You know what’s great about putting wifi-enabled, Turing-complete computers into things like lightbulbs? Not. A. Single. Fucking. Thing.
In the latest installment in the Internet of Shit edition of the unanticipated (but totally predictable) consequences, Americablog editor John Aravosis discovered that the Philips Hue lightbulbs he returned to Amazon were now on in someone else’s house — but still under his control.
He discovered this because the new owner, “Amanda Jean,” initialized the bulbs, and then his Hue app started to send him a stream of updates from Amanda Jean’s house, along with the address for her IoT hub and her email address.
He writes, “Because I’m a nice guy, I deleted my account, which I’m hoping didn’t just delete her account.”
So, it seems the Philips Hue light bulbs I returned to Amazon are still somewhat under my control, even though some woman named Amanda Jean has now bought them. At least I can see her Bridge, her name and email. All a bit odd. Am I going to forever get updates about her acct?
— John Aravosis ?? (@aravosis) August 30, 2019
(Image: Cryteria, CC BY, modified)
