Smart meter

[Deleted User]

Dogbyte009 said:

pochase said:

How exactly is that supposed to happen? Can you link a case where this has happened?

It's been a concern in information security circles for years: https://www.cnet.com/news/privacy/your-smart-electricity-meter-could-be-a-security-risk/

There may not be documented cases - yet - but it comes down to how much you trust your energy supplier to have A-grade security and how much you trust their staff not to have friends who are burglars or talk out of turn in the pub. As someone who is paid to be paranoid about data security and privacy I'd rather not take the risk, thanks.

 
Life is full of digital worries should you let it get to you.  I don't leave the front door wide open, bank card taped to it with a message to someone burglarising 'Can you feed the cat while you are in and here is the pin number....feel free to charge what you feel is appropriate' etc etc.  Neither am I going to go down the rabbit hole of worrying about every single set of possibilities however remote such as smart meters and burglars. 

But thanks for pointing the security concern (no sarcasm intended) - just not something I am going to worry about.    I read your link to show that I took your post seriously but note the date of it being 2017, so wonder just how relevant it is today. 

[Deleted User]

In truth, if anybody ever finds a way to hack our smart meter system we will have far bigger problems to deal with then just a few burglaries. The wide-spread simultaneous disconnection of a large number of smart meters could cause considerable damage to the Grid. Not having a smart meter may not offer any protection.

matelodave

Dogbyte009 said:

pochase said:

I believe you can ask less frequent readings, but why would you?

Security is the primary reason. Should the data fall into the wrong hands it becomes easy to work out when you're away from home.

Do you honestly believe that, if you do then there's not much hope for mankind.

People can see if I'm away from home by walking down the street and noticing that the car isn't in the drive, or that the lights or telly aren't on.

It doesn't take a computer whizz-kid in some far flung place to work it out based on my gas or leccy consumption data from a smart meter. By the time that they've work it all out I'll have been back home for a week

imeach

Jeepers, pass my tin foil hat please

Chrysalis

To be honest there are easier ways to tell if someone is at home, you just watch the house.

kimp22

I am not bothered about that because someone is in most of the time. But I booked a smart meter just before Christmas online and it didn't ask that question then so wondering what's different now. I had two missed appointments waited in all day to be told after the last appointment that my area has bad signal so they couldn't install them. I have credit on both meters now would they be able to Transfer the credit straight back on when they install them and does it cost more to have a smart meter in.

Thanks 
Kim