Robots in the home – friend or foe?

08/11/2024 29 min
Robots in the home – friend or foe?

Listen "Robots in the home – friend or foe?"

Episode Synopsis


Robot vacuum cleaners are so innocuous, many people treat them almost like pets. But they're also potential portals into our private life. Story Lab journalist, Julian Fell, learns how to hack a robot vacuum cleaner and uncovers some disturbing facts about the security of connected household appliances. Also, acts of aggression and abuse committed in virtual reality environments. So-called "metacrimes" may be cyber in nature, but they can feel very real and have physical world consequences.GuestsDr Milind Tiwari – Postdoctoral research fellow, Charles Sturt UniversityDennis Giese – independent security researcherSean Kelly – robot vacuum ownerDaniel Swenson – US-based victim of robot vacuum hackDonald Dansereau – senior lecturer, Australian Centre for Robotics, University of SydneyYong Zhi Lim – former cybersecurity tester, TUV SUDFurther informationABC News - Hackers take control of robot vacuums in multiple cities, yell racial slursABC News - We hacked a robot vacuum — and could watch live through its camera