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Hackers take control of robot vacuums in multiple US cities and abuse owners (www.abc.net.au)

submitted 2 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/privacy

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[–] [email protected] 32 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Despite the slurs, Mr Swenson was glad that the hackers had announced their presence so loudly.

It would have been much worse, he said, if they had decided to quietly observe his family inside their home.

They could've peered through his robot's camera, and listened through the microphone, without him having the slightest clue.

Why does a vacuum cleaner have a spy camera and microphone? Insane thing to have in a house with children.

[–] [email protected] 13 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Camera makes some amount of sense. Can be used to keep it from running over wires, or getting caught up in something like a loose curtain. Stuff that would be difficult to handle with non-visual sensors.

Microphone? Oh hell no. No purpose.

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

Ah, yeah that makes sense. Brainfart on my part.

[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 weeks ago

Why does it have a audio output?

[–] FizzyOrange 5 points 2 weeks ago

The camera is used for visual odometry. They're usually black and white and very low resolution though.

Microphone, I have no idea. Could be useful for floor type detection or something? Voice control?