IoT Device (Dyson Air Purifier) - Urgent advice needed on security

[TheLyppardMan]

My adult son has just purchased a Dyson Air Purifier for his bedroom. Having read that there is a possible security risk to allowing such devices access to our home networks, I have temporarily blocked internet access to the device, which has resulted in my son being very annoyed with me and refusing to listen to my possible objections. I did offer to let him have it on the guest network, but he won't accept that because he wants to be able to have access to all the device's features, including being able to access it when away from home. So, I'd really appreciate anyone with sufficient knowledge to advise me, so that I can reach a sensible decision. I'm also planning to phone Dyson tomorrow (Thursday) to see what they have to say on this issue.

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Tech9]

what they have to say on this issue

What exactly is the issue? IoT devices need Internet access to function as expected.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

What exactly is the issue? IoT devices need Internet access to function as expected.

I don't know, hence my reason for asking after having heard about this some time ago and having read messages on the following thread this evening:

How exactly do IoT smart devices pose a threat to home networks?

I'm just curious, how exactly does a smart lock, or a light bulb or a smart kitchen appliance pose a threat? If you have your router properly set-up, disabled UPnP, enabled the firewall and no port forwarding, then there's no way some remote hacker can enter my home network through a security...

www.snbforums.com

 

[Tech9]

I don't know

And when you call Dyson tomorrow what exactly your question is going to be?

Is your device safe to connect to my home network? The answer - Yes.

 

[Quoc Huynh]

My adult son has just purchased a Dyson Air Purifier for his bedroom. Having read that there is a possible security risk to allowing such devices access to our home networks, I have temporarily blocked internet access to the device, which has resulted in my son being very annoyed with me and refusing to listen to my possible objections. I did offer to let him have it on the guest network, but he won't accept that because he wants to be able to have access to all the device's features, including being able to access it when away from home. So, I'd really appreciate anyone with sufficient knowledge to advise me, so that I can reach a sensible decision. I'm also planning to phone Dyson tomorrow (Thursday) to see what they have to say on this issue.

Any advice would be really appreciated. Thank you.

I have a Philips 3000 Air Purifier connecting to my Guest Network at home, and still have access to it while being away. Maybe you can download the Dyson app, connect it to your Guest network and give it a try with a 4G/5G mobile network for testing.

 

[jeff3820]

All of my IOT stuff is in a segregated network...just like a guest network. I'm sure connecting it to the guest network will be fine and the app your son will be interacting with will be data on the Dyson cloud.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

All of my IOT stuff is in a segregated network...just like a guest network. I'm sure connecting it to the guest network will be fine and the app your son will be interacting with will be data on the Dyson cloud.

Thank you so much for that. It does work with my Honeywell Evohome Controller set up in that way, so I'm optimistic that your suggestion will be the answer for the Dyson device.

 

[L&LD]

Of course, it's not safe to connect to your main network.

Segregate the network you allow your son to use.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

Of course, it's not safe to connect to your main network.

Segregate the network you allow your son to use.

Thanks for that confirmation. Am I right in thinking that in order for all my son's devices to be on a separate network to everything else, I could use YazFi and if so, how would I need to configure it so that his devices could communicate with each other but remain isolated from those on the main network?

 

[L&LD]

I wouldn't rely on YazFi for that (i.e. an active, known 'hacker' within the network and with access to your router hardware).

I would do what was already suggested above; buy him a new router and let him do what he wants with it. (In double-NAT mode).

 

[sfx2000]

My adult son has just purchased a Dyson Air Purifier for his bedroom.

His bedroom, his house/apartment? Sounds like enablement...

Maybe it's time to tell him to find his own place - perhaps a fan might keep him comfortable otherwise...

Don't waste your time with this nonsense... put on your big-boy pants and lay it out...

 

[TheLyppardMan]

I had to call the Police in the end because he was threatening to smash up my router when he came home. I locked him out while the Police spoke to him at length. I also showed them the last few text messages and they seemed quite shocked. He's since calmed down, but he's told me via a text that this was my last warning and now we're not talking. I can't force him out at the moment because my wife doesn't want that to happen as she feels she has a lifelong obligation to him (I think that may be the way they do things in Colombia, where she originates from), but if he threatens me again then I may have no choice.

 

[BreakingDad]

I had to call the Police in the end because he was threatening to smash up my router when he came home. I locked him out while the Police spoke to him at length. I also showed them the last few text messages and they seemed quite shocked. He's since calmed down, but he's told me via a text that this was my last warning and now we're not talking. I can't force him out at the moment because my wiatfe doesn't want that to happen as she feels she has a lifelong obligation to him (I think that may be the way they do things in Colombia, where she originates from), but if he threatens me again then I may have no choice.

Wow, that escalated quickly. Over an air filter. Life is way to short...

 

[Tech9]

Over an air filter

It is needed in this toxic environment and there was no problem connecting it to Wi-Fi as it is designed to work.

I have read about many "issues" with @TheLyppardMan router, but this one definitely goes to the top of the list.

 

[L&LD]

I had to call the Police in the end because he was threatening to smash up my router when he came home. I locked him out while the Police spoke to him at length. I also showed them the last few text messages and they seemed quite shocked. He's since calmed down, but he's told me via a text that this was my last warning and now we're not talking. I can't force him out at the moment because my wife doesn't want that to happen as she feels she has a lifelong obligation to him (I think that may be the way they do things in Colombia, where she originates from), but if he threatens me again then I may have no choice.

This was a sad post to read. I hope and pray that your son can overcome his writhes.

I would not be waiting for the next time.

The time to act is now (when things are as calm as can be).

Therapy, a chemical imbalance, drugs, or something else may be indicated here. But waiting for things to get worse will only make that materialize.

Be loving, be persuasive, but don't back down on this. Nobody else will give your son the passes you (and your wife) have. And nobody else will do it from a good place either.

I agree with @sfx2000 here. 100%.

We're parents because we make the hard decisions, not because we're their 'friends'. Even a friend will tell them the truth. Otherwise, by definition, they're not (a friend).

 

[TheLyppardMan]

Thank you for your messages of support. I feel somewhat humbled by your responses and I just want to say that I really appreciate your comments, even though they are somewhat off-topic. I've sent a detailed version of events to a family support service in the UK, so I'll see what comes back from that. Take care everyone.

 

[RMerlin]

I had to call the Police in the end because he was threatening to smash up my router when he came home

It must have been hard, but it was the right thing to do. I assume this was an escalation over his previous behaviour. You've drawn a line - don't back down. Don't let it get any worse.

I don't really want to make recommendations because I don't know the whole context, but if it were me, I would have the three of you sit down, and discuss a plan that ends with him leaving the house and getting a place of his own. If he needs help getting a job to be autonomous, there are probably resources in your country that provide that. There's no shame in going through these, I went through such a government-provided service myself 25+ years ago as I was having trouble finding a job largely due to faults of my own. They helped be find a job that I never left - in fact I took over the business when the owner retired 7 years ago.

It took my father to convince me at the time to go through these resources that ultimately helped me land a job and actually start standing on my own two feet.

 

[Tech9]

even though they are somewhat off-topic

Did you find out what exactly security issue this Dyson air purifier has?

You followed someone else's general advice about IoTs and ended up in a family crisis.

 

[L&LD]

That is not what happened, by a long shot. The family crisis didn't start here.

 

[sfx2000]

I had to call the Police in the end because he was threatening to smash up my router when he came home. I locked him out while the Police spoke to him at length. I also showed them the last few text messages and they seemed quite shocked. He's since calmed down, but he's told me via a text that this was my last warning and now we're not talking.

I'm truly saddened hearing this, and I'm grateful that no physical harm came to either you or your son.

I hope he gets the support and help he needs..

Take care of yourself first - protect you and the spouse - sounds like he has earned the opportunity to seek his own path - outside of your house.