Used Google Nest cameras connected to the Wink hub are spying on users [u]
Second-hand Google Nest Cam Indoor models can send images of your home to the Wink hub of the camera's previous owner, but Google has announced a fix.
The Google Nest Indoor Cam (Photo: Google)
If you've ever wondered who buys your secondhand gear on eBay, sell them your Google Nest Cam Indoor and find out. Even if you follow Nest's instructions on how to reset the camera and remove it from your account and Wink hub, you may get images sent from the camera in its new home.
"We were recently made aware of an issue affecting some Nest cameras connected to third-party partner services via Works with Nest," a Google spokesperson told AppleInsider. "We've since rolled out a fix for this issue that will update automatically, so if you own a Nest camera, there's no need to take any action."
According to The Wirecutter, the problem concerns using the Nest camera with a Wink hub and account.
Wink is a smarthome hub that's been on sale for many years and used for a range of devices from cameras to air conditioning.
This discovery comes shortly after Google announced the end of its "Works with Nest" progam specifically to improve security and customer privacy.
"Our goal is simple: earn and keep your trust by clearly explaining how our products work and how we'll uphold our commitment to respect your privacy," wrote Rishi Chandra, vice president of product at Nest, in a blog post.
Update June 20, 8:57 A.M. Eastern time: Google has told AppleInsider that it is rolling out a fix.
The Google Nest Indoor Cam (Photo: Google)
If you've ever wondered who buys your secondhand gear on eBay, sell them your Google Nest Cam Indoor and find out. Even if you follow Nest's instructions on how to reset the camera and remove it from your account and Wink hub, you may get images sent from the camera in its new home.
"We were recently made aware of an issue affecting some Nest cameras connected to third-party partner services via Works with Nest," a Google spokesperson told AppleInsider. "We've since rolled out a fix for this issue that will update automatically, so if you own a Nest camera, there's no need to take any action."
According to The Wirecutter, the problem concerns using the Nest camera with a Wink hub and account.
The Wirecutter independently confirmed the issue, though rather than a video stream, they got a series of still images.A member of the Facebook Wink Users Group discovered that after selling his Nest cam, he was still able to access images from his old camera-- except it wasn't a feed of his property. Instead, he was tapping into the feed of the new owner, via his Wink account. As the original owner, he had connected the Nest Cam to his Wink smart-home hub, and somehow, even after he reset it, the connection continued.
Wink is a smarthome hub that's been on sale for many years and used for a range of devices from cameras to air conditioning.
This discovery comes shortly after Google announced the end of its "Works with Nest" progam specifically to improve security and customer privacy.
"Our goal is simple: earn and keep your trust by clearly explaining how our products work and how we'll uphold our commitment to respect your privacy," wrote Rishi Chandra, vice president of product at Nest, in a blog post.
Update June 20, 8:57 A.M. Eastern time: Google has told AppleInsider that it is rolling out a fix.
Comments
This won't make news. Every single google product and service is designed as spyware and to put users under surveillance. People have either accepted that they are always being spied on with google or their cognitive dissonance doesn't allow them to acknowledge it. Either way, it becomes a non story.
"Google has updated Nest Cam software to prevent an issue whereby footage from a previously linked camera could still be viewed - even when the camera itself was removed from a Nest account.
"We were recently made aware of an issue affecting some Nest cameras connected to third-party partner services via Works with Nest," a Google spokesperson told The Ambient.
"We've since rolled out a fix for this issue that will update automatically, so if you own a Nest camera, there’s no need to take any action.”
Despite "Works with Nest" partners vociferously complaining about Google's announced intent to cut off 3rd parties from having any control over Google devices beginning this August prompting Google to slow down the migration away I hope now they go back to their original plan and sooner rather than later. It might be an inconvenience to some folks with certain routines running thru 3rd parties but definitely leads to a more secure home system which is the reason Google said they were doing so. This is proof of that.
Remember when they were ramping up Google Street View and the cars were scarfing up the open WiFi data tied to GPS location all over the US and elsewhere? I remember Steve Jobs wryly commenting on how it was accidental at the All Things D conference with Uncle Walt and Kara Swisher.
How many times have they been outed for browsers and plug ins that phone home all the time, that disregard do not track requests and who knows what else?
If you wish to trust them, feel free. I am not going to.
Can you really trust any of this stuff, no! So in the just in case category, don't put a camera in the bedroom. I wouldn't put a Google or Amazon Box in the bedroom either. You could buy a new TV that has a Mic in it and never know!!!
Just choose wisely. If you trust Apple with the mic and camera in your devices, you’ll be fine.
HK devices are among those in the IoT.