this post was submitted on 05 Dec 2025
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Manufacturer issues remote kill command to disable smart vacuum after engineer blocks it from collecting data — user revives it with custom hardware and Python scripts to run offline (www.tomshardware.com)
submitted 1 week ago by spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works to c/technology@lemmy.world
142 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

An engineer got curious about how his iLife A11 smart vacuum worked and monitored the network traffic coming from the device. That’s when he noticed it was constantly sending logs and telemetry data to the manufacturer — something he hadn't consented to. The user, Harishankar, decided to block the telemetry servers' IP addresses on his network, while keeping the firmware and OTA servers open. While his smart gadget worked for a while, it just refused to turn on soon after. After a lengthy investigation, he discovered that a remote kill command had been issued to his device.

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[–] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 50 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (4 children)

My robot vac will only operate when connected to the Internet so it's only allowed to communicate when actually in use. As soon as it returns to the charger Internet access is automatically blocked.

Unfortunately the manufacturer has deliberately made this as inconvenient as possible. If communication is blocked for more than a few hours the vacuum loses all maps and will no longer even load saved maps from the Tuya app. To use it the vac must be powered down and the app killed. Only then can a saved map be restored.

It's too bad it's so useful.

[–] ExLisper@lemmy.curiana.net 7 points 1 week ago (1 children)

it’s only allowed to communicate when actually in use.

What's the point? The manufacturer is interested in the map of your apartment and usage statistics. What do you think it's sending when not in use? Does it have a microphone or something?

[–] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 19 points 1 week ago* (last edited 1 week ago) (1 children)

Since I haven't pulled it apart or tried to decrypt the ssl traffic I have no idea whether it has "a microphone or something." That's the point.

[–] muntedcrocodile@hilariouschaos.com 3 points 1 week ago

SSL bold of you to assume that

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 3 points 1 week ago

My robot vac will only operate when connected to the Internet

That would trigger me to return it to the store. "It doesn't work"

[–] SaharaMaleikuhm@feddit.org -3 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Should have read up on it before buying this crap.

[–] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 1 points 1 week ago (1 children)

Lol. Read what? Does your TV manual or privacy policy tell you what's being transmitted? Have you ever even bought a connected appliance?