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xkcd #3109: Dehumidifier (lemmynsfw.com)

submitted 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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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

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[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago (3 children)

The solution to too many unnecessarily-connected devices is more connected devices?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 day ago

Now you're getting it!

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The solution is not more but different connected devices so I can decide for myself what needs to be connected and by which protocol. Get the dumbest device on the market, no wifi, no internal clock, maybe not even a humidity sensor and then, if and only if I need to remote control it, for example to put it on a schedule, I can use the cheapest "smart" device on the market to connect it to an in-house machine that can turn it on and off.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

ZigBee is Bluetooth, so controls can be done entirely locally.

We have Aqara (ZigBee) water leak detectors for our sink and basement, a 3rd party USB ZigBee dongle and a raspberry pi running home assistant. This gives me a discount on our home insurance that is more than the devices. Everything runs only locally.

(Admittedly I am not including the cost of the pi, but you could salvage an old laptop or something instead. My pi has other things on it other than HA, its multipurpose)

I also have some WiFi RGB bulbs/led. Using home assistant I can swap their colors for the holidays and I never have to decorate again. I'm lazy, and I hate Christmas.