Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

kuenzi.dev

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

221–230 of 311 posts

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#221

Post by [deleted] »

userbinator wrote: post #175
HarHarVeryFunny wrote: post #169

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A lot of bathroom scales are too "smart" and display recent cached weights rather than real measurements each time, in order to appear more consistent. Accuracy on some is also very bad if you store scales vertically (e.g. propped against wall) as that requires step-on, step-off re-calibration which people forget to do. I'm not sure you can even buy "just works" dumb mechanical scales any more.

I'm not sure you can even buy "just works" dumb mechanical scales any more. You can, they're just more expensive (relatively speaking) because they cost more to make.

[deleted]

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#222

Post by fsflover »

JohnFen wrote: post #204
fsflover wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The chips are not a problem. Nonfree software is.

I disagree. For a toothbrush, the chips are a problem. If nothing else, manufacturing chips is very bad for the environment. We shouldn't be putting them in things that don't need them.

If we were talking about the climate problem, you would be right. But your comment is a goal shifting, because I replied to the problem of abuse of the firmware in the chips. Abuse can't happen with free software.

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#223

Post by predictabl3 »

"But I wouldn't know when to replace my brush-head without this smart toothbrush with it's embedded electronics in a piece of plastic to track on time, contributing to further e-waste in a way that we all know will lead to planned obsolescence the second that Braun decides they need to prop up revenue in a bad year".

I mean, we have entire app ecosystems now that are basically just "hey, have some self control and put your phone down", so I'm not sure why this surprises me.

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#224

Post by fsflover »

ubermonkey wrote: post #181
fsflover wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The chips are not a problem. Nonfree software is.

Nah. Putting firmware in shit that doesn't need firmware is itself a problem, even if it's free.

I don't see a problem really. What's wrong with being able to fine tune, e.g., how strong the vibration is? Maybe my teeth are more sensitive than usual. Or between 'sensitive' and 'normal'.

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#225

Post by wil421 »

luma wrote: post #140
mikestew wrote: post #4

Great article, the most interesting part of which is that you can lock your self out of your toothbrush head after three wrong password attempts. I didn't dig into the data sheet for the NFC chip very deeply, but I imagine that it's just the default that the chip ships with. Or maybe Philips really wants that $25 for a new toothbrush head. :-) EDIT: nope, not the default. From the data sheet, last sentence: "To preve…

Wouldn't this open them to an DoS attack? Set your flipper to fire off bad password attempts at the store and now the entire aisle of toothbrush heads are silently disabled.

Sounds like something I heard about way back. Using a CRT degausser or other device to erase a Blockbuster store’s VHS tapes.

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#226

Post by Arch-TK »

JohnFen wrote: post #197
wasmitnetzen wrote: post #117

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would question your priorities if you're trying to save on $4 heads for a $90 toothbrush.

I would question your priorities if you're paying more than a couple of bucks on a toothbrush in the first place.

My priorities are: Not wanting fillings.

The difference between using a tongue brush and an electric toothbrush (vs just manual brushing with and without a tongue brush) was so stark that I've never for a moment felt like £40 for a toothbrush with an annual cost of £11.20 for toothbrush heads has ever not been worth it.

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#227

Post by josephcsible »

JohnFen wrote: post #198
josephcsible wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I don't really mean about the toothbrush. I mean, why is it legal for NXP to make chips that permanently brick instead of just factory resetting when too many wrong passwords are tried?

Why should it not be legal to make such chips?

Because they take control away from the actual owners of devices, and they, unnecessarily contribute to e-waste, for no increase in real security.

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#228

Post by purpleflame1257 »

nuancebydefault wrote: post #205
tzs wrote: post #193

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This has long been a temptation for engineers. 40 years ago the textbook in the digital electronics class I took at Caltech had a chapter called "The Engineer as Dope Pusher" that talked about it. It gave as an example clothes dryers. The way most home clothes dryers working back then was you put the clothes in, you turn a dial on a timer to the number of minutes you want the dryer to run, and you press start. The me…

What do you mean by "reliable" wrt mechanical timers? I'm pretty sure the clothing dryer is a harsh environment for such a component (moisture and heat can easily cause corrosion and mechanical stress). Also, I guess timing gets less accurate over time. If there are rubbers preventing moisture from entering and oil from leaving, those rubbers will wear out.

The timer for the dryer is typically located outside of the dryer drum itself. It is not an actuating component.

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#229

Post by Arch-TK »

sp0ck wrote: post #185
uxcolumbo wrote: post #148

It's a toothbrush. Why does it need all this tech and an app? It's better to think about sustainability. I had an Oral B IO electric toothbrush. The retail price is nuts and the brushes are expensive and can't really be recycled. Imagine millions of these out there slowly rotting. I gave up on the IO and bought this one instead. Simple design and battery lasts longer too. https://www.trysuri.com/

Analogue/manual toothbrush is like 1-2 Euro. Product You are promoting is 85Euro. Assuming my normal toothbrush lasts 3 months for 85 Euro I have backup for 21 YEARS. Spare ones are for ~5.6 EUR piece. I will stay with using my hand ;-)

Not having fillings is worth a lot more than spending £96 every 5 years (electric toothbrush £40 + £2.80 head every 3 months).

Re: Hacking my “smart” toothbrush

#230

Post by rjh29 »

jackvalentine wrote: post #135
rjh29 wrote: post #124

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also the first results on Amazon UK...

I don’t know what compels someone to lie like that. It’s just bizarre.

I assumed the person went to a brick and mortar store or searched for something weird that triggered the 'smart' scales to appear first.
Post reply on HN