67 The Virtual Power Plant Scandal

The Computer Exorcist Podcast

It's a solo teaching episode of the CEP!

Today we celebrate over 4000 downloads!

We start the show by discussing Microsoft's latest debacle, the Recall Scandal. Oh, no big deal. Just them force-attacking every Windows PC with something that recorded your voice by default without any knowledge or permisison, that's all. More to come on that one, but feel free to look it up and warn people about it.

In our first article, I explain this new gimmick where you can unlock and start your car with a mobile app. To most consumers, a magical gizmo talks to another magical gizmo. They don't realize all of this depends on connectivity to a very unreliable and insecure cloud server, built like a house of cards.

Even Tesla admits this should be a secondary way to use your car - it should never be relied upon. So always keep your main keycard in your pocket.

Next, it's the "I've Been Sayin' It For Years" segment. For years I've been warning people that those wifi-controlled thermostats dangle a bit of convenience in front of you like a gingerbread house, then welcome you right into the oven of control.

Well, now it's a reality, and everything I've said has come true. They went from not saying a word about the control part, to then saying "oh don't worry we'll just lower your thermostat a few degrees", to full-blown controlling you and taking power away from you during peak times.

Marketingbobbleheads had the nerve to call this "Virtual Power Plants": You don't generate any power, but during peak times they take power away from you and put it where it's needed, so you're acting like a power plant.

Finally, I raise awareness for the Free Software Foundation and their call for 100% free software instead of all this closed nonsense. I do make one point that they should focus on the big goals (like eliminating MS Outlook) before going after the nit-picky stuff.

So! If you don't know what to do with your life, come help me stop the trickle of money and power toward Silicon Valley. Visit becomeanexorcist.com for more info.