Is your toaster spying on you?

Yes I thought wtf too but I watched this short video clip from the BBC and found out that it might well be true!

It does seem that as we progress technologically we do seem to be getting more and more Big Brotherish.

I'm old and basically think that as I am up to nothing bad that I have nothing to hide and that it is a good thing to have the ways in which 'no gooders' can be found out and brought to account but maybe wanting to know how many slices of toast I have a day, how many cups of tea I drink, or what temperature I was my smalls on - is going a bit too far now?

Hers the link - it is worth a watch - but I have no idea how many or whom my be watching you watch it!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-38999403

When bluetooth was first taken seriously it was vaunted as a a useful tool for users as well as manufacturers  and the idea was that you could switch the kettle on 3 minutes before you get home, programme domestic appliances to work in the middle of the night when fuel costs are cheaper, put the heating on when you arrive back from holiday etc.

However the problem was and is the same problem experienced by the traditional "teasmades" which have been around since 1930s - you have to set them up first. A teasmade works using a clock timer but it's f*** all use if you don't fill the water, put in the tea etc in advance - and it has the additional potential hazard of having to remain plugged in through out the night. Similarly you can get your toaster to come on just before you get home, but it does mean you have to leave the bread in it whilst you're out.

Toasters have little or no user benefit from internet connectivity and as the guy points out, are a potential security risk but unless they are fitted with a camera, I don't think they'll be much of a threat. But the point he makes about legal responsibility is very important and maybe the cost to manufacturers of installing connectivity is low only because they currently take no responsibility for security issues. Maybe if they were responsible, they wouldn't put connectivity into domestic appliances after all?

It extends to other "Wireless" gadgets like baby monitors, remote temperature controls, smart TVs, smart meters, phones, computers, motor cars. I think just about anything has the facility for remoter control, thus hacking.

When Bluetooth came out it only had a range of around 10 meters in open space.

With regards to the article, it is simply scaremongering by the BBC as smart versions of these appliances will only be in the top of the range versions.

You won't see the added technology in a 5 quid toaster or kettle as it would cost significantly more.

never seen the point in buying an expensive toaster or kettle so think i'll be safe with my budget range

And in a similar vein, here's why I didn't buy an Xbox One:

https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/156515-kinect-for-xbox-one-an-always-on-works-in-the-dark-camera-and-microphone-what-could-possibly-go-wrong

karlypants wrote:When Bluetooth came out it only had a range of around 10 meters in open space.

With regards to the article, it is simply scaremongering by the BBC as smart versions of these appliances will only be in the top of the range versions.

You won't see the added technology in a 5 quid toaster or kettle as it would cost significantly more.

I seem to remember early iterations in the 90s involved the electric hard wiring of the house and the telephone line sending signals.

When they invent a toaster that fits a slice of Warbies Super Toastie into the slot without having to force it in with a fork, I'll buy it regardless of whether it's spying on me.

I don't eat bread.

Bread2.0 wrote:And in a similar vein, here's why I didn't buy an Xbox One:

https://www.extremetech.com/gaming/156515-kinect-for-xbox-one-an-always-on-works-in-the-dark-camera-and-microphone-what-could-possibly-go-wrong

I've got an xbox One and don't have the kinect plugged in for this very reason but it says in that article that your xbox won't work without kinect but that just isn't true. I've never had mine connected and it hasn't affected the console and my use of it whatsoever. In short, just don't connect the kinect.

That's what they want you to believe.

Don't fall for it!