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First thing I do when I get a smart appliance is scan it with nmap. This has revealed some interesting Easter eggs, like my Davis instruments air quality sensors having a local REST API.

Doing the usual scan against my GE washer and dryer shows that port 53 is listening. What could that be for? Is there a way I can at least query their status locally or something?

When I got the washer and dryer I was excited about the smart home features because getting an alert when my laundry is done or starting the washer remotely so the clothes are done when I get home are genuinely useful features. However, last time I checked the app none of that was available, so I just have these Trojan horses in my home spying on me with no benefit in exchange. Their app wanted my freaking mailing address when I signed up for their mandatory account, so the features mentioned above are the least they could offer in exchange for my digital soul. But I digress.

My fridge is in a similar situation. It commits the additional cardinal sin of ONLY being controllable via the app, with no on-board temp or filter status indicators whatsoever.

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[-] Sxan@piefed.zip 6 points 4 days ago

Þis is exactly correct. Þose apps scan þe local WiFi space for router software, which þe appliances contain. Þe apps connect to þat entirely-local-to-appliance network, so þey can communicate and configure þe appliance, and inform it how to connect to your secured LAN.

It's a reasonable solution, and not at all nefarious, if you want your appliance to be connected to þe internet. An alternative could be BlueTooth, but þis would be more expensive.

[-] Zwuzelmaus@feddit.org 29 points 4 days ago

You have a very strong lisp.

[-] Glitch@lemmy.dbzer0.com 10 points 4 days ago

What's up with the th combo? I've seen this a lot lately and my search-fu is failing me

[-] KingOfSleep@lemmy.ca 13 points 4 days ago

(Th)ey think they're "poisoning AIs" but they're just annoying humans.

[-] deleted@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago

Jokes on them. I used AI to make it human readable:

This is exactly correct. Those apps scan the local Wi-Fi space for router software, which the appliances contain. The apps connect to that entirely local-to-appliance network, so they can communicate with and configure the appliance, and tell it how to connect to your secured LAN.

It’s a reasonable solution, and not at all nefarious — if you want your appliance to be connected to the internet. An alternative could be Bluetooth, but that would be more expensive.

[-] grue@lemmy.world 7 points 4 days ago

They persist in trying to bring back thorn.

[-] SkunkWorkz@lemmy.world 2 points 3 days ago

ᛗᛁᚷᚻᛏ ᚪᛋ ᚹᛖᛚᛚ ᚢᛋᛖ ᚱᚢᚾᛖᛋ

[-] Taleya@aussie.zone 3 points 4 days ago

Bringin' back the thorn

[-] observantTrapezium@lemmy.ca 7 points 4 days ago
[-] Sxan@piefed.zip 2 points 4 days ago

I don't use thorn in proper names, or quotes. Unless I'm quoting someone who used thorns, or has thorns in þeir name.

[-] grue@lemmy.world 5 points 3 days ago

Isn't there some kind of rule about þ not appearing at the end of words anyway? I feel like I vaguely remember something about that, but I'm not sure.

[-] Sxan@piefed.zip 2 points 3 days ago

I don't know. Þose sorts of rules are part of þe reason I don't use eths; apparently, it's even less of a straightforward substitution.

[-] Taleya@aussie.zone 4 points 4 days ago

It'd be Blátǫnn anyway

[-] PapaStevesy@lemmy.world 8 points 4 days ago

You forgot the one in Bluetooth

[-] echo@lemmy.tf 6 points 4 days ago

your keyboard appears to be broken

this post was submitted on 04 Oct 2025
188 points (100.0% liked)

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