Ten Ways NAS Is Getting Enshitified The trend of Enshitification of technology products and services continues unabated , and Network-Attached Storage or NAS devices are no exception . 1 . Removing the option to run third-party apps Many NAS devices used to allow users to install third-party apps , but now manufacturers are starting to remove this feature . 2 . Forcing users to use the manufacturer's cloud services NAS manufacturers are increasingly pushing users to use their own cloud services for remote access and data storage . 3 . Artificially limiting the capabilities of free or low-cost models Some NAS devices have different models with varying features , but often the free or low-cost models have artificially limited capabilities . 4 . Increasingly poor and buggy software The software that comes with NAS devices is often buggy and poorly designed , making it difficult for users to get the most out of their device . 5 . DRM and other restrictions on media playback Some NAS devices are now including DRM and other restrictions on media playback , limiting what users can do with their stored content . 6 . Removing or limiting local access Some NAS devices are now requiring users to access their data through the cloud , rather than locally . 7 . Forcing users to create an account with the manufacturer Many NAS devices now require users to create an account with the manufacturer in order to use the device , which can be a concern for privacy . 8 . Collecting and storing user data Some NAS devices are now collecting and storing user data , often without clear information on how that data is being used . 9 . Using encryption that is difficult or impossible to remove Some NAS devices are now using encryption that is difficult or impossible for users to remove , which can make it difficult to access data if the user forgets their password . 10 . Increasingly aggressive and misleading advertising NAS manufacturers are increasingly using aggressive and misleading advertising to push users towards more expensive models or additional services . The Enshitification of NAS devices is a concerning trend that highlights the need for consumers to be aware of the potential downsides of technology products and services .
Article URL: https://nascompares.com/2026/07/31/the-10-ways-nas-is-getting-enshitified/ Comments URL: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=49131367 Points: 192 # Comments: 167
We haven't written up this one. Hacker News Best has the full story — the link below goes straight to it.
