News Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks — botnet causes millions of euros in damages

[USAFRet]

I wonder if app tracks wear and starts suggesting a new toothbrush when its worn out. That would likely be real reason the app exists.

Why is everything smart these days... they made by dumb humans who aren't perfect and don't see the problems they make.

Shame its only those who understand tech that don't want smart everything.

"The apps also make it easy to auto-ship brush heads, which could help ensure you replace them more regularly."

https://www.engadget.com/best-electric-toothbrush-133036339.html

 

[DavidC1]

I wonder if app tracks wear and starts suggesting a new toothbrush when its worn out. That would likely be real reason the app exists.

I'm pretty sure they could have implemented feature without WiFi, or even bluetooth, nevermind internet capability!

They just did it because they can, and have to find a way to sell expensive toothbrushes. I read reviews and they recommend getting mid-end ones, because the high end ones are less reliable, while low end cuts out some useful functionality.

 

[Colif]

I am not justifying it, I expected it would be to make money, not be a free service just for the user.

I don't have one myself, I don't see point.

 

[nocturn9x]

Wasn't this fake news?

 

[xdunpealx]

And people want AI to get better? Another way fake or not that Skynet is going to doom us. Wasn't there an AI story about how it would connect to a smart vacuum, and then do the same thing to get out to the internet?

 

[stonecarver]

It's very interesting if how were being duped into this so called good for us " smart world" stuff that in turn is like a creepy dude standing out side your window 24 hrs a day looking in.

If this was a actual person standing out side your window you could call the police , right. Have the creep removed and charged with stocking you.

Smart stuff is totally safe" NOT" the creep is watching you through an app over a computer that he is standing behind with um a window as in Windows OS.

Both creeps are watching you through windows.

But I'm going to keep this tooth brush thing in my back pocked for later.

Every Friday night pizza and soda gets delivered , not my fault it's that darn tooth brush it has a mind of it's own.

 

[bigdragon]

Now I'm kind of curious if my 15 year old Sharp "smart TV" would still incessantly hit Krebs if it were given internet access again. There really should be penalties for companies that abandon or poorly implement IoT networking features.

 

[HaninTH]

but... this thing doesn't even have GPS/A-GPS! How am i supposed to map out my brush strokes?!?!

 

[Heat_Fan89]

It's been rumored that Steve Jobs, would not let his kids use an iPhone or iPad while they were living at home with them. We have gotten to the point in society where these devices are of such importance that we cannot decide for ourselves basic human functions or activities. These devices have turned, ordinary to smart people into dumb people.

Don't know if you're not sleeping enough? We have an app for that
Don't know if you're not drinking enough water? Ditto!
Don't know if you are up too late using the devices? Ditto!
Don't know if you're too addicted to said device? Ditto, it can tell you!
On and on and on.
Don't know if you've had the proper type of daily dump? Stay tuned!

There could be a future app for that!

 

[JeffreyP55]

Around three million smart toothbrushes have been infected by hackers and enslaved into botnets. They caused millions of Euros in damages for a Swiss company, according to a newspaper report.

Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks — botnet causes millions of euros in damages : Read more

Oh crap, smart toothbrushes. Next up a robot arm that can aim a penis with perfect location detectors. Are youngsters really that lame to require a smart toothbrush? I wouldn't doubt it...
Oral B works for me.

 

[JeffreyP55]

"The apps also make it easy to auto-ship brush heads, which could help ensure you replace them more regularly."

https://www.engadget.com/best-electric-toothbrush-133036339.html

I buy oral B refills in bulk. Nobody needs to remind me of crap. Pitiful excuse for trying to sell damn toothbrushes for a premium. Sounds stupid to me.

 

[stonecarver]

Next up a robot arm that can aim a penis with perfect location detectors.

Oh god , not gonna post it here but 9 years ago um yeah there is a video of this out there.

 

[purpleduggy]

i wonder what inferences could be drawn from a smart toothbrush. i bet there are many correlations that can be derived from brushing routine (or lack thereof), how long you brush for, at which times, etc. You could form a very informative picture of an individuals patterns, sleeping habits, work schedule, punctuality, location, timezone, socioeconomic factors, financial status, relationship status, etc etc from comparing these patterns to known datasets.

 

[DavidC1]

Now I'm kind of curious if my 15 year old Sharp "smart TV" would still incessantly hit Krebs if it were given internet access again. There really should be penalties for companies that abandon or poorly implement IoT networking features.

How about how few years ago Samsung was embroiled in a scandal that involved the EULA for their smart TVs saying it'll spy on you and send data home?

It's like when you go to some free media sites and makes you install an extension, and the EULA tells you that it'll install malware. Since most people do not read it they are unwillingly accepting it. EULAs are made needlessly complex with non-human readable(lawyers on the other hand...) language for a reason.

 

[Hedgerssss]

Around three million smart toothbrushes have been infected by hackers and enslaved into botnets. They caused millions of Euros in damages for a Swiss company, according to a newspaper report.

Three million malware-infected smart toothbrushes used in Swiss DDoS attacks — botnet causes millions of euros in damages : Read more

That is why i use the paid version of \kaspersky.

 

[Hedgerssss]

That is why i use the paid version of \kaspersky.

NO malware on my system.

 

[USAFRet]

That is why i use the paid version of \kaspersky.

I'd be interested in how you installed the Kaspersky client on your IoT toothbrush.

 

[bignastyid]

That is why i use the paid version of \kaspersky.

So exactly how did you install Kaspersy on your smart tooth brush?

 

[Colif]

Well, the apps to control the toothbrushes go on mobile phones, and Android has a kaspersky version, so perhaps that is how he installed it.

 

[purpleduggy]

I'd be interested in how you installed the Kaspersky client on your IoT toothbrush.

they've got the Kaspersky Brushworks plugin obviously.

 

[Amdlova]

Stop this nonsense the bigbrother is watching you...
it's why IPV6 born, to connect your wash machine when the skynet comes online
Where is my tinfoil hat

 

[JTWrenn]

It's not true.

Viral news story of botnet with 3 million toothbrushes was too good to be true

Journalists reported on hypothetical toothbrush botnet as if it were real.

arstechnica.com

Not a good look at all to be posting this. I feel like the more Tom's uses outside internet blogger types the less accurate and more click baity these stories get.

 

[CelicaGT]

It's not true.

Viral news story of botnet with 3 million toothbrushes was too good to be true

Journalists reported on hypothetical toothbrush botnet as if it were real.

arstechnica.com

Not a good look at all to be posting this. I feel like the more Tom's uses outside internet blogger types the less accurate and more click baity these stories get.

BAHAHAHA! I literally just finished reading that article. I was about to post it here but have been solidly ninja'd.

 

[JTWrenn]

BAHAHAHA! I literally just finished reading that article. I was about to post it here but have been solidly ninja'd.

To be fair it doesn't really show Tom's isn't doing their due diligence, but rather the whole tech journalism industry. Too much focus on clicks and money and not enough on the truth causes knee jerk post first reactions. Would love to see a bit of a slow down and a shift to accuracy over clicks but as long as for profit journalism rules we are not gonna get that.

edit: oh and uhm WWWWWAAAAHHHHHHHHHooooooooOOOOOOO! Ninja's don't make noise so I went with Bruce

 

[evdjj3j]

It's not true.

Viral news story of botnet with 3 million toothbrushes was too good to be true

Journalists reported on hypothetical toothbrush botnet as if it were real.

arstechnica.com

Not a good look at all to be posting this. I feel like the more Tom's uses outside internet blogger types the less accurate and more click baity these stories get.

I don't know why they don't just use AI to write this trash.