Smart Devices and Privacy - Part 1

Today, smart devices are practically everywhere. In fact, there are now 15.14 billion internet-connected devices worldwide. That number is expected to double by 2030.

In 2020, the number of Inernet-of-Things (IoT) devices surpassed the number of non-IoT devices. And there's no looking back. Worldwide, 127 devices are connected to the internet every second of the day. And by 2025, it is estimated that 152,200 devices will be connecting to the internet every minute.

Smart devices bring lots of convenience to our hectic and complicated lives. But is that convenience worth the increased risk to your privacy?

In this episode of Privacy Files, Rich and Sarah kick of the show by celebrating the podcast's 21st episode--placing it in the top 1% of all podcasts globally. According to Jack Butcher, Head of the creative agency Visualize Value, 99% of all podcasts never make it past the 20th episode. Definitely worth a little celebration. And thank you to our listeners for supporting the privacy mission. You are the reason we created this endeavor.

Sarah and Rich start off the episode with a little history about smart devices. Spoiler Alert: The first IoT device was actually a vending machine!

The conversation shifts to the pros and cons of wireless and hardwired smart devices as well as smart devices in general.

Sarah then dives into some specific types of smart devices and the nuances of each. She also touches on a few strange smart devices that sound a bit too much even for the most modern of societies.

Rich and Sarah then break down the data privacy picture for devices like thermostats, smart glasses, audio/visual equipment, wearable technologies and smartphones.

Rich closes out the episode by highlighting some examples of smart device hacking, including a test conducted by YouTuber Dustin from the channel SmarterEveryDay. Dustin used a laser to hack into a variety of smart devices during the experiment.

All in all, this is an episode that may very well leave you reconsidering the adoption of smart device technology inside your home.

Links Referenced:

https://webicaster.com/en/blog/you-need-publish-21-episodes-be-top-1-worlds-podcasts

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/jan/29/what-your-smart-tv-knows-about-you-and-how-to-stop-it-harvesting-data

https://www.investopedia.com/terms/s/smart-home.asp

https://www.metrikus.io/blog/the-proptech-guide-to-iot

https://techaeris.com/2019/12/26/experiment-shows-smart-home-devices-can-be-hacked-with-lasers/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/smart-home-hack-marketplace-1.4837963

https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/smart-home-experiences-cyber/

https://techjury.net/blog/how-many-iot-devices-are-there/#gref

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