Devices
The same three things about every device: what it does, what information it sends and where, and which settings are worth going through once.
The list is alphabetical. The devices are not ranked by how dangerous they are, because that ranking cannot be backed by a source.
8 devices
- Baby monitorCarries sound, and often a picture, from a child's room. A model that connects to the network does it over the internet, and a radio model sends it straight to a receiver.
- Robot vacuumCleans, and draws a map of your home while it does it. The map is what lets it clean one room at a time and find its way back to its dock.
- Security cameraFilms a yard or room and shows the picture on your phone. Where recordings are stored and how the picture travels depend on the model and its settings.
- Smart bulbTurns the light on and off and dims it, from an app or on a timer. It connects either straight over wifi or through a separate bridge.
- Smart lockOpens and locks the door from an app, with a code, or over a short-range connection. The access rights and the record of each opening usually travel through an account with the manufacturer.
- Smart plugSwitches the power on and off from an app or on a timer. It often measures how much electricity goes through it as well, and reports that to the manufacturer.
- Smart speakerListens for a wake word and processes a command when it thinks it heard one. Audio processing and storage depend on the manufacturer and account settings.
- Smart TVShows a picture and is connected to the network at the same time. The connection brings the streaming services with it, and it carries away what you watch.
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