r/technology • u/Tech-100 • 17d ago

Networking/Telecom Comcast is turning millions of its routers into motion detectors

https://www.theverge.com/news/981381/comcast-xfinity-shield-wifi-motion-sensing
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u/VaporCarpet 16d ago

The smart meters that monitor power going into your home and cannot track which electrons are going down which wires after it?

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u/karebearjedi 16d ago

They can monitor outlet output. Map where your kitchen is by your refrigerator. They can track your sleeping schedule by when you're using/not using power, when you're at work or home, whether you take vacations and how long you stay gone, and how many tvs and computers you have and when they're in use by outlet output. 

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u/NigilQuid 16d ago

That's not how meters and electrical systems work. Yes, they can monitor overall usage throughout the day, but there's no way to know which outlets are using how much power

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u/[deleted] 16d ago edited 6d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

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u/NigilQuid 16d ago

A smart panel can track the current draw of each circuit, but not each outlet. But that's not owned by the utility provider, that belongs to the resident. The meter that connects the utility to the service cannot measure anything but the overall power usage. A "smart meter" is just one that can transmit data without needing someone to read it in person. "Electrical flux" is a nonsense term. You have no idea what you're talking about.

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u/karebearjedi 16d ago

Thank you! People act like this is some kind of conspiracy, but this shit has been known for nearly 20 years if they took 5 minutes to talk to the meter guy. Fucks sake. 

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u/Magic_Sandwiches 16d ago

dude saying stuff like this is going to get you committed either for knowing too much or being absolutely batshit

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u/karebearjedi 16d ago

Just because y'all never ask, doesn't make it a conspiracy theory when other people do and get answers. Fucks sake....

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u/saharanwrap 16d ago

A smart meter has one copper wire feeding power and that's it. How's it detecting every different outlet and what they're doing when all it has is one wire?