what makes a router need a firmware upgrade?
 

I have this linksys router that has, twice now, begun to fail me. It would just randomly cut out, causing icq to disconnect, msn to disconnect, mp3 feeds to stop.... stuff like that, and not all at once... randomly at different times.

And each time I'd check the site and sure enough, there was a new firmware upgrade.

Do they sabotage the routers or something? I don't see how it could start failing in the exact same manner each time it's due for an upgrade.

You know, sometimes it's just defective..

yeah but why would it work great right up until then and then require an upgrade right when there is one?
Usually something breaks before the fix is made to fix it... not the other way around.

two words security vulnerabilities. also they are always adding new features to software to make the thing work better

Sounds like a defective one, you may need a replacement already.
Firmware updates concentrate on the security features of the router.

Get the Linksys firmware software then it only takes 20 seconds to get the updates once a month or so and the problem will be solved :)

I spent 30 minutes on the phone with someone in India to get it and gave up
and found it on the web and used the generic password and it updates no problem.