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What risks could a WiFi hotspot on an air purifier expose if it's not connected to the network or a computer?

by dmix 3y ago

LesZedCB 3y ago
you could believe you're inhaling purified air but, lo! you are breathing impure air, muahahaha!
- kps 3y ago
  You may think you're joking, but 4 days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39223982 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39223982
rightbyte 3y ago
Worst case would be a fire hazard. Maybe produce too much poisonous ozone. If the hardware is fail safe I guess it can waste electricity.
dessant 3y ago
Anyone in Wi-Fi range can exploit the device. The sensors of the air purifier can be used for spying, and the device could also serve as a hopping point for exploiting other devices in your home.
- mynameisvlad 3y ago
  > The sensors of the air purifier can be used for spying To be able to... know if your target's house has a lot of pollutants? Is particularly warm? There is practically no useful information that can't be gleamed by just looking through their windows, blinds and all. > and the device could also be used as a hopping point for exploiting other devices in your home. It's not connected to your home network, that's the whole reason for the hotspot existing. How, exactly, could it be used as a hopping off point, except to other devices with hotspots that... can just be exploited in the first place.
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - snapcaster 3y ago
    You're lacking in imagination, and maybe the conceptual idea of "sensor fusion". Multiple seemingly innocuous data streams in isolation can be combined to create sensors you wouldn't have imagined
    - mynameisvlad 3y ago
      Do you understand what data is available in a smart air purifier? Please, explain exactly what sensor fusion would get you actionable data out of the PM2.5 sensor and "gas sensor" in a Philips smart air purifier.
      - jamesrr39 3y ago
        At a guess; if able to monitor over a period of time (e.g. pick up data from a parked car), a potential burglar can see when there is activity and figure what times of the day house occupants are normally at home.
        mynameisvlad 3y ago
        > that can't be gleamed by just looking through their windows, blinds and all. I mean, sure, but who is going to do that when they can... look to see when people are home.
        jamesrr39 3y ago
        More subtle; the burglar could just park up and go off for a few hours and gather the data they need - no need for a suspicious camera pointing out of the car to monitor patterns. If the burglar only takes a 30 second look before breaking in, residents could be home but away from a window, with this the burglar can more confidently know when is a good time to break in, without exposing themselves to the same risk that looking around the house brings.

What risks could a WiFi hotspot on an air purifier expose if it's not connected to the network or a computer?

by dmix 3y ago

What risks could a WiFi hotspot on an air purifier expose if it's not connected to the network or a computer?

LesZedCB 3y ago

you could believe you're inhaling purified air but, lo! you are breathing impure air, muahahaha!

kps 3y ago
You may think you're joking, but 4 days ago: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39223982 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=39223982

rightbyte 3y ago

Worst case would be a fire hazard. Maybe produce too much poisonous ozone. If the hardware is fail safe I guess it can waste electricity.

dessant 3y ago

Anyone in Wi-Fi range can exploit the device. The sensors of the air purifier can be used for spying, and the device could also serve as a hopping point for exploiting other devices in your home.

mynameisvlad 3y ago
> The sensors of the air purifier can be used for spying To be able to... know if your target's house has a lot of pollutants? Is particularly warm? There is practically no useful information that can't be gleamed by just looking through their windows, blinds and all. > and the device could also be used as a hopping point for exploiting other devices in your home. It's not connected to your home network, that's the whole reason for the hotspot existing. How, exactly, could it be used as a hopping off point, except to other devices with hotspots that... can just be exploited in the first place.
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- snapcaster 3y ago
  You're lacking in imagination, and maybe the conceptual idea of "sensor fusion". Multiple seemingly innocuous data streams in isolation can be combined to create sensors you wouldn't have imagined
  - mynameisvlad 3y ago
    Do you understand what data is available in a smart air purifier? Please, explain exactly what sensor fusion would get you actionable data out of the PM2.5 sensor and "gas sensor" in a Philips smart air purifier.
    - jamesrr39 3y ago
      At a guess; if able to monitor over a period of time (e.g. pick up data from a parked car), a potential burglar can see when there is activity and figure what times of the day house occupants are normally at home.
      - mynameisvlad 3y ago
        > that can't be gleamed by just looking through their windows, blinds and all. I mean, sure, but who is going to do that when they can... look to see when people are home.
        jamesrr39 3y ago
        More subtle; the burglar could just park up and go off for a few hours and gather the data they need - no need for a suspicious camera pointing out of the car to monitor patterns. If the burglar only takes a 30 second look before breaking in, residents could be home but away from a window, with this the burglar can more confidently know when is a good time to break in, without exposing themselves to the same risk that looking around the house brings.