The 'Internet of Things'

Yes it's here now.

http://www.proofpoint.com/about-us/press-releases/01162014.php

More than 750,000 Phishing and SPAM emails Launched from "Thingbots" Including Televisions, Fridge

Onslow - "Oh, nice."

I'm certainly glad that this kind of technology hasn't trickled down to some of the lesser household appliances. I can only imagine a future where a cleaning service knocks on my door and asks me why I haven't run my vacuum cleaner in the last 30 days. :lol:

In the months since this topic started the IoT (internet of things) has moved on at an astonishing rate. Ordinary everyday items can now be tied to the internet (hence the name)

One of my concerns is what security measures are being put in place by the explosion of companies using the internet with their products.

Look at this for example so you can see just how far we have moved into this area now

http://www.hapi.com/product/hapifork

This information is then uploaded via USB or Bluetooth to your Online Dashboard on HAPI.com to track your progress.

Don't be lazy and get a refrigerator that can do your grocery shopping for you. The kind that know exactly when you run out of milk and it puts it on the next delivery list, but refuses to order you another delicious chocolate cake because your bathroom weight scale sent data to the frig and told it you weigh too much and to refuse you any more cake - someday it could be made into a gov law. Go to buy a cake in your local grocery store or a restaurant and your frig already told on you there too, so you can't buy any anywhere. :lol:

Same thing with your thermostat or particular non PC radio or TV program or water tap etc. :angry:

I, for one, welcome our new toaster overlords.

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2014/09/this-internet-of-things-radio-is-the-size-of-an-ant/

The radios which will be needed to act as controllers and sensors for the Internet of Things, have now been designed to be the size of an ant and will need no battery.

“The only problem is that I’m now afraid to use it. You would be too — if you read through the 46-page privacy policy,” Price wrote. “The amount of data this thing collects is staggering. It logs where, when, how, and for how long you use the TV. It sets tracking cookies and beacons designed to detect ‘when you have viewed particular content or a particular email message.’ It records ‘the apps you use, the websites you visit, and how you interact with content.’ It ignores ‘do-not-track’ requests as a considered matter of policy.”

Man who owns a smart TV says he’s ‘afraid’ of using it after reading its privacy policy.

https://news.yahoo.com/man-owns-smart-tv-says-afraid-using-reading-014529097.html

None of the above worries me as much as the following statement from a very dear Russian friend of mine once said....."this really is the lucky country where you watch TV.....in Russia it watches you!!!!".

Think I'll turn my Smart TV off :ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r:

None of the above worries me as much as the following statement from a very dear Russian friend of mine once said....."this really is the lucky country where you watch TV.....in Russia it watches you!!!!".

Think I'll turn my Smart TV off :ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r: :ph34r:

Good idea Tasgandy. Over 55 years ago, my grandfather made this statement concerning television: "That **** will rot your brain!". How true, especially in recent years. The last TV drama I actually enjoyed and looked forward to watching the next week was the spy drama "Rubicon". I never understood why it was cancelled after a single season. I guess the reason it did not appeal to a broader audience was because it required you pay close attention to details and made you actually use your brain to "think" about what you were watching, instead of vapidly staring at the tube.

Part of the EULA for a Canon printer:

. . .

2. Information related to Canon inkjet printer/fax

-Printer’s ID number, installation date and time, ink use information, number of sheets printed, and maintenance information

. . .

After you install the survey program, the above information will be sent to Canon (in case of using your Canon product in China, to the legally approved research company) through the Internet every month for ten years. The Internet connection fee shall be borne by you.

Number of sheets printed? Ten years? :D

It would be funny if the "survey" software had a severe bug that caused them their own internal DDoS against their own servers. :lol:

http://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2015/02/samsung-smart-tvs-inserting-ads-into-third-party-apps/

People with smart TVs from Samsung have been complaining that the electronics maker is inserting Pepsi ads during the playback of their own, locally stored movies.

“Every movie I play, 20-30 minutes in it plays the Pepsi ad, no audio but crisp clear ad. It has happened on 6 movies today.

Before long all your ice cubes will have a little Pepsi logo molded into them.

I'm certainly glad that this kind of technology hasn't trickled down to some of the lesser household appliances. I can only imagine a future where a cleaning service knocks on my door and asks me why I haven't run my vacuum cleaner in the last 30 days. :lol:

Well, think again, Derek. Now there is a bluetooth salt shaker with mood lighting and music.

An excellent companion for your IOT toothbrush and your Hapifork.

I suppose we could link all those up to our IOT blood pressure cuffs.

http://time.com/4773835/smalt-salt-shaker-bluetooth/

...get in on the ground floor...

http://www.mysmalt.com/

Speaking of a toothbrush with a phone app, I looked at an electric toothbrush review last week on YouTube that would show where you didn't brush your teeth long enough and areas missed.