By way of introduction to some follow up posts appliance that require a external computer to make them go are a kind of cyber vulnerability. The utility of the device is dependent on the vailability of a working interface. If they drop support; if they decide to lock some features behind a paywall;1 if they don't support the app on the platform you you your device is worthless.
While someone could, in principle, program a new interface there are a number of problems:
- Access to information about the device side of the interface. This stuff is trade secrets, and the holders rarely see it as profitable to share it, even if they are no longer supporting the affected devices.
- Good engineering practce may suggest using a a common code base, but manufacturers are also willing to switch hardaware platfomrs to minimize costs. The result is a lot of diversity even within signale product lines.
- Finally there are legal barriers to the "just hack it scheme". In the US, for isntance, the DMCA, means that the most trival effort by the manufacture to "protect" their kit makes the hacking job a felenoy. Until the right to repair is legally recognized,2 this multiples the difficulties improsed by the others.
So here in Casa NoSwampCoolers we have a three part policy:
- No device which requies an account registered with the manufacturer.
- No device which requies an app provided by the manufacture to access it's core function.
- Any device which requires an app to access special features or functions must be explicitly discussed by the grownup prior to purchase.
The second part of this series will address the engineering reasons kin favor of "use you device to control it", and the third will look at a solution that lets' us have the upsides without the downsides.
1 No names, BMW.
2 I consider that a cause worth my political dollars. Would you care to join me?
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