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Logitech Disables Local Access On Harmony Hubs, Breaks Automation Systems (arstechnica.com)
DarkRookie2 shares a report from Ars Technica: Many users of Logitech's Harmony Hub smart home hub and remote were recently met with a nasty surprise. The device's latest firmware update, version 4.15.206, reportedly cuts off local access for Harmony Hubs. As a result, many users who created home automation and smart home systems using third-party APIs haven't been able to control many, and in some cases, all of their connected IoT devices. Logitech began pushing out firmware update 4.15.206 last week, its release notes stating that it addresses security and bug fixes. Users immediately flocked to Logitech's community forms to complain once they realized the systems they built up to control their smart home devices essentially became unresponsive. Users with Homeseer and Home Assistant APIs have reported parts of their systems broken, preventing them from controlling things like smart TVs, sound systems, and more using the Harmony Hub and its remote. In a statement to Ars, a Logitech representative confirmed that local access was removed in the latest Harmony Hub firmware update for security reasons: "The XMPP interface was used as part of the setup process and was pointed out as an insecure communication. We removed that interface as part of an effort to make to improve the Hub security. That interface was never designed to be used by third parties. The reason for the firmware update was to make the Harmony Hub more secure, therefore we do not have an official downgrade option. We recommend that users do not try to prevent the automatic firmware update process. We update the firmware as security issues are discovered, so users preventing the automatic firmware update process would not benefit from these future fixes."
Logitech at one time made decent peripherals. Now they are just a 'brand" slapped onto any Chinese made garbage they can find with Indian support. If you buy Logitech you deserve what you get.
This firmware update is TOTALLY something I would expect from scumbags like them. Release a product and then fuck over all their customers in an attempt to somehow get more money out of them. They will probably return that functionality "for an additional monthly charge" or some horse shit like that.
What's bad is they don't even seem to care. They broke many of their customers functionality and just give the standard corporate shrug of "well it's for xyz arbitrary reason".
Logitech has a history of screwing their users. Consider that in your future purchasing decisions.
"National Security is the chief cause of national insecurity." - Celine's First Law
If the update was REALLY about security, they would leave local access and disable phoning home.
there have been several rules that uphold Arbitration agreements in EULA's recently. Congress passed a law making them binding and the SCOTUS upheld the law because Congress passed it. Employees can still sue for violations of various Labor Laws (mostly national ones) but if you're a consumer you're pretty much boned.
I know I keep harping on about this in various threads, but if we want this to stop we need to vote for candidates who refuse corporate PAC money
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ZWave and ZigBee devices along with a hub are typically considered to be IoT. And the hub can be fully offline-capable: Vera, HomeAssistant and OpenHab work perfectly fine offline (obviously without Alexa or Internet-device integration).
X10 does suck, in general. I will agree with you on that. But I use it with quality dimmable LEDs throughout my house and that actually works fine. I am sitting in a room right now with LED track lighting that is dimmed to about 33% with a standard/cheap X10 wall switch. No flicker, no variation in the light, no issues at all, and with no incandescent in the circuit at all. They even dim properly all the way to about 15% brightness or something like that.
The biggest problem with X10 is that it is too prone for the signal to get blocked or interfered with.