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Sex robots could be hijacked by hackers and used to cause harm or even kill people, a cybersecurity expert has warned.
Artificial intelligence researchers have consistently warned of the security risks posed by internet-connected robots, with hundreds recently calling on governments to ban weaponized robots.
The latest warning comes from a cybersecurity expert who made the prophecy to several U.K. newspapers.
“Hackers can hack into a robot or a robotic device and have full control of the connections, arms, legs and other attached tools like in some cases knives or welding devices,” Nicholas Patterson, a cybersecurity lecturer at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia, told the Star.
“Often these robots can be upwards of 200 pounds and very strong. Once a robot is hacked, the hacker has full control and can issue instructions to the robot. The last thing you want is for a hacker to have control over one of these robots. Once hacked they could absolutely be used to perform physical actions for an advantageous scenario or to cause damage.”
https://www.newsweek.com/hacked-sex-robots-could-murder-people-767386
[Yes, the story is "clickbait-y", but the underlying point still remains that remote access to IoT (Internet of Things) devices could wreak havoc. Do any Soylentils have IoT devices and what, if anything, have you done to provide protection from undesired monitoring or tampering? --Ed.]
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:13PM (9 children)
There's absolutely no reason for a sexbot to be network-connected. It's that simple.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 2) by DannyB on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:22PM (3 children)
Unless a masochist wants someone to remotely take control.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2) by The Archon V2.0 on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:35PM (1 child)
> Unless a masochist wants someone to remotely take control.
I imagine there'd be a market for official porn star sex bots where one can pay to schedule a remote session with the original as puppeteer. Sort of a middle ground between private cam sessions and actual... ahem... escort services.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by DannyB on Tuesday February 19 2019, @05:03PM
The puppeteer, like in an online chat, might be nothing more than an overweight balding guy with a cigar.
The lower I set my standards the more accomplishments I have.
(Score: 2, Disagree) by RS3 on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:43PM
In which case they'll get what they're hoping for and deserve (in a Darwin Awards way).
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @03:52PM (1 child)
There is, for a love at distance.
Sexbots would be just interfaces, receivers, data communication sets, not complete simulators of a sex partner, but a gateway to one. Together with VR equipment, they can even be a nondescript dolls made only for tactile sense stimulation. That would have interesting implications and consequences, in love at distance, sexual partner selection, massive online cheating, online prostitution, and prophylaxes. It is possible that real "in carne" sex would all but completely disappear because augmented reality one can be ... well, augmented as desired, anonymized, with very few physical consequences for participants (pregnancy, STDs, attachments), and therefore more easily available.
(Score: 4, Informative) by fyngyrz on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:35PM
That's not a sex robot.
That's a sex avatar.
--
My boss told me I intimidate coworkers.
I stared at him until he apologized.
(Score: 4, Informative) by Snow on Tuesday February 19 2019, @04:38PM
Trageted advertising!
Thexalon, according to our very detailed records, your average time to cum (ttc) is 1.23 minutes. Would you like a coupon for 50% off numbing cream?
Now swipe your credit card between the legs to place your order.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday February 19 2019, @06:45PM
It's called "tunneling", for rodents, and Teledildonics. The Future is now!
(Score: 2) by Azuma Hazuki on Tuesday February 19 2019, @11:12PM
Honestly, there's no reason for most of the things we have connected to the Internet to be Internet-connected. It's going to happen anyway, because people are dumb.
I am "that girl" your mother warned you about...