Privacy risks identified in smart home devices and laptops

Smart home and computing devices present various privacy considerations. On laptops, small openings near the webcam often serve as microphone channels to capture audio for calls or voice commands. However, these openings can also house light indicators, infrared cameras for facial recognition like Windows Hello, or privacy shutters, making it necessary to check specific technical specifications.

Robotic vacuum cleaners pose additional privacy risks through features like room mapping, cleaning history storage, and object recognition. Some models include cameras and microphones that could potentially record sensitive scenes or private conversations.

A significant security flaw was highlighted involving DJI Romo robotic vacuums, where a user accidentally gained control over approximately 7,000 devices worldwide due to a server-side authorization error. DJI reported that the issue, which involved improper permission checks rather than password vulnerabilities, was addressed through updates in February 2026.