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BRITS WARNED BY WHICH! OVER 'ZOMBIE PRODUCTS' WHICH ARE LEFT SITTING AROUND IN HOMES AND CAN EASILY BE HACKED VIA THEIR WIFI KATE NELSON 14:57, 19 May 2025Updated 14:57, 19 May
2025 Toasters could be used by the pesky Russians or Chinese to spy on Brits, boffins have warned. Old smart devices are the perfect gateway for sleuths to target folk because tech firms no
longer support the gadgets with proper security. The companies often pull online safety for everyday items such as wi-fi bird feeders and watches after as little as two years. The “zombie
products” are then left sitting around in homes and can easily be hacked. Andrew Laughlin, from Which?, said: “This is a pattern that we are seeing time and again as companies drop support
for their smart products, sometimes after as little as two years.” The expert warned the tech keeps working but does so unsupported, leaving it “vulnerable to having their data hacked or
compromised”. Most folk are oblivious to how many mundane devices which are connected to the internet could pose a risk. Alan Woodward, professor of cybersecurity at the University of
Surrey, added: “In some ways it might not matter that your toaster doesn’t get updated. “But actually if it’s on your network and somebody discovers a vulnerability, that vulnerability is
never going to be fixed. If it remains connected and it’s just kind of ignored, then it can be a stepping stone.” It comes as Google withdrew support for older Nest thermostats. The changes,
coming in October this year, mean that customers will no longer receive crucial software or security updates. The National Cyber Security Centre last year warned that 260,000 gadgets around
the world, including webcams, had been hijacked by a company with links to the Chinese government. Article continues below People revealed how they are reducing the risk from spying
household devices on a Reddit thread. One poster said: “‘Does not have wi-fi and does not require an app are both on my list any time I buy an appliance, or just about anything that doesn’t
absolutely need them.” Another joked: “My toaster isn’t spying on me, but I caught my kettle peeking at me in the shower.”