Western Digital is ending support for older versions of My Cloud OS, affecting multiple products:

Western Digital (WD) has announced that it will discontinue support for previous generations of My Cloud OS, including My Cloud OS 2 and 3. The company has also announced that devices compatible with My Cloud OS 5 will no longer support generations. before of My Cloud OS. If your device is compatible with My Cloud OS 5, you can check here, you should upgrade now to continue to have remote access to your storage device.

My Cloud OS 5 was released in March of this year and includes major security updates to address security vulnerabilities. In June, we Written about a vulnerability in My Book Live devices that caused some users to lose their data. ONE few weeks later, apparently a similar security risk has affected additional network attached storage (NAS) drives.

It appears that WD is simply ending support for devices with specific security risks rather than taking on the daunting task of updating device compatibility to the latest update. WD writes, ‘Western Digital strives to provide reliable and dependable storage solutions for businesses as well as consumers. We continuously evaluate and improve our hardware, software and services as security standards evolve. As a result, we determined it was necessary to end support for previous generations of My Cloud OS, including My Cloud OS 3 and WD Cloud OS 2.’ Please note, My Cloud OS 4 is not available.

This is in contrast to Western Digital’s Product lifecycle support policy, which promises product standards updates for up to eight years. Of course, the company reserves the right to change this policy in the face of security concerns, which is the current situation.

There are two important dates for WD customers to know. On January 15, 2022, devices compatible with My Cloud OS 5 will no longer support previous generations of My Cloud OS. After January 15, remote access, security updates, and technical support will no longer be available. On April 15, 2022, support for previous generations of My Cloud OS will end. If your device is not compatible with the current operating system, My Cloud OS 5, you will only be able to access your storage device locally. You no longer have remote access, updates, or technical support. WD recommends that any such devices be backed up, disconnected from the internet, and protected with a unique strong password.

If you don’t own a My Cloud OS 5 compatible WD device but want to continue using Western Digital products, WD will send a 20% off coupon to affected WD device owners in January 2022. This coupon will be valid for 90 days and you will not be required to send in your old device. To see a list of devices that will be discounted, click here.

About this Page, Western Digital has also created a FAQ. It discusses a variety of topics, including what makes My Cloud OS 5 different from My Cloud OS 3, how to protect your current data, various policy concerns, and more.