this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2025
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An engineer got curious about how his iLife A11 smart vacuum worked and monitored the network traffic coming from the device. That’s when he noticed it was constantly sending logs and telemetry data to the manufacturer — something he hadn't consented to. The user, Harishankar, decided to block the telemetry servers' IP addresses on his network, while keeping the firmware and OTA servers open. While his smart gadget worked for a while, it just refused to turn on soon after. After a lengthy investigation, he discovered that a remote kill command had been issued to his device.

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[–] whoisearth@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 day ago (5 children)

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

I have a standard vacuum. I spend about 10 minutes a day vacuuming. Miele has no telemetry whatsoever lol

[–] SirActionSack@aussie.zone 1 points 1 day ago

Miele

Worst designed appliance we own.

Xiaomi vacuum (that works without their terrible app) is better.

[–] zalgotext@sh.itjust.works 3 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Ugh. Stop shaming people for wanting to automate mundane tasks. No one's playing a stupid game here, the problem isn't robot vacuums. The problem is that manufacturers insist on holding features hostage on the basis that you connect said vacuum to the Internet, so they can harvest (and then sell) your data. Be mad at that, not at normal people wanting to make a boring chore less burdensome.

[–] whoisearth@lemmy.ca -1 points 1 day ago

Disagree. My experience is they still don't get everything, can't do furniture or corners well or under furniture. They're stupid. They're expensive and if you really can't spend 10 minutes or less to vacuum your house daily or every other day it speaks volumes on the type of person you are.

I stand by what I said. More money than brains.

There are potential security holes in the device you wrote and posted that comment from, so if they are exploited, can I make the following comment?:

Play stupid games win stupid prizes.

I have stationary I use to write letters to people. I spend about 10 minutes a day writing letters. Paper and pen have no telemetry whatsoever lol

[–] ayyy@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 day ago (1 children)

I spend about 10 minutes a day vacuuming

[–] whoisearth@lemmy.ca 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yes and the point being spending 300$+ to eliminate 10 minutes a day is absolutely hilarious.

Spending $300 to eliminate 60 hours per year makes sense to me.

[–] Darkenfolk@sh.itjust.works 0 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Yeah good for you, but that's hardly the point now is it? There is nothing wrong with automating stuff like this and expecting it to work without bullshit like the post happening.

[–] whoisearth@lemmy.ca -1 points 1 day ago

The point is it's stupid and people who want to automate 10 minutes out of their day are equally stupid