Thought I was just buying a smart vacuum. Turns out, it was a little spy on wheels. Here’s the story of how my vacuum stopped working after I blocked its data uploads — and how I uncovered a hidden remote “kill switch.”

This reveals a whole new channel of modern warfare. Imagine a nation state getting control of an adversaries' smart devices? You don't need to destroy capital-intensive infrastructure such as an electric grid if you can disable their ability to store and cook their food (internet connected ovens and refrigerators). That's morbidly fascinating, though I now realize I'm potentially open to such an attack.

My wife thought I was being crazy for not connecting our Roomba to wifi when we bought it. I feel quite vindicated.

Very dramatic presentation for something very mundane. Every computer has "remote control" of some sort - if anything, to install security updates. Without security updates, there is a good chance your devices will turn into huge botnet at some point. I believe that EU CRA even requires such backchannel.

I can agree, however, that refusing to work without internet is be too much for the device which can support offline operation.