Internet-Enabled Thermostat

ptorrone writes "Engadget has a little write-up of what is supposed to be the world's first Internet-enabled thermostat from Proliphix, which has an Ethernet port and a built-in web server and can be controlled from virtually any standard browser. So how long until everything in the home has its own IP address and script kiddies decide to get their kicks messing with your air conditioning during a heat wave?"

Is it hot in here?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yes, I rather think it is.

So what's Hades's IP address?

[Anonymous Coward]

We can make hell freeze over...

5 years time..

[Anonymous Coward]

Hey I got some a new windows installed today!

Cool, double glazing?

No.... longhorn..

Proliphix?

[JessLeah]

Sounds like a company that makes prophylactix... err, I mean prophylactics.

Joystick port and a thermal resistor

[j3110]

For 25 cents, you could buy a themal resistor from Radio Shack and just push it into your joystick port.

Re:So what's Hades's IP address?

[Anonymous Coward]

www.microsoft.com

haha i am funny slashdot comedian haha

Re:Automated Windows?

[Anonymous Coward]

I believe Internet Explorer automatically opens up windows.

Imagine a Beowulf...

[jeorgen]

So how long until everything in the home has its own IP address and script kiddies decide to get their kicks messing with your air conditioning during a heat wave?"

The real question is: How long with this equipment until script kiddies cause a heat wave?

Already hackable?

[Waffle Iron]

So how long until everything in the home has its own IP address and script kiddies decide to get their kicks messing with your air conditioning during a heat wave?

My house came with a wireless gizmo that allows the power company to cut out my air conditioning during a peak power crisis. In return, I save a couple of bucks a month on my bill. (They claim that they haven't had to activate this system in many years. We'll see.)

I wouldn't be surprised if these things were found to be totally insecure. However, I'm not too worried because it's basically a case of "Security through would anyone actually bother?". If it worked via the Internet, it might be different though. At least with the radio, would-be hackers would have to emerge from their parents' basements to set up an antenna, which will probably thwart most of them.

Re:A better solution

[heptapod]

They're called "girlfriends"

Back door for the Gov?

[MisanthropicProgram]

You know that the DOJ will want to be able to view your household temperature without you knowing it (PATRIOT ACT). You see, they'll check the temp to see how warm you're keeping your house. If it matches too closely with the temperatures of the climates of countries that host terrorism, you'll get a visit from the Feds. It'll be the same thing for web contolled lighting - gee, this guy keeps his lights on the exact same time as daylight in Irag, and the same temp. We need to investigate!

Solved.

[josh3736]

You mean something like this [slashdot.org]?

NOW all that's left is converting my leather Lay-Z-Boy into a toilet. Then I won't even have to care that my muscles are atrophying!

The Only Way This Would Be Cooler

[ellem]

is if it runs in IIS and uses plaintext passwords!

My heating bill would look like the Nat'l Deficit.

Re:So what's Hades's IP address?

[Anonymous Coward]

it's 66.66.66.66

never jacked off to a thermostat before...

[UltimaL337Star]

Now I can know how hot it REALLY is in those live orgy rooms...

Re:I may be the only one....but.....

[spectrokid]

Shopping list: Norton AV for thermostat, Ad-aware for fridge, personal firewall for bathtub, VPN driver for airco...

Re:A better solution

[SpaceLifeForm]

I was going to comment, but she just came in and delivered me a nice cold one.

Re:Ha

[cyb97]

640k oughta be enough for anybody...
'nuff said

Re:A better solution

[TheGavster]

I thought this too. Yet my family insists on turning all the thermostats in the house to 'off' in the summer, even though they will automatically keep the heat off until needed (oddly cold mornings are a real pain; be nice to have a device to turn the heat on for me when that happens).

Imagine...

[Anonymous Coward]

A beowulf cluster of...oh wait, think of the power bills...