If you own a Western Digital storage device running My Cloud OS 3, support is set to end and your device will only be accessible locally.
The announcement comes after multiple vulnerabilities were discovered in My Book Live devices back in June that allowed an attacker to wipe them. Another vulnerability discovered in July left the OS 3 devices open to attack. Western Digital has decided it will only offer support and updates for My Cloud OS 5 from now on, because there are critical security updates “that are only available for My Cloud OS 5-compatible devices.”
Some devices running My Cloud OS 3 can be upgraded to OS 5, with Western Digital providing a list of supported/unsupported devices and instructions on how to update them. The list includes many My Cloud models as well as the My Book Live, My Book Live Duo, WD TV Live Hub, and the My Net N900c.
If you do own a device that isn’t compatible with My Cloud OS 5, Western Digital will be offering a 20% discount coupon to make upgrading a little less expensive. Depending on the device you own, the discount can be used against the following devices:
The coupon is being sent to customers in January and will remain usable for 90 days. On Jan. 15, all devices compatible with My Cloud OS 5 will no longer support prior generations of My Cloud OS. If you can upgrade to OS 5, it’s best to do so as soon as possible to retain the full functionality of your device. By upgrading you aren’t only getting up-to-date security, but access to improved mobile and web apps. Be warned, however, that the upgrade to OS 5 is a one-way process and downgrading afterwards isn’t possible (so backup your data first).
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On April 15 next year, Western Digital will turn off remote access to devices not running OS 5, as well as no longer providing security updates or technical support for them. It’s also recommended that owners back up their device and disconnect it from the internet for safety.
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Source: https://www.pcmag.com/news/western-digital-drops-support-and-remote-access-for-devices-running-my