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xkcd #3109: Dehumidifier (lemmynsfw.com)

submitted 4 days ago* (last edited 4 days 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] 138 points 4 days ago (25 children)

Yeah, or the manufacturer bricks the device bcz they want to sell you a new one.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 days ago (13 children)

Literally nobody is doing this shit.

[–] [email protected] 63 points 4 days ago (2 children)

But they can close their server and render the device inoperable, just like what happened to a water sensor I had.

[–] [email protected] 24 points 4 days ago (1 children)

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)

[–] [email protected] 14 points 4 days 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.

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