Re: smart plugs???

On Fri, 17 Jan 2025, Mike Scott wrote:

On 16/01/2025 20:48, Phillip wrote:

I don't disagree that most users are not likely to be able to set up complex things, but realistically, companies should always make it possible to bypass their cloud service. The ruse is "people are too stupid to do this" as an excuse for cloud services being obligatory. Even though, they actually aren't. Just give users the option to bypass

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 Offer users the option, if they want it. But never force it or make it

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 This is how it should be. And for users that want all that cloud stuff, it can be optional available to them.
 Anyone that thinks these things should be forced is just perpetuating an abusive system or just lacks knowledge on how these things work.

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(OP)
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+1.
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With the added note that control of all these cloud-based gizmos is probably located in China. Perhaps not the best of ideas in the current climate.

I read a fascinating article about bot nets and and old control servers on expired domains. The security firm took ownership of those old domains and found about 4000 infected servers still active.
I imagine that same might happen with internet connected devices. When the company closes down, someone registers their domains and might be able to do some sinister things.