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Is Sharp's Robot Vacuum Cleaner Vulnerable To Remote Take-over? (jvn.jp)

Posted by EditorDavid on from the bugs-in-the-vacuum dept.

Slashdot reader AmiMoJo reports: Sharp's COCOROBO (heart-bot) vacuum cleaners can not just clean your house. They have cameras that can be viewed from a smart phone, and automatically take pictures of things they find under your sofa. They have microphones and voice recognition, and are able to ask how your day was when you get home from work. You can even activate their speakers and talk to your pets from the office. Unfortunately, so can anyone else if you don't install critical firmware updates.
JPCERT's warning says that the attacker must be on the same LAN to impersonate you, though "as a result, there is a possibility that an arbitrary operation may be conducted."

7 of 42 comments (clear)

  1. Under the sofa? by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

    How about checking under the sofa cushions? Maybe it would be able to earn a wage.

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  2. What IoT appliance isn't vulnerable? by TeknoHog · · Score: 2

    n/t

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    Escher was the first MC and Giger invented the HR department.
  3. Not by AndyKron · · Score: 2

    I don't want a vacuum cleaner connected to the Internet, nor do I want a vacuum cleaner asking me how my fucking day was.

  4. Re:Not to be a luddite, but ... by DontBeAMoran · · Score: 2

    http://d3d71ba2asa5oz.cloudfro...

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    #DeleteFacebook
  5. What idiot thought these were good ideas. by gurps_npc · · Score: 5, Insightful

    They are vacuum cleaners. They do not need MICROPHONES. If you can't bother to control it via an App, then connect up Amazon's Alexis and let Alexis convert your voice into vacuum cleaner commands.

    Same thing for cameras. What moron thinks that letting your vaccuum cleaner take pictures in your home is a good idea>

    As for me, I don't trust Amazon with a mike in my home, let alone some random vacuum company maker.

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    excitingthingstodo.blogspot.com
  6. Re:Not to be a luddite, but ... by burtosis · · Score: 2

    Unfortunately, so can anyone else if you don't install critical firmware updates.

    ... do we really need vacuum cleaners that require soft/firmware and security updates?

    Seriously, it's not that hard to vacuum/sweep your floors.

    Sadly, in 15 years we will probably be saying that about underwear.

  7. Re:OMFG! by sjames · · Score: 4, Informative

    Because it has a CAMERA and can be driven around the house through the smart phone interface. If it gets hacked, the bad guy gets a mobile spy cam in your house.