Do you have internet-controlled thermostats and lights?

I don’t but I read recently that it’s something that can be hacked, and then you no longer have power over your lights and house’s heat and air conditioning. To me, that’s scary and outweighs any convenience about coming home to a warm house or a cool house.

@jca2 that’s a good point. I should emphasize that if my internet goes down or is hacked, I can still walk over to the thermostat (like I used to) and change the temp by hand. The internet connection is a convenience not a replacement.

Of course, internet security (good router, firewall, and so on) is a key factor, too..

No. I don’t have one of those new fangled mobile smart phones either. And my computer connection is still just an old DUM.

I have a few things automated, makes vacations more care-free when I’m away and can know the state of things at home.

We have internet/app controlled lights. They are very easy to put onto complex schedules e.g. ON ½ hr before sunset (automatically varies with season) or ON/OFF early on weekdays but later on weekends.

I am not so convinced about thermostats, though.

I have Alexa controlled lights, but not a thermostat because I am a renter. I like being able to control my lights with voice or app. Great for the Christmas tree too!

I do know a guy who has his house completely controlled, and when he is in his basement watching TV with friends, he’ll say, “Alexa, turn off kitchen lights” at which point his wife will reply, “if you ever want a snack again for the rest of your life, knock that shit off.”

Imagine there is a blizzard, and some guy decides to hack you and turn off your heater, and there is nothing you can do.

I wouldn’t bother putting it in my current house but I house share in a house that has it. I haven’t used it remotely but I like the Nest thermostat. I don’t find the idea necessary but I wouldn’t be unhappy to have it. Ny son has them in his house but he’s an early adopter and tinkerer.

Never, I hope.

We put in a high tech state of the art heat pump 5 years ago that has the ability to be controlled by my iPhone. I was thinking about using it but a coworker at work whipped out her phone and announced that she is turning up the heat in her house so it will be warm when she gets home. She seemed to be showing off. After that I decided that I’ll control my the heat in my house without the iPhone.

@gondwanalon Why would that stop you?

@elbanditoroso Does the user agreement detail how and where they will use your data? They will know when you are home, weekly/daily schedule, temperature of your home. I’m sure there more.

@LuckyGuy Privacy is a thing of the past and has been since everyone started using cellular phones.

@LuckyGuy that is a good point, and I should read the manual.

But as @ARE_you_kidding_me wrote, there is no such thing as privacy any more. I can think of a half dozen more intrusive things than my thermostat to worry about, that are privacy related.

I agree that privacy has been reduced or virtually eliminated if you are carrying a smart phone. . Anything you do with your phone can, and is, tracked by your cell phone provider and the government. But, supposedly, that info is only avaiable to others with a court order.
The data you are giving Nest et.al., and all their business partners and other third parties is even more personal, And they have complete control of what they do with it. There is no oversight. They can sell your heating and cooling info to advertisers for HVAC systems,. Serge and Sanjay in the IT department can sell your home schedule to his buddies looking for empty homes. They can listen for key words spoken by you. They can hear your conversation with your broker or your doctro’s office. . I’m sure you can think of other potential issues.
I don’t know how the data is going to be misused. i just know I feel more comfortable not giving strangers with no oversight requirements complete access to it. The “convenience” is simply not worth it.

My son showed me with wonder how he can say “Alexa who am I?” and using her voice recognition capability she correctly replied “You’re Tom.”
I will resist as long as possible before letting that in my house.

@LuckyGuy I completely understand. Personally I did let all of this tech in and while I may be selling my soul for cool gadgets I want to stay on top of it, meet it head on and acclimate to it as it comes. We can’t stop it. When I want it off though, I can tell alexa to “turn on kill switch” which turns off power to my wifi access point it’s all hanging off of.
I’m basically anonymous here but I keep my social media such as FB squeaky clean. I say things here I would never do anywhere else. I’m more afraid of social media than if nest knows when I get home from work or when the neighbors cat drinks from our water fountain.

I disconnected Alexa and put her away when she chimed in on a few conversations I was having in another room.

@janbb – I guess you don’t want a Facebook Portal, then?: https://portal.facebook.com/

Nope although I do Facetime with my granddaugter at times.

I would do more if I could be assured the data was only staying with me. Companies might be more willing to allow local modes if customers demanded it. I have turned off the mic and camera on my laptop and only enable them when needed. (I still put a piece of non-stick tape over the lens in case the switch is bypassed somehow.)
I’m not a Luddite. But I feel we are running dowhill faster than we can control. For a change I’m letting others be the early adopters.

I do the mic and tape thing too on work computers. I’m sure they are spying.

No.

Microphones in our homes: https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2019/02/googles-home-security-devices-had-hidden-microphones/583387/

At least Google is mostly interested in selling you stuff. Facebook is mostly interested in selling your personal data.