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I got a chill of terror when I saw this at #1 on the front page, thinking it was the other meaning of "hack" and that it was some massive vulnerability that is

I got a chill of terror when I saw this at #1 on the front page, thinking it was the other meaning of "hack" and that it was some massive vulnerability that is going to ruin my morning while I take my bridge and bulbs offline and make me regret ever buying into it. I know this is Hacker News, but the classic hackers lost that linguistic battle or at least achieved stalemate decades ago. If you're going to use the word "hack" in a post about something internet-connected, in a way where either meaning of the word is equally plausible, please use a more descriptive title. I note the author of this post did that for their YouTube video linked at the bottom: "Hacking a Philips Hue Light - Teardown and Reuse"

stagger87 3y ago
If a somewhat vague title gave you a "chill of terror" then I suggest you go back to normal light bulbs. You should assume there is some undisclosed vulnerability. In fact, if you search "Hue light bulb hack" you will find several articles that actually imply what you were scared of... chills of terror
skhm 3y ago
more than a decade ago the running joke in our house was to set the bathroom light to bright red just as someone had snuck off to take a shit. not a hack but still, hilarious. got even funnier at house parties where people on various psychedelics did not know what had just happened.
- Arrath 3y ago
  >where people on various psychedelics did not know what had just happened. Oh that is just devious.
mananaysiempre 3y ago
> [T]he classic hackers lost that linguistic battle or at least achieved stalemate decades ago. The classic hackers weren't above breaking computer or even physical security where they felt it was in the way of their work or curiosity, either, so in relation to pre-extortionist hacking it's probably less like a battle Stallman and others branded it as and more like a messy civil war. Of course, once less-than-technical reporters get into it, everybody else might as well give up (witness "dark web"). I did have the same misunderstanding as you, to be fair :)
hospitalJail 3y ago
I'm kind of with you. I'm barely an expert with embedded/EE, more like an engineer with 5 years experience in the field. If there is anything that is extremely basic, its LEDs. I was wondering if they were going to be able to figure out how to send bits through wifi to control the light without any auth. Nope, they rewired the board to external LEDs. I should feel like a genius after seeing someone put the time into this, and HN upvoted it. Instead I'm a bit disappointed.

stagger87 3y ago

If a somewhat vague title gave you a "chill of terror" then I suggest you go back to normal light bulbs. You should assume there is some undisclosed vulnerability. In fact, if you search "Hue light bulb hack" you will find several articles that actually imply what you were scared of... chills of terror

skhm 3y ago

more than a decade ago the running joke in our house was to set the bathroom light to bright red just as someone had snuck off to take a shit. not a hack but still, hilarious. got even funnier at house parties where people on various psychedelics did not know what had just happened.

Arrath 3y ago
>where people on various psychedelics did not know what had just happened. Oh that is just devious.

mananaysiempre 3y ago

> [T]he classic hackers lost that linguistic battle or at least achieved stalemate decades ago. The classic hackers weren't above breaking computer or even physical security where they felt it was in the way of their work or curiosity, either, so in relation to pre-extortionist hacking it's probably less like a battle Stallman and others branded it as and more like a messy civil war. Of course, once less-than-technical reporters get into it, everybody else might as well give up (witness "dark web"). I did have the same misunderstanding as you, to be fair :)

hospitalJail 3y ago

I'm kind of with you. I'm barely an expert with embedded/EE, more like an engineer with 5 years experience in the field. If there is anything that is extremely basic, its LEDs. I was wondering if they were going to be able to figure out how to send bits through wifi to control the light without any auth. Nope, they rewired the board to external LEDs. I should feel like a genius after seeing someone put the time into this, and HN upvoted it. Instead I'm a bit disappointed.