More awful IoT stuff

#1

Post by edward » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 10:00 AM UTC

More awful IoT stuff
mjg59.dreamwidth.org

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#2

Post by bedhead » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 12:44 PM UTC

@internetofshit is a great follow and pretty quickly illustrates just how absurd the IoT rush has become. Solutions in search of problems.

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#3

Post by coldpie » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 12:54 PM UTC

Does anyone still need convincing? Don't buy anything that connects to the Internet that isn't built and maintained by a major software company. Even then, be careful. Duh.

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#4

Post by Klathmon » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 12:54 PM UTC

>It's running Linux and includes Busybox and dnsmasq, so plenty of GPLed code. I emailed the manufacturer asking for a copy and got told that they wouldn't give it to me, which is unsurprising but still disappointing.

Has the GPL really lost it's power that much? I mean not responding to inquiries is one thing, but outright saying no?

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#5

Post by brianwawok » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 12:56 PM UTC

coldpie wrote: post #3

Does anyone still need convincing? Don't buy anything that connects to the Internet that isn't built and maintained by a major software company. Even then, be careful. Duh.

Not sure if software company helps. Nest has some issues.

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#6

Post by Feneric » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 12:57 PM UTC

IoT devices can be fine, but there are lots of companies involved in it that don't know what they're doing and would be better off staying out of the market. I always advice friends / family to look for upgrading capabilities, ability to do useful work when not connected to the Internet proper, user control (do you own this device or effectively borrow it per licensing etc.?), and other similar things before purchasing any IoT device. Some IoT devices are great, but some are abysmal.

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#7

Post by jussaskin » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 12:57 PM UTC

IoT is all about unsecured devices generally?

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#8

Post by mikegerwitz » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 12:59 PM UTC

Klathmon wrote: post #4

>It's running Linux and includes Busybox and dnsmasq, so plenty of GPLed code. I emailed the manufacturer asking for a copy and got told that they wouldn't give it to me, which is unsurprising but still disappointing. Has the GPL really lost it's power that much? I mean not responding to inquiries is one thing, but outright saying no?

> Has the GPL really lost it's power that much?

It's up to the copyright holder to enforce it.

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#9

Post by marktangotango » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 1:06 PM UTC

jussaskin wrote: post #7

IoT is all about unsecured devices generally?

That's been my understanding as well. The cpu's used typically aren't powerful enough to do anything other than simple encryption in a reasonable amount of time. Ssl is generally out of the question. Someone please educate me if that's incorrect.

Re: More awful IoT stuff

#10

Post by BostonEnginerd » Wed, Jun 22, 2016, 1:10 PM UTC

mikegerwitz wrote: post #8

Klathmon wrote: post #4

>It's running Linux and includes Busybox and dnsmasq, so plenty of GPLed code. I emailed the manufacturer asking for a copy and got told that they wouldn't give it to me, which is unsurprising but still disappointing. Has the GPL really lost it's power that much? I mean not responding to inquiries is one thing, but outright saying no?

> Has the GPL really lost it's power that much? It's up to the copyright holder to enforce it.

I don't believe that's the case. As an owner of a device with GPL code on it, you are entitled to the source as well.