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Hacking a Smart Home Device (2024)

(jmswrnr.com)
314 points walterbell | 1 comments | 15 Apr 25 03:12 UTC | HN request time: 1.75s | source
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systemtest ◴[15 Apr 25 11:14 UTC] No.43691249[source]▶
The result of this process is that the air purifier boosts when the air quality inside drops.

I feel like that is something that doesn’t or at least shouldn’t require a string of IoT devices, apps, wireless communication and hubs. Why not leave all of that out and just attach an air quality sensor to the air purifier and a small LCD to adjust the settings?

The light in my hallway turns on automatically when I walk past. No cloud, no HomeAssist, no WiFi, no Zigbee, no apps, no batteries to change. Just a motion sensor hardwired to the light fixture. Hasn’t failed me once in the past ten years. Works great even if the network goes down.

replies(3): >>43691366 #>>43692765 #>>43695583 #
1. cheschire ◴[15 Apr 25 11:35 UTC] No.43691366[source]▶
While the author gave a contrived need of controlling this device like the others, they may be simplifying their motivations for the purpose of focusing the article.

homeassistant allows you to perform follow on work or even long term analysis. For example the author could use the information to decide what times of day during which seasons are best for airing out the house (more popular in Europe than North America), or if air quality dips happen to coincide with their leaky clothes dryer spewing fibers and soap particles out into the home, or when they cook on their gas range, etc.

Some people just like to explore and discover. Low threat information is nice these days.