4 ms·

I have an HP wifi printer, 5820 I think. I haven't signed in to HP, haven't connected the printer to cloud. Same for anything else. I don't see the whole "oh y

I have an HP wifi printer, 5820 I think. I haven't signed in to HP, haven't connected the printer to cloud. Same for anything else. I don't see the whole "oh you need firmware update to improve the product". 90% of the time it just works. So what happens if the fridge isn't given internet access ? Or washing machine?

elorant 4mo ago
Nothing, they just work as intended. I bought a Fujitsu A/C that supposedly required registering through some app. Never connected it, and I removed the wifi kit at installation. Works like a charm no problem whatsoever.
bzzzt 4mo ago
> I haven't signed in to HP, haven't connected the printer to cloud. HP fixed a remote exploit a few years back. Theoretically someone could use your local wifi printer to install a persistent backdoor on your network. In practice HP uses updates to patch leaks in their cartridge protection (the most complicated tech in the printers). And accidentally sometimes bricks printers...
bityard 4mo ago
Companies are beginning to gate previously existing features behind the requirement to connect their devices to the cloud and/or install an app on your phone. Dishwashers, refrigerators, even (and perhaps especially) cars. "Just don't connect it to the Internet," is sadly less viable option as time goes on.
- GolfPopper 4mo ago
  >"Just don't connect it to the Internet," is sadly less viable option as time goes on. I feel compelled to quibble with your word choice here. Not connecting appliances to the Internet remains a viable option. It is simply one that is increasingly not common or not readily available.
  - subscribed 4mo ago
    I'm confused. This is what they said? "less viable option as time goes on" is pretty much "remains a viable option, increasingly not common" ?
    - GolfPopper 4mo ago
      This may just be me being idiosyncratic with vocabulary. To me, "less viable" implies there some outside factor or internal failure preventing it from working. But non-internet appliances will continue to work just fine, if you can get one. I.e. it's a viable choice, just one with less and less availability.
      - subscribed 4mo ago
        That's interesting, thanks!

elorant 4mo ago

Nothing, they just work as intended. I bought a Fujitsu A/C that supposedly required registering through some app. Never connected it, and I removed the wifi kit at installation. Works like a charm no problem whatsoever.

bzzzt 4mo ago

> I haven't signed in to HP, haven't connected the printer to cloud. HP fixed a remote exploit a few years back. Theoretically someone could use your local wifi printer to install a persistent backdoor on your network. In practice HP uses updates to patch leaks in their cartridge protection (the most complicated tech in the printers). And accidentally sometimes bricks printers...

bityard 4mo ago

Companies are beginning to gate previously existing features behind the requirement to connect their devices to the cloud and/or install an app on your phone. Dishwashers, refrigerators, even (and perhaps especially) cars. "Just don't connect it to the Internet," is sadly less viable option as time goes on.

GolfPopper 4mo ago
>"Just don't connect it to the Internet," is sadly less viable option as time goes on. I feel compelled to quibble with your word choice here. Not connecting appliances to the Internet remains a viable option. It is simply one that is increasingly not common or not readily available.
- subscribed 4mo ago
  I'm confused. This is what they said? "less viable option as time goes on" is pretty much "remains a viable option, increasingly not common" ?
  - GolfPopper 4mo ago
    This may just be me being idiosyncratic with vocabulary. To me, "less viable" implies there some outside factor or internal failure preventing it from working. But non-internet appliances will continue to work just fine, if you can get one. I.e. it's a viable choice, just one with less and less availability.
    - subscribed 4mo ago
      That's interesting, thanks!