Smart meters, uh oh!

martinthebandit

Interesting article here http://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/01/04/smart_metres_ccc/

Highlighting the main reason why you should wait a good few years before getting one.

System

In fairness to the Government, some of the vulnerabilities mentioned in this article were addressed when GCHQ took the unprecedented step last year of making it clear that the energy suppliers needed to address serious concerns about encryption, and the remote disconnection of meters. That said, how many times before have organisations such as Sony, TalkTalk, Tesco, Yahoo et al told us that their systems cannot be hacked. Such statements only hold true until they are hacked which, sadly, is far too common.

To put this into context, the real risk of multiple hacking is the damaging effect that an unbalanced load will have on the National Grid if a city's worth of meters are disconnected at the same time. I think that the industry is becoming increasingly alive to this possibility, and we may yet see remote disconnection/re-connection fully disabled on all smart meters if it hasn't been done so already.

Rachel_Pierson

I'm just waiting on the Government announcing that electric plug-in vehicles will now have their electricity taxed as fuel, all enabled by smart meters being able to detect when one is plugged in. Same way cooking oil and oil used for agriculture attracts different tax to oil used in domestic vehicles, I can just bet they'll try and make 'electricity used for something we can tax' as an excuse to hit motorists once again.

System

Oh for gods sake! can we stop this laughable rubbish.We can do without the silly hacking of smart meter posts please, they re not interesting even if some geek thinks it is.

martinthebandit

House_Martin wrote: »

Oh for gods sake! can we stop this laughable rubbish.We can do without the silly hacking of smart meter posts please, they re not interesting even if some geek thinks it is.

Ah sorry I didn't realise it was rubbish and all smart meters are secure and that the threat that anyone with a little knowledge, internet access and malicious intent could cause harm is laughable.

Micron

House_Martin wrote: »

can we stop this laughable rubbish.

Why is it laughable?
Do you think it's not possible for someone to hack in to the UK smart meter system?
Please share your superior wisdom and knowledge on the subject with all of us.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver2

Smart meters a Trojan horse into the FORCED smart home?
I know Internet giants want us to have smart homes voice control via alexa etc.
I hope not but can't trust what they say do.
Nb I am a privacy freak who wants to change from backdoor devices to private etc.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver2

What sort of access do these companies need assuming one meter for all providers.

System

I have been reading British Gas smart meters for 9 years. They have fitted over a million smart meters and there are over 2.5 million British Gas smart meter users which remain unhacked. No reports of hacking in the 9 years so why are people making stupid posts about something which is not likely to happen.It has not happened so far but I suppose many thousands of PC s have been hacked so don t waste your time being frightened over something which will not happen and worry about the PC, phone, tablet you made this stupid post with instead.No more smart meter hacking paranoia please.

System

Don`t worry a meter reader will come and check the smart meter at some time after its fitted and a regular check after that .Do not believe what any meter fitter may say that you will never see another meter reader again..you will ! Odd question to ask..but that is the answer, so do not box away the meter ever so we can`t see it properly.

martinthebandit

House_Martin wrote: »

I have been reading British Gas smart meters for 9 years. They have fitted over a million smart meters and there are over 2.5 million British Gas smart meter users which remain unhacked. No reports of hacking in the 9 years so why are people making stupid posts about something which is not likely to happen.It has not happened so far but I suppose many thousands of PC s have been hacked so don t waste your time being frightened over something which will not happen and worry about the PC, phone, tablet you made this stupid post with instead.No more smart meter hacking paranoia please.

Big believer in closing the stable door after the horse has bolted are you?