Comments on: One of the Problems with Smart Thermostats – ecobee3 Extra http://s.co.tt/2016/09/28/one-of-the-problems-with-smart-thermostats-ecobee3-extra/ Babblings of a computer curmudgeon. Mon, 24 Sep 2018 20:21:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=4.1 By: Kittykapow http://s.co.tt/2016/09/28/one-of-the-problems-with-smart-thermostats-ecobee3-extra/#comment-7181 Mon, 24 Sep 2018 20:21:45 +0000 http://s.co.tt/?p=1681#comment-7181 Guess what? Hot tub company did indeed stop supporting app, so no more smart tub, or warming it up from bed. The vendor that sold the actual unit apologized and gave a few months worth of free chemicals, but it really sucks. Between the stonework and electric to prepare the space along with the actual purchase that thing cost over 10k. More people should be mad about this.

]]> By: Scott http://s.co.tt/2016/09/28/one-of-the-problems-with-smart-thermostats-ecobee3-extra/#comment-7168 Wed, 28 Jun 2017 18:14:06 +0000 http://s.co.tt/?p=1681#comment-7168 Generally speaking, if you can use the app outside of your house to control the appliance (or etc.) without having set up any kind of port forwarding on your home router, then the data is going through an intermediary. For reasons of security (unless you specifically set it up otherwise) traffic can only go out through your router (which usually includes a firewall as well). Same with your phone or other remote device.

So the only way they can communicate is by both contacting a server somewhere that allows the traffic in from each, and can relay messages between the two devices. In theory this could be secure from snooping if encryption is used by both (e.g.) your phone and your smart thermostat, with the third party being unaware of the encryption key. However, in reality the company running that server probably wants to collect data on all of its users as well as providing other services, so it would at best be encrypted between your phone and their server, and your smart thermostat and their server. They’ll still see all of it.

And certainly if they go out of business or decide to stop supporting it, you’re boned.

]]> By: Kittykapow http://s.co.tt/2016/09/28/one-of-the-problems-with-smart-thermostats-ecobee3-extra/#comment-7167 Wed, 28 Jun 2017 18:05:00 +0000 http://s.co.tt/?p=1681#comment-7167 How would one check if their device(s) are guilty of using said setup? Specifically a recently acquired smart thermostat, hot tub interface, and home alarm system? Should I assume, since the remote control of these devices depends upon use of an app, that they all do that? Less worried about ADT going out of business than the thermostat people and the hot tub manufacturer…
I know your post is nine months old but I only just saw it now :-) so since you are responsible for this burning concern now taking up real estate in my brain, please fix it.

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