xkcd #3109: Dehumidifier

Title text:

It’s important for devices to have internet connectivity so the manufacturer can patch remote exploits.

Transcript:

[A store salesman, Hairy, is showing Cueball a dehumidifier, with a “SALE” label on it. Several other unidentified devices, possibly other dehumidifier models, are shown in the store as well.]

Salesman: This dehumidifier model features built-in WiFi for remote updates.
Cueball: Great! That will be really useful if they discover a new kind of water.

Source: https://xkcd.com/3109/

explainxkcd for #3109

  • PieMePlenty@lemmy.worldEnglish
    11·
    26 days ago

    If I can turn it on remotely, that’s a good feature. I have solar, I want it to work when the sun is out and I’m producing excess energy.
    Yes, I know I can use other peripherals to do this (sometimes) but its always nicer if its just built in so I don’t need to waste carbon on other things.

    The only thing I want when manufacturers add wifi to these things is to appeal to open source principles like allowing us to connect to it and communicate with it openly and not tie it down to some cloud service they run.

    • nef@slrpnk.netEnglish
      61·
      26 days ago

      Why not plug a dumb dehumidifier into a Home Assistant controlled outlet?

      • PieMePlenty@lemmy.worldEnglish
        7·
        26 days ago

        Yes, this is generally what can be done. Disadvantages include:

        • having to buy yet another device
        • knowing which dehumidifier will start working as soon as it gets electricity. The ones sold in my country are all no name brands with little information if they will work or not and few spec sheets.