The Day My Smart Vacuum Turned Against Me

[240B]

The Day My Smart Vacuum Turned Against Me[/b]

Code Tiger
By Harishankar
Oct 7, 2025



Would you allow a stranger to drive a camera-equipped computer around your living room? You might have already done so without even realizing it.

The Beginning: A Curious Experiment
It all started innocently enough. I had recently bought an iLife A11 smart vacuum—a sleek, affordable, and technologically advanced robot promising effortless cleaning and intelligent navigation. As a curious engineer, I was fascinated by its workings. After leaving it to operate for the entire year, my curiosity got the better of me.

I’m a bit paranoid—the good kind of paranoid. So, I decided to monitor its network traffic, as I would with any so-called smart device.

Within minutes, I noticed a steady stream of packets being sent to servers located halfway across the world. My robot vacuum was constantly communicating with its manufacturer, transmitting logs and telemetry that I had never consented to share.

That’s when I made my first mistake: I decided to stop it.

All I did was block its data logging IP address—just the logs, not firmware updates or OTA channels. Simple enough, I thought.

At least, I thought so.

(more)
https://codetiger.github.io/blog/the-day-my-smart-vacuum-turned-against-me/

[Kamaji]

Pretty scary story for how bad security is on all of these internet-connected appliances.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Huge trust issue with all these devices. i'm hoping the Matter standard fixes this issue, but it will take a long time before people trust these things again. I remember buying a smart lightbulb and seeing that it was connecting to some cloud server in China. Yeah, no thanks.

[240B]

The article says that any so-called 'Smart' device is likely communicating with its manufacturer home office.

This is why anything with a camera or a microphone should be treated with caution and suspicion. The only thing in my home with either of those is my phone. And I do treat it carefully by watching what I say around it. There is no detail about your life that is so miniscule or insignificant, that NSA, Google, and Amazon will not collect it and store it. They want to know every single thing about you ... all of it. Your bathroom schedule is important to them. If you order a vanilla shake at Sonic at 2:47 pm on a Tuesday, they want to know about it. Everything you do is recorded somewhere, including if you do nothing at all.

I would never do any banking by cellphone. I am simply not that trusting of the device or the WiFi.

[roamer_1]

This is so weird for me.

Just a few years ago, I was among the most adamant about my local privacy. I stayed flip-phone for the longest time, denying local wifi access to everything.

Nothing was on my system except my own boxen, and temporary access to
client machines.

Now, I will admit that I relaxed that just a little when I finally went to a smart phone... And later a tablet...As Droid invaded my system, things had to lighten up a bit. But I was still very mindful. I could identify every.single.thing living on my router.

Since I became disabled, that changed remarkably.

I can invoke Giggles, right out of the air, in nearly every room in my house.
I purposefully bought a GoogleTV oriented TV BECAUSE it would interface with everything else -and will do it again for the bedroom tv.

My kid wants internal cams, so that if he cannot get a hold of me, he can peek to make sure I am alright. That's where the line is right now... I don't like the idea of cams in my house.

I WILL have an exterior cam so I can see who is at my door, and a door lock I can tell to unlock on command. I will be able to command my porch lights and emergency lights by command. All that is coming, for sure.

It's weird. Some of it is needful and cool - I have a smart watch tied to my phone that keeps perfect track of my heartbeat... Invoking Giggles from anywhere, even if my phone fails, and even if my watch fails - All of that is prudent, considering my condition.

I spent so much time in hospitals and doctor's offices that there are trackers on my buggy and my pack to keep them from getting lost in those systems. Again, a matter of prudence.

but the aggregate effect is an assault on privacy.

Man, oh man! To go from being able to walk off and disappear for a month with *NO* electronics - No possible tracking - To THIS! Quite the change.

 

[libertybele]

This is so weird for me.

Just a few years ago, I was among the most adamant about my local privacy. I stayed flip-phone for the longest time, denying local wifi access to everything.

Nothing was on my system except my own boxen, and temporary access to
client machines.

Now, I will admit that I relaxed that just a little when I finally went to a smart phone... And later a tablet...As Droid invaded my system, things had to lighten up a bit. But I was still very mindful. I could identify every.single.thing living on my router.

Since I became disabled, that changed remarkably.

I can invoke Giggles, right out of the air, in nearly every room in my house.
I purposefully bought a GoogleTV oriented TV BECAUSE it would interface with everything else -and will do it again for the bedroom tv.

My kid wants internal cams, so that if he cannot get a hold of me, he can peek to make sure I am alright. That's where the line is right now... I don't like the idea of cams in my house.

I WILL have an exterior cam so I can see who is at my door, and a door lock I can tell to unlock on command. I will be able to command my porch lights and emergency lights by command. All that is coming, for sure.

It's weird. Some of it is needful and cool - I have a smart watch tied to my phone that keeps perfect track of my heartbeat... Invoking Giggles from anywhere, even if my phone fails, and even if my watch fails - All of that is prudent, considering my condition.

I spent so much time in hospitals and doctor's offices that there are trackers on my buggy and my pack to keep them from getting lost in those systems. Again, a matter of prudence.

but the aggregate effect is an assault on privacy.

Man, oh man! To go from being able to walk off and disappear for a month with *NO* electronics - No possible tracking - To THIS! Quite the change.

With so many doctors appointments, tests, hospital visits, etc., solitude and just walking off trail into the woods would be so welcome.  I get ya.  i'm trying to build back up to that ...  but .... that I'm afraid may not happen ... or it may, who knows.

Perhaps instead of cams get a medic alert that you could wear and press a button that would notify your kin and an EMS unit that you needed help???

[roamer_1]

With so many doctors appointments, tests, hospital visits, etc., solitude and just walking off trail into the woods would be so welcome.  I get ya.  i'm trying to build back up to that ...  but .... that I'm afraid may not happen ... or it may, who knows.

I  wish you well in that... I harbor no such hope for myself - Not for real anyway. I might get to where I can camper camp... Go sit around in base camp with the womenfolk and the (other) geezers.... And that's alright.

It has been much easier on me since I figured out I ain't headed for the porch anymore... I'm ON the damn porch.  And that's alright too. Just my turn in the barrel. So it goes. 

Perhaps instead of cams get a medic alert that you could wear and press a button that would notify your kin and an EMS unit that you needed help???

I sorta have that (in kind). My watch has that function. And I can holler at Giggles pretty well anywhere in my house and have her call kin or 911, And while it wasn't free, I have far less money tied up in this system comparatively, and the service is free. That's kinda why I went smarthouse.

[Sighlass]

I noticed my Roku remote batteries going dead in a matter of days. Why ?

I assume it was listening in on a whim (it has a listen button to give commands/search). I rarely used the feature, but can only assume it had a will of it's own when it choose to "listen".

I now only put the batteries in when using the remote and take them out when not... It lasts months now instead of days.

[roamer_1]

I noticed my Roku remote batteries going dead in a matter of days. Why ?

I assume it was listening in on a whim (it has a listen button to give commands/search). I rarely used the feature, but can only assume it had a will of it's own when it choose to "listen".

I now only put the batteries in when using the remote and take them out when not... It lasts months now instead of days.

Both of my Roku remotes died... I hardly use em anyway. If I want to use one of my rokus, I will likely use the phone app to run them.

But even that is old... This new TV has a roku app built right into the GoogleTV home... I just use that and haven't used the actual roku since.

[corbe]

   I've refrained from telling my GF that with all the cameras in her home and the 'Alexas' it peaks my big brother issue.
   Though I have made Love to her in that environment. Shirely you've seen the Video.

[DCPatriot]

I noticed my Roku remote batteries going dead in a matter of days. Why ?

I assume it was listening in on a whim (it has a listen button to give commands/search). I rarely used the feature, but can only assume it had a will of it's own when it choose to "listen".

I now only put the batteries in when using the remote and take them out when not... It lasts months now instead of days.

My Roku screen keeps saying "System update is running...tap for more information or to stop the app!"

NOWHERE does it say WTF button to "tap"...have tried them all.

Secondly, when I use the remote to decrease the volume...it keeps decreasing to "ZERO" (mute)

[Sighlass]

Both of my Roku remotes died... I hardly use em anyway. If I want to use one of my rokus, I will likely use the phone app to run them.

But even that is old... This new TV has a roku app built right into the GoogleTV home... I just use that and haven't used the actual roku since.

Come back to the light my friend... (j/k)...

I fully understand your circumstances make it a convenience and your wit with this new tech makes it a problem solver for ya ... I may go the same route in time (but not for now).

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Solution to the trust issue: put an LED IN SERIES with the mic and camera, so it lights up when in use and cannot be separated from the camera/mic through software or digitally in any way. Like when you're a kid making a lightbulb light up to complete the circuit. I told this to ChatGPT and it said it was a good idea. Might go a long way.

With the matter standard, smart home devices on it have to be able to be used exclusive to the cloud, although they must still connect to the cloud for updates and things like that, which is reasonable.

[Fishrrman]

Still using an old Electrolux that became a hand-me-down
my mom bought in the late 70's (or was it early 80's ??) ...

Pretty much like the one above. Still gets the job done...

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Still using an old Electrolux that became a hand-me-down
my mom bought in the late 70's (or was it early 80's ??) ...

Pretty much like the one above. Still gets the job done...

But with a robovac, you just set the thing off and take off and it vacuums while you do something else. For the most part they're awesome.

[libertybele]

I could use a robovac -- still have limitations from heart surgery and vacuuming is a no no.  Hubby and my daughter vacuum but not as often as I would like .... not going to push the issue though.

[roamer_1]

My Roku screen keeps saying "System update is running...tap for more information or to stop the app!"

NOWHERE does it say WTF button to "tap"...have tried them all.

Secondly, when I use the remote to decrease the volume...it keeps decreasing to "ZERO" (mute)

Unplug it from the tv (and maybe the wall), wait 30secs. and plug it back in. Should cause a scratch-boot.

[roamer_1]

Come back to the light my friend... (j/k)...

I fully understand your circumstances make it a convenience and your wit with this new tech makes it a problem solver for ya ... I may go the same route in time (but not for now).

Hey. At this point, it don't matter. It ain't like I am still running whiskey or something and might need to hit the hoot-owl trail. 
As my good friend @sneakypete said, "if they come for me, all I can do is shoot em in the face as a last act of defiance."

That's #metoo 

[roamer_1]

I could use a robovac -- still have limitations from heart surgery and vacuuming is a no no.  Hubby and my daughter vacuum but not as often as I would like .... not going to push the issue though.

I have a Dorothy for all that.  She not only vacuums, she scrubs the tile and linoleum, takes out the garbage, does the dishes, and gives me a pedi.

Try getting that out of a robot.

[cato potatoe]

I had a Roomba until the day my labrador had a bout of diarrhea.  Whatever you are imagining, it was worse. 

[roamer_1]

I had a Roomba until the day my labrador had a bout of diarrhea.  Whatever you are imagining, it was worse.

I think I'd have to just burn the house down. 

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

I had a Roomba until the day my labrador had a bout of diarrhea.  Whatever you are imagining, it was worse.

Yeah that's the one caveat I have with them. If you have a pet, especially a large dog prone to large nasty fecal bombs... be cautious.

[libertybele]

I think I'd have to just burn the house down. 

Well, I'd likely tear out the carpet and hire someone to put tile down. 

[roamer_1]

I'm a guy. Without a woman. So technically I could make the house so anything I couldn't get with a leaf blower, I could get with a pressure washer. 

[corbe]

   I've taken a different approach this late in Life.  I clean my own crib but i exchange an Applebee's dinner for the pressure/blower thing once a week.

[Sighlass]

I had a Roomba until the day my labrador had a bout of diarrhea.  Whatever you are imagining, it was worse. 

ROFLMBO.... I made the mistake of letting my imagination get the best of me.

[The_Reader_David]

I've been saying for years that there is something very wrong with the world when the thought that your refrigerator is spying on you might be a rational risk assessment, rather than a symptom of paranoid schizophrenia.