Hackers turn robot vacs across the US into obscenity-yelling machines

[phillynews215]

Credit: Ecovacs

• Multiple ECOVACS Deebot X2 robot vacuums were reportedly hacked in cities across the US.
• It’s claimed that the hacked robots did everything from yelling slurs at owners to chasing pets.
• Security researchers had notified the company that significant security flaws were found in its robots and the app that controls them.

Cybersecurity is not something to take lightly, and a new report about a smart home product perfectly highlights that point. Over the course of several days, multiple robot vacuums were hacked in cities across the US.

ABC News in Australia reports that hackers were able to take full control over robot vacs in multiple cities around the country. The hack allowed the attackers to yell racial slurs at owners, remotely control the device to chase after pets, and see through the vacuum’s camera. All of the affected robot vacuums were of the same make and model, the Chinese-made ECOVACS Deebot X2.




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