News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on German parents told to destroy Cayla dolls over hacking fears. Parent comment

Re:German parents told to destroy Cayla dolls over hacking f... by yorwba on Friday February 17, 2017 @08:59AM (#13668268)
If it can answer questions, then there must be a mic somewhere. And if it's always on and its data can be sniffed, the doll effectively becomes a bug, open to everyone who wants to listen.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:German parents told to destroy Cayla dolls over hacking f... by alexcroox on Friday February 17, 2017 @10:33AM (#13668864)
AFAIK there is no mic in the doll, you cannot get responses from the internet without the smart device app, you technically talk into your phone/tablet, not the doll
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:German parents told to destroy Cayla dolls over hacking f... by tauchunfall on Friday February 17, 2017 @10:38AM (#13668919)
In the text on Netzpolitik linked in the BBC article it says, the doll has a microphone.

>Jedes bluetoothfähige Gerät in Reichweite von etwa zehn Metern kann eine Verbindung zu ihr [der Puppe] aufbauen und Lautsprecher und Mikrofon nutzen. In einem Versuch hatte ich auch über mehrere Wände hindurch auf die Puppe Zugriff.

Google Translate: Each bluetooth capable device within a range of about ten meters can connect to it [the doll] and use speakers and microphone. In an attempt I had access to the doll over several walls.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:German parents told to destroy Cayla dolls over hacking f... by phreeza on Friday February 17, 2017 @12:46PM (#13670159)
Off topic: Google translate is getting really good.
[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:German parents told to destroy Cayla dolls over hacking f... by soylentcola on Friday February 17, 2017 @01:22PM (#13670445)
Sounds more like the doll is akin to a Bluetooth headset. It's got a mic, a speaker, and a BT transmitter which provides i/o to a mobile application running on a smartphone or tablet (much the way a Bluetooth headset would operate with a phone).

The mobile application does any local processing and handles queries to remote servers and such.

[ Parent | on HN ]