2156 E-Hack Sack

One of the biggest problems with the electronic world in which we live is the vulnerability of electronic things to damage or mischief.

The move in technology these days is to create an "Internet of Everything." That means all of our devices, computers, and appliances will be able to communicate with each other seamlessly. Your thermostat on the wall will be able to tap into the internet, call your smartphone and communicate with its GPS about where you are on your way home so it can start up your ultra-efficient heater. Your smart-refrigerator can check for quantities of milk or eggs to pick up. 

All sounds so George Jetson-y doesn't it? What could go wrong?

Something already has. Hackers. A recent news story told how someone had hacked into people's computer-chipped appliances and used them to access the internet and send out spam. They hacked regular computers and routers of course, but an amazing 25% of the machines hacked were home appliances. 

Wow. Someone's refrigerator sent me spam. Well, at least it was safely chilled. 

Which brings me to e-cigarettes. I noticed recently that one e-cigarette display was also offering mini-USB chargers for them. If e-cigs have tiny batteries it won't be long before they have tiny computers to help people regulate nicotine consumption better. The one downfall of NicoStix, or Nix as I like to call them, is they don't tell you when you've consumed enough nicotine. They need a mini-computer and an app for that.

Unfortunately, one that can then be hacked. If you can spam a refrigerator, why can't you hack a cigarette? 

Wow. Then the NSA could check the inside of your mouth for dangerous cavities. Everyone knows terrorists have poor oral hygiene.

I read it on the internet.

America, ya gotta love it.