Hackers? Recent G.E. side-by-sides without ice maker

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

I tried the G.E. website but they make you jump thru hoops to contact them via chat/or/form.

I had heard about Target being hacked into thru air conditioning system..

My Q is, whether the following are Digital, and therefore perhaps usable as a gateway to hack into my computer? . Note I do not have wireless, rather wired, for health reasons, so is my wired-laptop less easily hackable?

Anyway, the models i'm asking about are:

...2014-2017 G.E. side-by-sides (25.4 cu.ft.) without ice makers

BTW, I'm only interested in info. re: G.E. so any/all accurate feedback would be appreciated.

No French Doors please (nor 4-doors) - rather just the above.

Thanks!

Featured Answer

homepro01

9 years ago

Bluetooth requires almost line of site access. The hacker would have to be outside your door. I have a Bluetooth thermometer and the sensor has to be within 15ft without walls for it to work well. The hacker would also need access to your network after gaining access to the Bluetooth device.

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Comments (10)

Renee Texas
9 years ago
AC in big stores is often controlled centrally- as in out of state- and so uses the internet. Is your fridge hooked up to the internet?
jally
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks Renee! No it's not. But I'm still nervous about digital, and hey, it occurs to me to be nervous about the digital thermostat connected to my Non-digital tiny Kenmore Window-A.C!
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msmeow
9 years ago
They can only hack it if it's connected to the internet, either with wires or wirelessly.

So, yes, if your laptop is connected to the internet, it can be hacked.

Donna
jally
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Of course my laptop is connected to the Internet!

But I would not want a digital fridge to be a gateway to my laptop.

(whichever which way they might pull it off. This may be a hugely stupid question, but lately more than ever, i'm very tech-stupid. Diminishing grey-matter 'n all that.
nosoccermom
9 years ago
Unless your fridge is connected to the Internet, you're fine.

http://www.geappliances.com/ge/connected-appliances/refrigerators.htm

Most "hacking" is by people being tricked into revealing their password or directly at the service provider, e.g. yahoo or gmail. Just don't click on any suspicious links that ask for your password.
User
9 years ago
Unless the appliance can be accessed by a Bluetooth device to send it commands, you can't hack into a network using it.

Target's hack was not exactly "through" the air conditioning ... it was through the C&C (command and control) modules that were controlling the AC and sending information back to Target's main office.

Why they had them on the same internal network as the finance systems is beyond me.
jally
Original Author
9 years ago
I see, thanks lazy_gardens. But even the fact that it can be accessed by Bluetooth (compared to old appliances which couldn't, due to non-digital) ....that in itself would seem to me to raise a red flag. I've been fine more than 1/2 my life with non-digital fridges. Who needs digital ones? I consider this runaway tech.
User
9 years ago
It would be convenient to have a 1-way communication from some appliances - just an IM. And an appliance that can only SEND, not recieve.

A washer indicating unbalanced load and DONE

A dryer indicating DONE

A furnace indicating "house too cold, please come check it out)

Refrigerator and freezers indicating temperature problems.

But you don't need them setting up autonomous networks and ordering their own spare parts!
jally
Original Author
9 years ago
OK, thanks :)