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Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

krebsonsecurity.com

271–280 of 575 posts

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#271
tangent thought experiment

So you bought that top of the line security-as-a-product thingy you can stick in your rack and it will make sure that your network is impenetrable? You know, like those CISCO bricks everyone major company is buying.

So have you took an extra precautions to make sure that the firmware on the device is pristine? Do you know anyone who ever touched these devices who actually did?

Do you see the problem?

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#273

Earlier quoted context omitted.

interesting bit of information: most EV mower companies now do not provide replacement parts - if a mower dies within warranty, a 'certified' warranty repair shop does basic troubleshooting, and if it's beyond a piece of cheap plastic, the mfr just ships a new mower to the 'repair shop'. Once out of warranty, you're on your own.

Thank you for reminding us that electric mowers are garbage.

I mean, not all of them?

Mine's a fancy-pants Stihl battery mower, but it works quite well and has been doing so without problem since I bought it ~4 years ago. The other battery stuff from the same brand (trimmer, chainsaw, kombi-tool) have the same story.

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

One of the main value propositions for retailers in a world of endless cheap garbage being sold online, is to vet products so customers can trust that what their buying is from a legitimate company and not junk or stuff like these streaming sticks. This is the problem with being an “everything store”. “Everything” includes a lot of things most consumers would like to be protected from, and assume they are due to the…

interesting bit of information: most EV mower companies now do not provide replacement parts - if a mower dies within warranty, a 'certified' warranty repair shop does basic troubleshooting, and if it's beyond a piece of cheap plastic, the mfr just ships a new mower to the 'repair shop'. Once out of warranty, you're on your own.

These are the kinds of products I now just straight up refuse to buy.

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#275

Earlier quoted context omitted.

interesting bit of information: most EV mower companies now do not provide replacement parts - if a mower dies within warranty, a 'certified' warranty repair shop does basic troubleshooting, and if it's beyond a piece of cheap plastic, the mfr just ships a new mower to the 'repair shop'. Once out of warranty, you're on your own.

Thank you for reminding us that electric mowers are garbage.

Why? Mine is great. And light. And QUIET.

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#276

> Despite repeated warnings from the FBI and security industry leaders about the security and privacy risks of using these streaming devices, major e-commerce providers like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg and others continue to sell hundreds of different models and brands I scanned the comments and I didn't see anyone suggesting that these companies should share any responsibility for selling these harmful products. Why is…

Just being realistic here; many of these are of Chinese make so how exactly would you stop it other than blocking them from being sold. They certainly don't advertise to the big box retailer that buys them "and it uses the customer's internet connection for fraud." Hell, there's a section of comments that would probably going "hey, RELAX guy" because it's not US companies doing this. For any American companies that d…

The FCC tests electronics for radio interference. Perhaps they could test electronics for Internet behavior like this too?

Some manufacturers will try to cheat on the tests, but we have AI security checking now, so maybe that would make it harder to cheat?

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#277

> Despite repeated warnings from the FBI and security industry leaders about the security and privacy risks of using these streaming devices, major e-commerce providers like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg and others continue to sell hundreds of different models and brands I scanned the comments and I didn't see anyone suggesting that these companies should share any responsibility for selling these harmful products. Why is…

One of the main value propositions for retailers in a world of endless cheap garbage being sold online, is to vet products so customers can trust that what their buying is from a legitimate company and not junk or stuff like these streaming sticks. This is the problem with being an “everything store”. “Everything” includes a lot of things most consumers would like to be protected from, and assume they are due to the…

You go to an online store to buy a hard drive. It's listed as "in stock" and you buy it and pay for it. A week later you get an email from the store that the specific hard drive is now available at a third party warehouse and they can order it from there, but the price is about 10% higher.

The above actually happened to me. That's what online retailers were like before Amazon's reach properly extended here. That's also the main value proposition for these retailers for me.

Also, online retailers are far more likely to accept returns compared to regular stores. If you get a bad product from a regular store you're often just screwed.

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#278

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Clicked on the link, ready to buy one. “Contact sales”. Ew. No thanks.

We are literally new and only available in Barcelona at the moment which I mentioned in my comment as well. Not sure what's eww about that?

I believe they're referring to the friction point of this company/website not publicly listing a price. That's a huge barrier/red flag to a lot of people. Myself included. Last thing I want to do is waste time bouncing emails back and forth between sales just to figure out if the price range is even remotely in my wheelhouse.

However, if your target is B2B (Business to Business) as opposed to B2C/D2C (Business to Client/Direct to Client) and you're selling the install plus enterprise support, then the sales thing makes way more sense, and is more expected/palatable for B2B type customers than your everyday consumers, so depends on who you're targeting.

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#279

> Despite repeated warnings from the FBI and security industry leaders about the security and privacy risks of using these streaming devices, major e-commerce providers like Amazon, Best Buy, Newegg and others continue to sell hundreds of different models and brands I scanned the comments and I didn't see anyone suggesting that these companies should share any responsibility for selling these harmful products. Why is…

I would very much be in favor of grocery stores sharing responsibility (and regulatory penalties) for selling tainted food! It's kind of mind boggling that this is controversial. "Buyer beware" is not an acceptable basis for society to function.

[deleted]

Re: Read this before you buy that TV streaming stick

#280
post #218

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Absolutely, there's no scam outside capitalism!

Outside of capitalism is outer space, so your snarky comment is actually true.

Of course, every socialist country is actually capitalism and that's why it fails.
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