FM & TECHNOLOGY CLEANING TECHNOLOGY: IS IT SAFE?
The cleaning and hygiene sector is becoming increasingly high-tech with the advent of sensor technology, LIDAR and robots. But does ‘connected cleaning’ pose any data security risks? Essity’s Stuart Hands looks at the issue and weighs up the pros and cons of high-tech systems.
Technology is the future of cleaning. This is clear from the rapid rise in the number of robots, sensor systems and other connected devices now available in the cleaning sector.
High-tech machines and digital systems are invaluable because they provide an endless source of information for the user. But at the same time, they can make that user’s data vulnerable – and also potentially accessible to a wider audience.
For example, a 2020 a report by cybersecurity company Checkmarx revealed that ’connected’ vacuum cleaners could potentially be accessed by hackers. In other words, a third party could theoretically assume control of a smart vacuum cleaner while someone else was using it.
The idea of criminals remotely tapping into a system in order to steer another person’s vacuum sounds laughable on the face of it. But there are other, more sinister reasons why hackers might want to access our smart cleaning machines.
Many automatic floor cleaners produce live video feeds as they clean while also generating internal mapping data. These features enable robots to navigate complex floor layouts without colliding with obstacles while also ensuring that no areas are missed during cleaning.
However, when combined with other data such as the device’s IP address, network and location, this information could become invaluable to thieves. For example, access to a live video feed in a bank would potentially give criminals insights into employees’ daily practices and provide details of where the money is being kept and when it is likely to be moved.
But hackers are not only able to spy on organisations via live video feeds. They can also listen in to their conversations.
In 2020 it was reported that hackers could theoretically access the audio of some cleaning robot models via their LiDAR readings. LiDAR stands for Light Detection and Ranging and uses light in the form of a pulsed laser to measure distances to and from objects in the machine’s path. This enables robots to navigate around obstacles on the floor as they clean.
However, by tapping into a machine’s LIDAR readings, hackers were found to be able to analyse the sound signals collected which allowed them to listen in on private conversations. As a result, they could potentially access sensitive data such as credit card details or incriminating information that could subsequently be used for blackmail.
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So, hackers are operating everywhere. In fact, they are even able to remotely access high-tech toilets.
Japan is famous for its smart toilets offering features such as mood lighting, heated seats, integral bidets and built-in Bluetooth radio. However, it is believed that hackers could potentially tap into these units and remotely close the lid, flush the toilet or activate the bidet while someone else is using the facility.
While these types of actions are the stuff of pranksters, there are other, more disturbing ways in which a smart toilet could be hacked. Some models are now being programmed to monitor the user’s health and provide valuable information on blood pressure, blood oxygen levels and alcohol and caffeine intake. But there are growing fears that this type of information could be intercepted and provide hackers with widespread access to people’s intimate health data.
The use of facial-recognition systems in washrooms is another potential cause for concern. Toilet paper dispensers using facial-recognition technology have been in operation in public washrooms in China for some years.
The aim of these systems is to limit the amount of toilet paper that washroom users take during each visit to reduce consumption and cut costs. But many people in China have voiced privacy concerns regarding this technology and the use of facial-recognition technology has been curtailed in some areas as a result.
So, the industry is facing a dilemma. How can manufacturers continue to develop systems that use the latest cutting-edge technology while also staying one step ahead of the hackers?
Creators of smart systems everywhere are working hard to plug security gaps and learn from any data breaches. For example, an increasing number of companies are encrypting the data generated by their connected systems and providing security patches to counteract emerging vulnerabilities.
Organisations are also publishing privacy policies to reassure customers that the manufacturer is collecting only necessary data and are using it responsibly. And individual manufacturers are also recognising the risks and addressing them accordingly.
For example, at Amsterdam Interclean 2022, robot manufacturer Adlatus announced that its latest floor cleaning machine would pixelate all images taken by its 3D camera to provide an extra level of security for customers. The machines operate without the need for a continuous internet connection or links to a WLAN network, which
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