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Google Keeps Collecting Data From Downgraded Nest Thermostats

A researcher working on a community fix discovered ongoing log uploads that Google describes as diagnostic reporting.

Overview

  • First- and second-generation Nest Learning Thermostats lost remote control, status checks, and updates after Google ended support last month.
  • Security researcher Cody Kociemba found the devices still send detailed information such as manual temperature changes, presence detection, sunlight exposure, temperature, humidity, ambient light, and motion.
  • Kociemba discovered the logging after cloning Google's API for his open-source No Longer Evil project and then disabled receiving the incoming logs.
  • Right-to-repair group FULU awarded its bounty to Kociemba and Team Dinosaur for restoring smart features to the unsupported thermostats.
  • Google says unsupported devices will continue to report logs for issue diagnostics, and The Verge reported the company did not immediately provide further comment.