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I remember trying to buy a TV that does not have "smart" functionality a few years ago. It was a chore. Today it seems impossible.

And not just TVs: ovens; refrigerators; dishwashers — all have "smart" options. In fact, it seems that more and more the available non-smart models are only the simpler ones, less performant in ways that are not related to any smart functionality missing.

My non-smart TV was available only with lower resolutions than "smart" models of the same brand.

1/🧵

This really annoys me. I am too well aware of security implications of smart devices.

I do not want to have to manage regular software updates for whatever number of appliances I have at home, or risk somebody using them in a botnet (or worse).

And no, I don't trust their "disable WiFi" menu options either. Seen this setting get enabled without my consent too many times.

I *could* put them on a special VLAN, but 99% of people can't. That's a problem, and not just for them.

2/🧵

@rysiek If you never sign it in to your network shouldn’t be a problem? Unless the initial setup forces you to?

@Dave3307 I've disabled WiFi on appliances only to notice it magically got re-enabled again a few months later.

Software settings are not trustworthy.

@rysiek I must not understand. If a device is not connected to a network how can hackers gain access? Even if WiFi is “on” it still needs to connect to something, no?

Michał "rysiek" Woźniak · 🇺🇦

@Dave3307 first of all, the word you're looking for here is "cybercriminals" or "attackers". Hackers made the software you're using to post this, so maybe let's not conflate them with common thieves that happen to use computers.

Second, there are devices that automatically connect to any available open WiFi. There are devices (for example: new cars) that have SIM cards and 4g modems built-in. And then there are systems like these:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon_S

Hardware switch or bust.

en.wikipedia.orgAmazon Sidewalk - Wikipedia