Since their market debut in the 2000s, robotic vacuum cleaners have significantly improved. They can quickly clean all rooms, avoiding any objects. However, convenience comes at a cost beyond just money.
To handle obstacles, modern robotic vacuum cleaners are equipped with sensors, GPS, or even cameras. Using powerful dust-cleaning tools, the “smart” vacuum cleaner also collects your personal data.
A recent leak of intimate photographs taken by a robot vacuum has sparked a wave of concern about how much your vacuum knows about us and what information it shares with others.
Therefore, ESET specialists have prepared a list of main dangers and recommendations for preventing potential espionage.
What does the vacuum cleaner know about you?
Attention to the topic of espionage has been drawn by several well-known cases. In early 2022, MIT Technology Review received personal photos from inside a home and intimate photos taken from below at an angle. According to the publication, these photos were taken by the Roomba series J7 version from iRobot. This world-renowned supplier of robotic vacuum cleaners confirmed that these images were taken by its device in 2020 as part of the product development process.
The photos were taken by Roomba and then sent to Scale AI, which uses them to develop artificial intelligence and helps iRobot improve its products by recognizing more objects and obstacles. Unfortunately, in this case, several Scale AI employees breached the confidentiality agreement and shared photos taken by the robot vacuum in private social media groups.
A smart robot vacuum knows your daily routine, the maps of your home, and possibly takes photos. ESET.
How can data be used?
In August 2022, Amazon announced its intention to acquire iRobot. This agreement has raised concerns about market competition and privacy. In July 2023, the European Commission announced an official investigation to understand whether the deal could provide significant advantages for a company like Amazon. In particular, the question of whether the collected images could be used to improve shopping recommendations and better tailor advertisements based on real personal data needed further study.
For example, robot vacuum cleaners can know your daily routine based on the cleaning schedule you set. Similarly, preserved floor plans of houses show the size and design of the house, based on which one can infer the income level and other information about living conditions. And, of course, there could be a leak of photos of your house that could help identify you and your residence.
The more powerful the device, the more opportunities for spying?
The latest versions of robot vacuum cleaners generally save a map of the room, and they can be controlled through a smartphone app. Many of these models also have voice control compatible with Amazon Alexa or Google Assistant. And most of the smart features are available thanks to the work of cameras, sensors, and microphones.
If you need a robot vacuum cleaner focused on data privacy, pay attention to those that rely on inertial measurements, combining gyroscopes and accelerometers. Such devices do not require cameras, lasers, or mapping functions that can be used for spying. However, the drawback is that they move less efficiently than their high-quality counterparts and can repeatedly pass through certain parts of your home.
To control the robot vacuum, use secure mobile applications instead of voice control to prevent potential spying.
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