Researchers in Japan and at the University of Michigan said Monday that they had found a way to take over Google Home, Amazon’s Alexa or Apple’s Siri devices from hundreds of feet away by shining laser pointers, and even flashlights, at the devices’ microphones.
In one case, they said, they opened a garage door by shining a laser beam at a voice assistant that was connected to it. They also climbed 140 feet to the top of a bell tower at the University of Michigan and successfully controlled a Google Home device on the fourth floor of an office building 230 feet away. And by focusing their lasers using a telephoto lens, they said, they were able to hijack a voice assistant more than 350 feet away.
Opening the garage door was easy, the researchers said. With the light commands, the researchers could have hijacked any digital smart systems attached to the voice-controlled assistants.
They said they could have easily switched light switches on and off, made online purchases or opened a front door protected by a smart lock. They even could have remotely unlocked or started a car that was connected to the device.
I wonder what they could do with a lidar sensor?
“I wonder what they could do with a lidar sensor?”
Re-program a whole self-driving car.
Jamming the signal would be easier and just as effective in causing an accident.
They never made the devices for your convenience; it was to gain control and power over you.
Made a donation to a an anti-infanticide group, or real marriage group? You think a certain gay CEO gonna let that one pass without punishment? Voiced any wrong think in the vicinity of one?
^^100%^^
BTW … my NEST thermostat just “notified” me that I FAILED to earn 2 “leaves” out of 31 in October, because I manually turned up my thermostat past the 64deg. F. setting deemed “leafworthy” (green) by NEST.
I wonder what Google is gonna do with my “criminal” activity?
I thought I read years ago that California was mandating smart meters that would let the utility (read: government) throttle your energy use? To me that’s the next logical step along the current path.
‘How much longer do I have to wait ?
ALEXA, change my diaper now !’
With Lidar they could turn Facebook conservative (which is ironic – Lid-dar).
The complete control of your ability to due any business from buying your groceries to gassing up your car. The ability to prevent you from earning an income, it is already happening. The ability to freeze your bank accounts, already happening. Tech will be used as the ultimate weapon of control.
I’ve said from the beginning anyone with one of these devices should lose their security clearances. That would be everyone now.
They come as part of the package on everything now. Computers, cellphones, car infotainment systems through your phone or mapping device, TV’s, gaming devices and audio systems. Even your new fridge, oven, microwave and dishwasher may contain a Bluetooth or wireless device connected to something (See Bell Fibe).
Bell Fibe TV is a computer device that not only knows what you watch, it also is the central point for your wireless system and wired phones at home. Anonymizers be damned, they can know from the source.
Even if you disable the voice command program on your computer, phone or TV, the next time it updates it resets. I could go all conspiracy theory and suggest it resets as soon as you close the app.
Whomever controls the internet, controls civilization.
Guess they’ll be coming to see me soon.
Laser in line of sight…….Pull your shades or put your device next to the wall beside the window…..easy fixes.
Read a great book years ago called “Spycatcher”. Written by a senior MI5 officer. Nonfiction. Wikipedia covers it if you’re inclined. Talks some about scientific spying. Good reads.
I’ve worked in consumer IoT. There’s no conspiracy; the engineers are are just arrogant, barely competent and not being paid to care about security. The simplest design that passes the acceptance tests is the rule, and the acceptance tests never, never include security because the target customer demographic doesn’t care about security.
waiting for the day some bored techno geek rich kid decides to send a ‘self driving veeee-HIC-le out in traffic.
programming it to roam randomly and randomly run red lites etc ‘for fun’.
all hooked up with a live feed youtube or whatever.
‘for fun’.
kinda like how there is an ongoing problem malcontents flash green laser beams into the cockpit of passenger jets.
‘for fun’.
my brother told me YEARS AGO how his former fiancee’s son knew how to activate traffic lites with a laser beam.
in other words this is old old old news (comparatively)
wheeeee !!!! we’s the ‘fun generation’. aint technology wunnerful !!!!!
ps Mr Ream pegs it centre of the bullseye. I too have had concerns about security and the utter appalling disinterest of those in charge when I pointed out security gaps in the past.
I dont bother anymore, wondering if I will see something in the news instead so I can have a giggle.
The Red Light device is either sonic or light-emitter and has been in use by First Responders for many years to change lights as needed. Not all cities had them installed. They were no big secret and distributed by several manufacturers.