. One email per incident. No spam.
- Multiple CERT disclosures · 2019–2023 ↗
- Netgear Armor · ~$100/yr ↗
- CVE-2022-27646 · 2022 ↗
- FCC Equipment Authorization Database ↗