April 17th - "IoT: The Internet of Things"
7IoT: The Internet of Things
Galactic Goat is very conscious of all things privacy and personal security related. Although he’s had tangible things stolen from him, so far the Goat’s identity and financial data remain secure. This, in part, the Goat attributes to his awareness and careful handling of user IDs, passwords, encryption schemes, even old credit card and bank statements are shredded, then burned. Galactic Goat even avoids social media. Despite it’s encroachment into business, the Goat doesn’t participate on the Facebook, the tweeter, or even Linkedin (he has his Earthling minions do his social media bidding at his behest).
Recently though, Galactic Goat has given in to the allure of features and convenience of the IoT; The Internet of Things. The Goat Palace is “connected” to a limited degree. First, it was a Samsung video surveillance DVR system. Then, after the home burglary in October, Galactic Goat added a Ring Video Doorbell Pro, recently opting to replace that with a SkyBell HD wifi video doorbell.
Last week the Goat departed from security implementations of IoT and sold a tiny piece of his goatly soul for the sake of pure convenience. As posted in the April Deals topic, Newegg had a pretty decent deal on a Honeywell smart thermostat.
This morning Galactic Goat forged his way into the 100 page installation manual and users guide, and installed his new toy. Initial impressions? Pretty sweet. Coming from the old school roundy Honeywell thermostat originally installed in his abode nearly 40 years ago:
this fancy schmancy newfangled thermostat is a real treat. Touch screen, mobile app as well as browser based interface permits not only monitoring, but total thermostat control from temp settings to full automation programming. Massive departure from the old mechanical mercury stat.
Now that the Goat has given into convenience, he’s looking forward to the next feature rich IoT device with anticipation!
What is YOUR perspective on IoT? Have you given in? Or are you still standing firm ground, rejecting all the wonders of home automation?
As a footnote, Galactic Goat isn’t at all above pandering for stars, so please enjoy these adorable goat pics as you ponder the miracles of IoT. And don’t forget to like and subscribe! Oh, wait… that’s the yoohoo toobs. Still, give us a star, mate!
- 10 comments, 20 replies
- Comment
Oh, I totally forgot about one IoT item I added: MyQ wifi garage door gateway. Allows me to monitor and operate the garage door opener remotely. Very handy when parcels are delivered. Delivery person rings video doorbell, I ask them to leave parcel in the garage, then open the door via mobile app. I have a camera in the garage to make sure the parcel is placed clear of the garage door, then close it all up, safe and secure.
@ruouttaurmind I have this as well. I like it because it is integrated into my home security package (and app). I dislike it because the sensor batteries seems to go dead pretty quickly and the symptom is false-positives of the door opened. That sucks. But it’s the reason I put a camera in the inside as well, to confirm closed doors.
I absolutely hate the term “Internet of Things”, but I am actually a huge fan of what it is. I have all the lights in my house wired up on zigbee and z-wave, voice control for turning on game systems and TVs, amplifiers that turn on automatically when I take a guitar off the wall. Home automation is addicting, and I want more of it.
If I bought a house that was automated, I might enjoy it… But I don’t feel any of it is really necessary right now. I have a non-WiFi programmable thermostat, and that has worked well. I only use two settings. Colder at night. I grew up being conscious of turning lights off when I leave rooms.
I guess I’m just not ready.
I’m waiting until we get over the hump of adding internet to everything. Refrigerators, toothbrushes and water bottles all seem kinds just doing in because they can. Maybe if the fridge malfunctioned and was able to notify you or something it would make more sense.
I occasionally have to"reboot" my 15 year old fridge as it is when the ice maker goes wonky. Pulling the power is the only way I know how to reset the logic board. I can’t imagine what could go wrong if the whole thing was computerized.
I have an Amazon Echo, Echo Dot, Ecobee thermostat, couple smart light bulbs, couple smart wall power plugs, connected security camera DVR system, handful of wireless IP cameras, connected home security system which should have Echo support soon.
I don’t think I’ll ever get a smart deadbolt for the house. I still want some sort of physical barrier to gain access to the house.
I would like a smart garage door opener and maybe a smart lawn sprinkler system.
@medz
Do you really want your garage door opener and sprinkler system to be connected?
I keep thinking of all the homes in the UK that got hacked somehow or other thru a “smart tea kettle”.
Easily Hacked Tea Kettle Latest To Highlight Pathetic Internet Of Things 'Security’
https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20151015/13551232547/easily-hacked-tea-kettle-latest-to-highlight-pathetic-internet-things-security.shtml
Connected kettles boil over, spill Wi-Fi passwords over London
https://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/10/19/bods_brew_ikettle_20_hack_plot_vulnerable_london_pots/
@f00l From the article: "If you haven’t configured the kettle, it’s trivially easy for hackers to find your house and take over your kettle…"
Like anything (routers, IP cameras, etc) you want to make sure you change default config settings to prevent such things. Easy to do and a crucial step. People who buy smart things and don’t configure them properly are like people who buy locks for their home and leave the keys in them.
@medz
@medz
And then will all those fabulous connected “things” have their firmware and software updated constantly to cover new security threats? Will the average person who buys and installs these know how to configure them and check for updates and security issues regularly?
I’ll be late to this game. Some exceptions, possibly, those which seem more likely to enhance security than to detract from it.
@denboy That’s EXACTLY what my house looks like now!
@f00l In the case of my Ring Video Doorbell, it installed firmware updates all on it’s own. I see this as both good and bad.
Unfortunately, one of those firmware updates became the untimely demise of said device. Bricked itself while processing the update.
@ruouttaurmind
At least they’re trying to update. I expect the sw and firmware of many Iot devices will effectively be “abandonware”.
@medz
I’m very satisfied with my connected garage door opener. I’m confident it’s at no greater risk of being hacked via the 'net than it is of being hacked by a code scanner. And even less risk than a physical forced entry. What it offers in added parcel security I believe is worth the minuscule risk of it being hacked.
My Alexa is unplugged. After some initial playing around, I simply never use it. It is a nice BT speaker, but pretty expensive just for that.
Currently not using OK Google either.
That makes me a Luddite?
@f00l
Though you may be a Luddite, it wouldn’t be because you don’t use Alexa or OK Google.
My brother sent me a Dot for my birthday. I never even opened the box. I couldn’t figure out what I could use it for. Particularly since I don’t listen to music or audiobooks in the house. I know what Dot will do, but none of it was really relevant for my lifestyle. Not to mention I wasn’t keen on having an always listening connected device in my home. I sent it back and used the Amazon credit to buy socks and some jigsaw puzzles. I still haven’t told my brother. I’m not looking forward to the white lie I’ll be painted into when he asks “How’s that Dot working out?”
As far as OK Google… I use Siri, but I do not permit her to listen. I’ve disabled automatic voice activation and must press and hold a key on my phone or tablet when issuing voice commands. I’ve also disabled the voice control for my fancy new thermostat.
@ruouttaurmind The following is a completely honest statement:
“It’s great! I used the Dot to order some socks and puzzles, and it was super easy.”
@djslack Brilliant!
@ruouttaurmind
Yeah I have Siri disabled except for when I’m playing with it.
I wish I could simply remove it from the phone without a jailbreak. But I don’t really care all that much.
Can’t remember if it was on the meh forums or elsewhere I first heard this wise observation, but at any rate it bears repeating:
“The ‘S’ in IoT stands for Security”
@Turken Good point. Many people have no clue. They run down to the local Best Buy or Micromart and buy up their gee-wiz devices, take 'em home, muddle through the “quick start guide”, never once giving any consideration to changing default admin credentials or setting up security options.
@ruouttaurmind It doen’t even matter if they do set up security options. Most IoT devices have virtually no security. Open telnet ports. Same generic well-known passwords. They’re trivially easy to hack. This is why there are 100’s of millions of IoT devices that are infected and being used by hackers for denial of service attacks. There’s even a new hack that bricks the IoT device as a way to keep said device from being used to spy on their owners.
Source: Security Now podcast.
@squishybrain Agreed. All you mention is (to the best of my knowledge) accurate.
I do my best to remain secure, but I know many (most) are likely not a diligent. I have my routers configured to be as secure as I can manage without throwing a bunch of money at the threat. I also frequently monitor network traffic, paying particular attention to my smart devices like wifi cameras.
Still, threats exist. Especially around very inexpensive devices, or very popular name brand devices.
@ruouttaurmind Have you tested your thermostat to see what happens if the Internet is down or power is out?
Hopefully it fails gracefully and doesn’t do something terrible.
@dashcloud If internet is down it continues to work locally, including running any automated schedules (tested successfully by disconnecting my router).
If the power goes off… well, it gets it’s power from the HVAC system, so they’d both be offline until power was restored. I suppose worst case scenario would look like this:
120* outside. Dogs inside. Thermostat set to 85*. Power goes out. Thermostat battery backup dies. Thermostat loses it’s programming. Power is restored, but HVAC remains idle because the 'stat went into dumb mode. House heats to unhealthy levels.
That’s an interesting question. I’m speculating it probably has some kind of NVRAM where it stores program data as well as last temp setting. I’d guess it restores itself to last operational mode if the power is interrupted, then restored. But that’s total speculation. I certainly need to look into this. If it’s 120 outside it could easily reach 110 inside if the HVAC is off and the house is all closed up.
@ruouttaurmind Glad to know it’s more sane than a Nest.
@ruouttaurmind @f00l @woodhouse
Permission to repeat an episode for this topic?
@PlacidPenguin If the shoe fits, you gotta wear it.
@ruouttaurmind
I have shoes which I don’t wear even though they fit.