Ecovacs robot vacuums in multiple US cities were hacked in the space of a few days, with the attacker physically controlling them and yelling obscenities through their onboard speakers.
  • Alice@beehaw.org
    29·
    5 days ago

    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.

    • FizzyOrange@programming.dev
      5·
      5 days 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?