1) there is still no explanatation for the rational of doing so, and the origin of the black out ! 2) there is still no valid reason to add a useless point of failure. 3) talking about security, the continuity of service is AS important as anything else (imagine you had two belkins set up for redundancy and multihoming, because internet is used to check credentials, you have a loss of a critical services. A useless SPOF IS a security risk! ) 4) It is not Belkin role to make sure «internet» is available and take measure when not working. A router needs an IP connectivity including a DNS resolver, these are clearly checks that are the ISPs responsability. 5) there is no arm in letting a router not being able to resolve a DNS server (they can be statically configured on the hosts or by a DHCPd server, routers at best acts as a DNS cache and they are less efficient than tons of other solution even a stupid dnsmasq). 6) it means blackholing the IP to the cloud of Belkin is an efficient way to disconnect any user from the internet using their router. Is it a feature made for Russia, China and USA (I mean any place where privacy is considered a crime)?

Clearly Belkin has been bricking their gears when they are not connected to internet. Why? Why have a killswitch of the internet?

I cannot see any good reason for spending THAT much money in terms of investment and recurring cost. Someone planned this feature, and found smart to spend recuring money on obviously unneeded feature.

Facts don't add up. Companies are here to make money. They spent a hell lot of money to insert and plan and release this feature in their equipment. What do they gain of bricking any devices not able to contact their «cloud»?