In a stunning discovery, computer programmer Harishankar Narayanan found that his $300 iLife A11 smart vacuum was secretly transmitting detailed 3D maps of his home to remote servers overseas. Using tools to monitor his home network, he uncovered that the vacuum’s built-in software—powered by Google Cartographer mapping tech—was broadcasting private spatial data “halfway across the world.”
When Narayanan blocked the vacuum’s data transmissions (but allowed firmware updates), the device abruptly stopped functioning. After repeated repair attempts failed and the warranty expired, he decided to investigate deeper. What he found was alarming — the vacuum’s Android Debug Bridge (ADB) was left wide open, granting full root access to anyone who connected. Even more shocking, a timestamped line of code matched the exact moment his device went offline — a remote kill command issued by the manufacturer. After reversing the script, the vacuum instantly came back to life, confirming his worst suspicions: it had been remotely disabled. This case highlights growing concerns about data privacy in smart home devices, many of which have unrestricted cloud connectivity. Experts are urging consumers to research and monitor IoT products before bringing them into their homes — because convenience might come at the cost of privacy. K. Rajaram -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Thatha_Patty" group. To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an email to [email protected]. To view this discussion visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/thatha_patty/CAL5XZormQFuAg5Bn-CzEa7X%2BQqCj244WZQOj9O0Okyu-GFNK%2BQ%40mail.gmail.com.
