Lots of reasons. But primarily to force you to download an app that hoovers up your data, sells it to advertisers, and serves you ads at the same time, all while holding your expensive appliances hostage behind a monthly subscription that they can raise at any time. So, primarily, to fuck you.
this post was submitted on 08 Jan 2026
53 points (94.9% liked)
Privacy
44437 readers
495 users here now
A place to discuss privacy and freedom in the digital world.
Privacy has become a very important issue in modern society, with companies and governments constantly abusing their power, more and more people are waking up to the importance of digital privacy.
In this community everyone is welcome to post links and discuss topics related to privacy.
Some Rules
- Posting a link to a website containing tracking isn't great, if contents of the website are behind a paywall maybe copy them into the post
- Don't promote proprietary software
- Try to keep things on topic
- If you have a question, please try searching for previous discussions, maybe it has already been answered
- Reposts are fine, but should have at least a couple of weeks in between so that the post can reach a new audience
- Be nice :)
Related communities
much thanks to @gary_host_laptop for the logo design :)
founded 6 years ago
MODERATORS
Original question is what are all the possibilities It can be turned against us ?
I don't understand. I think you have a spelling or grammar error in there but not sure where.
Do you mean hijacking? If so, any IOT device controlled via a webservice is very susceptible to lackluster security at the manufacturer level. If anyone is within signal range of your device, they can also hija it.
Do you mean being harmed in any way by the manufacturer? They are using the devices to collect and sell any and all possible data they can collect about you.
because they want your data
Honestly I don't mind that, at all. What I mind is if it's mandatory and only through proprietary applications.
WiFi, BT, Zigbee, Z-wave etc are not per se a problem. The question instead is who practically owns the device. If the behavior is force on you as a customer, then it's easy, it's not YOUR device. Consider then buying OSHW or whatever alternative you need, including potentially non connected devices that you yourself connect on your terms.
Edit: check which devices are compatible with GadgetBridge and/or HomeAssistant then reviews from actual customers. That should help you find out which devices can match your requirements.
@tdTrX@lemmy.ml your account is (accidentally?) flagged as a bot so your posts won't be seen by anyone who has disabled bot posts. You might want to check your account settings.
Simple, get an engineering degree and disable them. Alternatively, you could refuse to buy devices with those features. If you can't find new ones that exclude those features, maybe buying used devices is your best move.
in addition to what folks said: also to show you ads.
I prefer cables over Bluetooth and wifi:
- Ethernet over WiFi
- USB cable over Bluetooth
- cabled headphone over Bluetooth headphone
While this increases convenience this also introduces new attack vectors (denial of service by jamming for example, tracking, or impersonation and mtm attacks).
Every person who uses wireless devices constantly emits signals into space. These can be obviously monitored, according to the laws of physics the inverse square law limits the range of such detection capabilities. Also depends on the electromagnetic noise in your environment: Jammers/other people.
- Geolocation with wifi environment.
Why? Cuz companies mistakenly think stalking customers is savvy business.
I've heard that new apppliances, etc will have 5g built in to circumvent you when you don't connect it to your WiFi. So if they then have a microphone installed it'll still upload that data without your permission.
Bot account
You can still buy all of those without any "smart" capabilities easily.
Still, that's a keyword.
Just... don't connect them to the internet? Or if you must connect them for dumb shit like system updates, put them behind some access control where the only access they have is the server they get updates from.
Just… don’t connect them to the internet? Or if you must connect them for dumb shit like system updates, put them behind some access control where the only access they have is the server they get updates from.
I regret to inform you that preventing devices from getting online is getting more difficult: three years ago Amazon began allowing other companies' products to use their BLE-and-LoRa-based mesh network to get online via your neighbors' internet-connected devices.
FFS. Gonna have to wrap the washing machine in silver foil and get in the neighbours to pour water on their router! Joking.
Would be easier to create a “guest” network to connect those appliances to and make it a LAN (local area network) only. Can’t phone home. Can’t download updates.
easier to create a “guest” network to connect those appliances to
I guess you missed my earlier comment in this thread; to reiterate: some devices will now get online via your neighbors' devices even if you don't give them wifi access.
Ah, no I saw the comment but missed the part where Amazon is letting other companies use the sidewalk protocol. I’m fortunate enough to have neighbors who don’t use Amazon’s stuff, but if other companies are using their tech it’s a moot point.
I wonder if any of these appliances would stop functioning if the bluetooth and wifi module was suddenly disconnected? Not actually asking, just putting the thought out there. I miss “dumb” products.
As we saw in this story from a few months ago, yes, absolutely, manufacturers will stoop to the level of disabling devices which are prevented from exfiltrating your data. I'm pretty sure I've heard of TVs doing the same with the network modules but I'm too lazy to search for it now.
dumb shit like system updates
You can't do that, if you allow that then how can you be sure the next "update" won't make your experience worst? Optional update controlled by the user is great, mandatory ones mean "your" hardware is actually not yours.
For hardware that does insist on connection and even enable mesh networks, it's safer to not buy those.
I've never used the feature but my toothbrush has Bluetooth for some reason lol