cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/32265822

xkcd #3109: Dehumidifier

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

  • tburkhol@lemmy.worldEnglish
    22·
    1 day ago

    I’ve watched enough Lock Picking Lawyer never to want a consumer ‘smart lock.’ Half of them can be opened with a magnet. Maybe commercial grade is better, but I’ve been locked out of my job after every power failure for the last 10 years, until someone comes along with a physical key.

    Re homeassistant on a Pi: homeassistant does a lot of database transactions, so you may want to have db storage on something other than an SD card.

    • Bytemeister@lemmy.worldEnglish
      2·
      19 hours ago

      I’ve watched enough Lock Picking Lawyer never to want a consumer ‘smart lock.’

      I’m gonna differ on this. The point of a lock is to control law-abiding access to your house. If someone wants in your house, they can attack your windows, doors, or even a wall if the lock is too strong. A smart lock let’s you open the door for a family member remotely, or set one time-access for your in-laws to come over and pickup a tool.

      I wouldn’t use a smart lock for something hardened, like a bunker or a vault, but for a house and garage, it’s okay not to have the most bullet proof lock in the world.

    • Postmortal_Pop@lemmy.worldEnglish
      4·
      1 day ago

      I have tentative plans to make my own smart lock by way of electric motor and commercial deadbolts with an RF scanner and a back up battery for emergency. It won’t be amazingly secure in a tech way, but I figure the combination of novelty and DIY should make it reliable.

      That said, I gotta be that guy and remind everyone that all locks are security theatre and are not going to protect your house from the persistent or prepared. Your best defense is a combination of foresight and social engineering.

      • copd@lemmy.worldEnglish
        2·
        1 day ago

        I have an old 2.5inch 500GB laptop HDD plugged into a USB/sata adaptor into my rasberry pi.

        that’s been running flawlessly for 3 years and drops every concern with running HA on a pi