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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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[-] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 56 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Upon installation LG's app helpfully informed me that to be notified that my LG refrigerator temperature is high or my washer's cycle is complete I am expected to inform a Korean company of my exact location at all times. The reason LG gives for this bullshit is "analytics". There is no way in hell.

I disconnected my LG appliances from wifi, deleted their spyware from my phone and duplicated the functions with Home Assistant. A couple of inexpensive sensors and a power monitoring plug provide almost all same functions without getting Korea (or the Internet) involved at all. Surprisingly this setup is much more reliable than LG's spyware too.

[-] decended_being@midwest.social 7 points 2 days ago

Which sensors did you use? I like how the oven can display how many minutes left, same with the laundry stuff.

[-] spaghettiwestern@sh.itjust.works 12 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

For the washer a smart plug with power monitoring. The current draw goes to almost zero when the cycle's finished. A Zigbee vibration sensor for the dryer (or another smart plug if it's a gas dryer) and temperature sensor for the fridge. All in they were less than $20.

[-] early_riser@lemmy.radio 4 points 2 days ago

I'll have to try that smart plug idea. I have some heavy duty Z-wave plugs I used for Christmas decorations last year and that would work great for the fridge.

[-] sramder@lemmy.world 3 points 2 days ago
[-] decended_being@midwest.social 4 points 2 days ago* (last edited 2 days ago)

Learned something today, thanks! CCD is the type of screen that's likely on these types of devices.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charge-coupled_device

[-] sramder@lemmy.world 4 points 2 days ago

A CCD is generally one of two types of camera/imaging device. I was kinda being as ass, like point a camera at the countdown on your washing machine.

That said, I’m reasonably certain I’ve seen something on the HA forum where someone did exactly that. Frigate NVR to dump a screenshot every few seconds and OCR app to create an actionable counter in HA.

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

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