xkcd #3109: Dehumidifier

Title text:

It’s important for devices to have internet connectivity so the manufacturer can patch remote exploits.

Transcript:

[A store salesman, Hairy, is showing Cueball a dehumidifier, with a “SALE” label on it. Several other unidentified devices, possibly other dehumidifier models, are shown in the store as well.]

Salesman: This dehumidifier model features built-in WiFi for remote updates.
Cueball: Great! That will be really useful if they discover a new kind of water.

Source: https://xkcd.com/3109/

explainxkcd for #3109

      • tyler@programming.dev
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        24 hours ago

        They didn’t brick anything. They gave a button for you to get a discount if you did it yourself

      • bob_lemon@feddit.org
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        1 day ago

        That’s why it’s important to make sure the device can also run purely locally (e.g. via HomeAssistant).

        (Not meant as a rebuke, just good advice for the future)

        • GreatAlbatross@feddit.uk
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          1 day ago

          Exactly this. The device either needs to be open enough that it can easily integrate to HA without internet access.
          Or dumb enough that I can mod it with an ESP.

          Anything that has to go through the manufacturer’s servers goes in the bin, the risks of data theft/rent seeking are too damned high.

    • Zachariah@lemmy.world
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      1 day ago

      They didn’t brick it, but the Nest thermostats that customers bought before Google acquired the company will be offline only now. No opening of the firmware, so they’ll become useless at some point, and already have lost major functionality.