Not in my Home!!!

[Jim Koepke]

There is a "Robo Litter Box" advertised on television.

We had one, it worked for about a week.

Save money, take it to the garbage can, dump, refill, be done.

jtk

[Carlos Alvarez]

Now, when they develop a smart device that cleans the cat litter box, I'm first in line for that thing.

Not only does one exist, there are several.

The wife experimented with some active RFID devices and Arduinos to make dog feeding systems that would only feed the correct dog. We had one that would over-eat and take food from the other when we were gone for a couple days. It worked alright, but we didn't think it was marketable. Now you can just buy them.

[Jim Koepke]

For Kitty Litter Boxes, here is a review page:

https://www.mypetneedsthat.com/best-...-litter-boxes/

From a quick read, none of these actually empty themselves and carry the waste out to the curb.

To be honest, ours was more of a first generation design and was subject to the cleaning mechanism getting clogged.

If the business of cat was always uniform, these things would have been perfected long ago.

When one of these clogs, you likely do not want to be the one to unclog it.

A long time ago it occurred to me it is less hassle to let the wife go ahead and get something she thinks is "God's gift" than to put up with the fall out from trying to explain why it isn't going to work.

Then the next time something that comes along appealing to me, it is easier to get her to let me have my way.

jtk

[Carlos Alvarez]

But what if the russian hackers steal your cat poop!!! Anything can be hacked!

[Ken Fitzgerald]

But what if the russian hackers steal your cat poop!!! Anything can be hacked!

I'm sure the Russians are smart enough and the Robo Litter Box isn't smart enough.....I don't think it would be a problem!

[Edwin Santos]

Hi,
The question of caution vs. fear is interesting. Here's a quote that takes one spin on it:

“Caution is what causes you to look both ways before crossing the street. Fear is what keeps you frozen on the curb forever. You know the difference. You can feel it. If you’re ‘stuck’ right now, you’re probably into fear. Get out of there. You’ve already looked both ways. Now cross the street for heaven’s sake. The cars have long since gone. The coast is clear. Your only obstacle now is your own mind.”

Often the guy frozen on the curb also thinks he's the only smart one and everyone else crossing that street is a reckless fool.
Edwin

[Mike Cutler]

For Kitty Litter Boxes,

From a quick read, none of these actually empty themselves and carry the waste out to the curb.

To be honest, ours was more of a first generation design and was subject to the cleaning mechanism getting clogged.

If the business of cat was always uniform, these things would have been perfected long ago.

When one of these clogs, you likely do not want to be the one to unclog it.

jtk

Okay, I'll wait. Our cats are not uniform at all in the litter box. One was so challenged we had to finally buy a concrete mixing tub for litter box, because he couldn't get it all in one place. Some days it looks like a bunch of lumberjacks used it, after a chili festival the night before.

If the Russian hackers want to hack my kitty litter for the poop, I'll give them the device address.

[Jim Koepke]

If the Russian hackers want to hack my kitty litter for the poop, I'll give them the device address.

The hacking isn't for the by product, it if for the connectivity activity. Smart devices can be used by nefarious types for not so fair-eous purposes.

jtk

[Mark Blatter]

Since this thread started, I have two articles about 'smart' devices. Here is a link to one of them.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/10/t...o-attacks.html

You can still say "Why would anyone want to access your info/phone/speaker?" but the answer is simple. To order stuff and send it to a different location. To steal your banking info and money. To get your private info and contacts. If nothing else to lock up your phone with a new code, then hold you hostage requiring a payment of $500 to get the code.

Nah, none of that would ever happer. I am just being paranoid.

[Mike Cutler]

The hacking isn't for the by product, it if for the connectivity activity. Smart devices can be used by nefarious types for not so fair-eous purposes.

jtk

Jim
They can be and there is no dispute there.
A long time ago my neighbors, whom are not computer savvy, asked me how hard it was for someone to get into their computer. I told them to give me 10 minutes.
I went upstairs, found their router because our houses are close enough together. Typed in the default Admin password for their brand of router, and locked them out of their network. I turned on file sharing and transferred their whole computer to a spare hard drive I had. There was no real password protection for the computer, which happened to be on, so I could see the whole thing. It actually could still be hacked with one of the many Microsoft admin passwords available on the internet. I also showed them how easy it would be for their kids to get to porn, which blew their mind,and set up a admin tracker for computer activity so they could monitor which chatrooms their kids were in.
I fixed everything for them that day. Set up security, had them change all of their passwords. Set different levels of access, and controls, etc.
A co workers son thought it was great fun to hack the networks along his school bus route. He was pretty successful too, and he was in elementary school at the time. It's not hard because most people just don't want to take a weekend to learn about computer security.

It used to be, years ago, that primarily hackers were interested in your available storage and RAM so they could add your machine, unnoticed by you , to a network to traffic in illegal content. It's expanded a lot from those days. With the advent of smart phones and every other smart device, having a common "hub" makes for an attractive single access target.
It's still like a "physical fence" around your yard. You'll never be able to stop everyone from entering your "digital yard". You just want to make the next guy look like an easier target.

PS
I'll still give them network address for the kitty litter. Heck, I'll even throw in some ESPN and HBO access for them.

[Bob Grier]

Wouldn't it be easy for someone to just grab your garbage bag to find out personal info or maybe just use a pipe wrench on your back door handle, or maybe tap out a window when you aren't home to access personal information or even steal something? Security systems on a business or home can offer some protection but not much use in keeping someone out. It is much easier for most people to just open your door or bust a window than it is to figure out how to hack into your network. There are some people who do know how to hack but many more people who know how to get in your house or car.

Smart things can save money (sprinkler system that monitors weather forecast and current conditions to adjust watering), thermostats that automatically adjust, etc. and then there is the convenience that some of these systems offer. It is nice to be able to check on your home while away on vacation, be notified if it is approached or opened, heating is malfunctioning, lights are turning on and off in the evening, etc.

I put off buying a mobile phone for many years due to the cost and my perception that I didn't need one. I ignored the pleadings of my children who wanted to buy one for me. They said it was inconvenient for them to get a hold of me when they had to leave a message and wait for me to get home to call them back. The day came that I decided to travel and then I bought a cell phone. I never went back to a land line. Then the same thing happened to me with the smart phone. I put it off due to cost and perceived notion that I didn't need one. Then the day came when I decided to try one. I bought a used Samsung and now I will never go back. A few months ago I actually bought a new smart phone instead of a used one. It just seems worth it to me now. I didn't buy the most expensive.

[Pat Barry]

Maybe not IN your home, but IS your nee home.
See this article
http://money.cnn.com/2018/05/09/tech...ome/index.html

The type of technology many are so afraid of IS the future. Best figure out how to use it.

[Tom Stenzel]

Hi,
The question of caution vs. fear is interesting. Here's a quote that takes one spin on it:

“Caution is what causes you to look both ways before crossing the street. Fear is what keeps you frozen on the curb forever. You know the difference. You can feel it. If you’re ‘stuck’ right now, you’re probably into fear. Get out of there. You’ve already looked both ways. Now cross the street for heaven’s sake. The cars have long since gone. The coast is clear. Your only obstacle now is your own mind.”

Often the guy frozen on the curb also thinks he's the only smart one and everyone else crossing that street is a reckless fool.
Edwin

That's only true if I wanted to cross the street. There needs to be something on the other side of the street I'm interested in. If I'm being pushed across a street I didn't want to cross don't be shocked I'm not all that happy about it.

-Tom

[Jim Koepke]

Wouldn't it be easy for someone to just grab your garbage bag to find out personal info or maybe just use a pipe wrench on your back door handle, or maybe tap out a window when you aren't home to access personal information or even steal something?

Why bother if they can sit on their sofa with a cold beer and a pizza while they charge the TV they really want to your credit account?

They may have even ordered a delivered pizza through your fancy electronic helper.

jtk

[Carlos Alvarez]

Hi,
The question of caution vs. fear is interesting. Here's a quote that takes one spin on it:

“Caution is what causes you to look both ways before crossing the street. Fear is what keeps you frozen on the curb forever. You know the difference. You can feel it. If you’re ‘stuck’ right now, you’re probably into fear. Get out of there. You’ve already looked both ways. Now cross the street for heaven’s sake. The cars have long since gone. The coast is clear. Your only obstacle now is your own mind.”

Often the guy frozen on the curb also thinks he's the only smart one and everyone else crossing that street is a reckless fool.
Edwin

That's a great way to put it. Goes along with the people my friend calls "internet roadkill" who just assume crazy things about technology.