this post was submitted on 28 Oct 2025
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Privacy

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A software architect discovered his iLife A11 smart vacuum was secretly transmitting data to overseas servers in 2025. When he blocked the data collection, the vacuum was remotely disabled through hidden software that allowed manufacturer access[^1].

The vacuum contained sophisticated hardware including an AllWinner A33 processor running Linux and Google Cartographer mapping software. Through reverse engineering, the author found rtty remote access software that let manufacturers secretly control devices[^1].

The incident sparked discussions about IoT device privacy and control. Multiple vacuum brands including Xiaomi, Wyze, and Viomi use the same hardware platform (3irobotix CRL-200S), suggesting widespread vulnerability[^1].

The story gained attention in October 2025, with tech commentators highlighting it as a cautionary tale about smart home devices[^2]. Forum discussions revealed similar experiences with other robot vacuums losing connectivity or requiring resets after firmware updates[^7][^9].

[^1]: The Day My Smart Vacuum Turned Against Me [^2]: Suggested Read: The Day My Smart Vacuum Turned Against Me - Troy Patterson [^7]: Wyze Forums - Robot vacuum does not connect to wifi [^9]: Wyze Forums - Wyze Vacuum Save Created Maps in App

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[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago) (1 children)

I have the Wyze version of this robot, currently pulled apart in a bucket next to my desk. The newer robots based on the CRL-200S (including the Viomi V8, Xiaomi "STYTJ02YM", and my Wyze WVCR200S) have clamped down hard on ADB access, requiring a sequence of button presses to boot it into FEL mode in order to fire up the ADB port for half a second. But in over 200 attempts, I just have not been able to nail it down (dmesg tallies USB connections, pretty neat). I've spent far too long fiddling with the current board with zero success, so I ended up just buying another board for $15 off Aliexpress, from a Viomi V6/V7. Once it arrives, I'm going to root it before reassembling the robot just to make sure it actually works.

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 1 points 3 days ago (1 children)

The simple way is an cheer bot without net access and only basic AI. I had one of this for ~100 bucks, which did his work, but I gave it to my sister-in-law, because I was faster sweeping the floor with a broom.

[–] lka1988@lemmy.dbzer0.com 1 points 3 days ago* (last edited 3 days ago)

I mean, I can sweep better than a robot vacuum, too, but my entire main floor is hardwood. It takes a while. So I summon the robot (currently a basic-bitch Eufy 25C with no "seeing" abilities) to help out. It's also nice to have it run at 2AM for a general cleanup of whatever crumbs that were missed or spilled and not cleaned up for whatever reason... With 5 kids, shit gets missed sometimes.

The Wyze is getting Valetudo, and the Eufy will probably be gifted to my MIL, per my wife's recommendation. She's a neat freak, for lack of better words, but also in her 70s, so having a small vacuum making the rounds for her periodically would be helpful.

[–] Malgas@beehaw.org 9 points 5 days ago

The 'P' in "IoT" stands for privacy.

[–] Zerush@lemmy.ml 18 points 5 days ago (5 children)

I use a broom, faster than any of these bots, cheaper, environment friendly and 100% private.

[–] makeitwonderful@lemmy.today 31 points 5 days ago (1 children)

People that take a bucket to the river for their water don't have to worry about plumbing leaks. Not having to spend time gathering water is worth the time of dealing with plumbing for me. I feel similarly towards having to do surface level vacuuming vs the time of dealing with firewalls.

[–] confuser@lemmy.zip 15 points 5 days ago

Aka, automate the boring stuff

[–] TranquilTurbulence@lemmy.zip 6 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

It’s well known that brooms are the pinnacle of cybersecurity among cleaning tools! Every smart device is a potential target for hackers, while these dumb tools stand as an impenetrable fortress. Forget about remote hacking; the only way to breach a broom’s defences is with good old-fashioned physical access and a hacksaw. As long as you keep your brooms locked up tight, nobody will be hacking them. Better yet, being 100% software-free, there’s no pesky malware or bloatware either. Brooms also take wireless security very seriously. No hardware kill switches are needed when there’s zero communication in either direction.

[–] dan1101@lemmy.world 6 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I don't like brooms indoors, they stir up dust instead of sucking it up like vacuums do. A regular vacuum does just fine for me.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 3 points 5 days ago

My Smart Broom isn't so private

I was going to check out this brand... then my neurons kicked in

[–] ragas@lemmy.ml 7 points 4 days ago

I'm just gonna leave this here: https://valetudo.cloud/

[–] gi1242@lemmy.world 13 points 5 days ago

this was fantastic! good on him for doing this and making it public

[–] pineapple@lemmy.ml 10 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I guess just by a vacuum cleaner without internet connectivity.

[–] quick_snail@feddit.nl 2 points 5 days ago

Brooms are better

[–] impersonator@lemmy.ml 8 points 5 days ago

If you do want a robot vacuum, use Valetudo!

[–] blackbrook@mander.xyz 7 points 5 days ago

Interesting article, but was that stupid, presumably AI generated, picture really necessary?

[–] Tenderizer78@lemmy.ml 6 points 5 days ago

This is terrifying.

[–] irmadlad@lemmy.world 3 points 5 days ago (1 children)

I have one of the older rhumbas. It does have the ability for wifi access, but I've never understood fully why someone would hook it up to wifi. I live in a very small house, less than 1100 sq ft. I can traverse one end of my house to the other in a matter of seconds. I walk over to the rhumba, push the clean button, and off it goes ridding my floors of dog hair. Works great. What other options would wifi open up? The ability to start and stop it? I wonder sometimes if people just never really think about what or why they are giving wifi access to. It's kind of like an AI Rice Cooker. It seems very unnecessary to me, but it seems like a selling point to others. 'Oh a wifi enabled, AI Rice Cooker! This is gonna cook the fuck out of some rice', and away they go. Not realizing we've been making excellent rice without wifi or AI for millennia. I mean, I sit and watch my sushi chef masterfully make rice with basic kitchen pots and pans.

Now, I'm no Luddite, and I really dig on technology. Been this way since I was a kid thumbing through Pop Sci mags and later on Byte Magazine. I can't get enough. However, I also realize that all technology wields a double edged sword. So, it's always a research project when I add some electronic gizmo. Can it run autonomously? Why does it need wifi? What advantages does this gizmo give that a conventional tool can't perform? Sometimes there's a trade off, but most times there is no reason to give wifi access, and if I do, it's isolated, like my Traeger Timberline. It comes with a remote and wifi access, so it get's isolated from the rest of the appliances. It is not essential to it's operation, but when I'm smoking big butts overnight, I can adjust temps from the comfort of my bed. So, there's the trade off. You give it wifi access, isolate it, lock it down, and Jack's a doughnut, Bob's your uncle.

[–] Evotech@lemmy.world 3 points 4 days ago

Start and stop, manage schedules, notifications if it failed something or if its stuck, see a map, get updates automatically etc