Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
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Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#2My theory is that every technology goes through a period of experimentation before it’s clear how it should be employed.
That’s why we had project plowshare for the bomb and now internet connectivity for every imaginable device, even ones that only need an on-off switch.
I am a bit mystified why we need connected toothbrushes, but I very much applaud the spirit of experimentation, even if it sometimes gives us toothbrush-powered botnets.
Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#3> Normally, the toothbrushes would have used their connectivity for tracking and improving user oral hygiene habits
Along with that thread on the Folk computer the other day (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39241472 ), and a discussion on signal interference in long-range wifi and the like (https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39246399 ) this makes me wonder if broad household surveillance centralized to a single computer per home for analysis might have benefits over decentralized IoT computation.
Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#4Why do toothbrushes need to be able to make web connections in the first place? I get that it's for tracking brushing habits, but can't that be done with local connectivity only, like LAN or something?
Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#5> Normally, the toothbrushes would have used their connectivity for tracking and improving user oral hygiene habits Along with that thread on the Folk computer the other day ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39241472 ), and a discussion on signal interference in long-range wifi and the like ( https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39246399 ) this makes me wonder if broad household surveillance centralized to a sin…
How about no household surveillance at all? Crazy idea, I know.
Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#6Why do toothbrushes need to be able to make web connections in the first place? I get that it's for tracking brushing habits, but can't that be done with local connectivity only, like LAN or something?
Because the actual business model is selling the aggregated data?
Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#7Why do toothbrushes need to be able to make web connections in the first place? I get that it's for tracking brushing habits, but can't that be done with local connectivity only, like LAN or something?
I'm with you, but unless the brush stores the data on itself, which appliance should receive those data in a typical home?
Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#8I had misremembered these as a single comic, but you can't have everything:
https://i0.wp.com/www.litterboxcomics.com/wp-content/uploads...
https://i0.wp.com/www.litterboxcomics.com/wp-content/uploads...
Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#9Dude. This is too much. My fridge is capable of being connected to the internet, so is my oven, garage door opener and my dishwasher. WHY? These things have worked so well without this crap. I wish manufacturers would stop this insanity.
Re: Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks
#10Why do toothbrushes need to be able to make web connections in the first place? I get that it's for tracking brushing habits, but can't that be done with local connectivity only, like LAN or something?
Not every toothbrush user has a server at home and the skills to attach to it. I would even say that most of those users had no idea what they enabled when they activated their toothbrushes. And let's not forget about vacuum cleaners, refrigerators, washing machines, coffee makers and the other zillions of "smart" personal data channeling smart appliances. I'd dare a survey, how many HN people actually work on exactly these technologies, how many read these words, and how many actually care?