Technology companies are pushing the "smart home," selling appliances and gadgets that offer internet-connected conveniences you didn't know you needed.
But these devices might also give the companies — and hackers — a key to your homes.
Many devices are constantly listening for commands and connect to corporate servers to carry them out. For the most part, sound recordings will leave home only when you trigger the device, but missteps sometimes happen.
FILE- In this Aug. 16, 2018, file photo a child holds his Amazon Echo Dot in Kennesaw, Ga. Technology companies are pushing the “smart home,” selling appliances and gadgets that offer internet-connected conveniences you didn’t know you needed. (AP PhotoMike Stewart, File)
Even if a product works as intended, it may leave a record that can be disclosed through hacks, lawsuits or investigations. In a child-custody dispute, for instance, your ex might subpoena records on your digital lock to learn that you've been staying out late on school nights.
FILE- This Nov. 11, 2018, photo shows an Ecobee smart thermostat, room sensor and connection components in Hastings-on-Hudson, N.Y. Smart thermostats, which let consumers adjust their home temperatures remotely using any internet-connected device, are among the most popular smart home technologies, with the global smart thermostat market surpassing $1 billion in 2017, according to Research and Markets. (AP PhotoCathy Bussewitz, File)
FILE- In this Oct. 9, 2018, file photo a Google Home Hub is displayed in New York. Technology companies are pushing the “smart home,” selling appliances and gadgets that offer internet-connected conveniences you didn’t know you needed. (AP PhotoRichard Drew, File)