Can TVs and refrigerators really spew botnet spam

Hackable intercom lets you SPY on fellow apartment-dwellers

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2014/12/12/hackable_intercom_becomes_neighbour_spy_box/

 

Hackers Trick Keurigs Into Making Uncopyrighted Coffee

http://www.wired.com/2014/12/hackers-claim-free-keurigs-copyrighted-coffee/

 

An interesting talk given by Mikko Hypponen at TEDx Brussels

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKe-aO44R7k&feature=youtu.be

 

At last! The smart Christmas tree is here to save the holidays and the environment
Definitely offbeat
http://venturebeat.com/2014/12/16/a...ere-to-save-the-holidays-and-the-environment/

 

The answer is simple.. NGFW/UTM's in the home. We've already busted Smart-Appliances spewing out junk, and in some cases, compromising network security. The blended threats, targeting diverse appliances/gadgets/OS's will require something much more than simple security installed on each one (if even possible, and usually not even possible).

Within 2-5 years almost everyone will need a UTM at home, or they are going to be dangerously exposed. FEW manufacturers of consumer grade gear are taking this seriously, Asus is exception. SOHO UTM's are dropping in price, nice ones can be purchase for under $400 these days. But until we get something in the home the average-joe can afford, and configure, it's going to be the wild west!

 

Holes in Progressive Dongle Could Lead to Car Hacks

http://threatpost.com/holes-in-progressive-dongle-could-lead-to-car-hacks/110511

 

The Internet of Anything: A Startup That Gets Old Device Companies Hip to the Net

http://www.wired.com/2015/01/intern...ats-helping-connect-toasters-grills-internet/

 

FTC calls on IoT vendors to protect privacy

http://www.cso.com.au/article/564861/ftc-calls-iot-vendors-protect-privacy/

 

Coffee roaster’s “Freedom Clip” fools Keurig 2.0 “java DRM”
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2015/02/coffee-roasters-freedom-clip-fools-keurig-2-0-java-drm/

 

Samsung SmartTV models transmit voice, and more, to a third-party service | Security Affairs

 

http://www.welivesecurity.com/2015/02/09/samsung-tv-privacy/

 

Better late than never

"Samsung is warning customers about discussing personal information in front of their smart television set.

The warning applies to TV viewers who control their Samsung Smart TV using its voice activation feature.
Such TV sets "listen" to some of what is said in front of them and may share details they hear with Samsung or third parties, it said......

The warning came to light via a story in online news magazine the Daily Beast which published an excerpt of a section of Samsung's privacy policy for its net-connected Smart TV sets."



http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-31296188

 

The NSA must be having wet dreams about smart TVs recording your conversations. I wonder when they will get secret letters for access to the smart TV microphone .

 

The statement Samsung made is in their Privacy Policy, but it should be more properly entitled as their Privacy Violation/Intrusion Policy!!!

-- Tom

 

One thing that has been going through the back of my mind is that these devices may technically break laws on recording conversations (at least in Canada). If a workplace one of these TVs in the office and two workers converse in front of the TV and it transmits any data back to Nuance (voice recognition company) that could and should be considered illegal.

 

On a lighter note

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/02/16/sammy_accuses_lg_exec_of_nobbling_several_washing_machines/

 

Samsung's spying smart TVs don't encrypt voice recordings sent over the internet – new claim

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2015/02/17/samsung_smart_tv_privacy_rewind/

Via Twitter:
https://twitter.com/TheRegister/status/567796710014222336

 

It’s not just Samsung TVs — lots of other gadgets are spying on you
http://fusion.net/story/49352/all-the-smart-gadgets-are-spying-on-you/