A team of researchers has seemingly established that commonly used robotic vacuum cleaners can be hacked remotely and used as a microphone. The research group led by Nirupam Roy, an assistant professor of Computer Science at the University of Maryland in collaboration with assistant professor Jun Han of the University of Singapore, collected information from the laser-based navigation system in a vacuum robot and applied signal processing and deep learning techniques to recover speech and identify television programs playing in the same room where the device was operating.

This research has highlighted the potential for any such device that uses light detection and ranging (Lidar) technology to be manipulated as a monitoring device by transmitting sound, even when such devices do not have a microphone. The revealing work was presented at the Association for Computing Machinery’s Conference on Embedded Networked Sensor Systems (SenSys 2020) last month.

The Lidar navigation systems in household robot vacuum cleaners direct a laser beam around the room whose reflected signals are used to map the room, enabling the robot to navigate through the room without collisions.

It has been suggested that these maps, stored in the cloud most times, pose potential security and privacy breaches that could give unauthorized access to privacy data amidst the risks of hacking. Information about things such as home size and other privileged data could be easily accessible. The research team was of the view that Lidar could pose potential security risks in transforming the robots as sound recording devices in users’ homes or businesses.

The researchers were not quite definitive whether a vacuum robot’s Lidar system could be manipulated to operate as a mic capable of providing meaningful sound signals.

The researchers were of the opinion that their research with vacuum cleaners is just one example of potential vulnerability to Lidar-based espionage activities. Many other devices such as smartphones are also susceptible. Recall how a hacker invaded a US home through the Ring security camera system demanding bitcoin. Other cases abound of similar occurrences. (via)

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A robot vacuum cleaner can be touted as one of the most popular home appliances that come in handy in day to day life.

Also known as robovac, this smart household appliance is crafted to perform the arduous task of floor cleaning. You can operate it manually, as well as with remote control. Using a powerful vacuum and side brush, the robot efficiently absorbs debris and dust on the ground into its dust box.

The market is teeming with all sorts of robot vacuum cleaners that boast an impressive array of features and useful functions to make sure your house is clean and tidy all the time. On the downside, these robots aren’t necessarily easy on the pocketbook.

If you have been searching for an inexpensive, yet power-packed robot vacuum cleaner, we got good news for you. As part of its latest promotion sale dubbed The Best Robot Vacuums Black Friday Deals 2019, Gearbest is offering the year’s best smart robot vacuums at unbeatable prices.

To make sure you select a model that suits your requirement, the promotion page features a chart that includes details like Model, Price, Size, Cleaning Coverage, etc. Based on your requirement, you can choose between the Roborock S5 Max, 360 S7, Alfawise V10 max, Alfawise V8S PRO, and the Lenovo X1.

The above-mentioned robot vacuum cleaners have been assigned specific coupon codes that you can use for discounts at the time of checking out. For the sake of an instance, the Roborock S5 Max would normally set you back $594.18, but Gearbest is offering it for a lowered price of just $499.99.

Furthermore, you can extend this 16 percent discount by applying coupon code GB-RBS5MAX at the time of checking out. The coupon helps you save $60 more, by reducing the retail price of the S5 Max to just $439.99.

Likewise, you can get a 28 percent off on the 360 S7 Laser Navigation Robot Vacuum Cleaner, which usually retails for $537.92. Thanks to the aforesaid discount, you can now purchase the S7 for an incredibly lowered price of just $389.99. On top of that, you use coupon code GB-360S7 and bring its retail price further down to only $369.99.

The Alfawise V10 max’s original asking price is  $319.99, but you can purchase it for just $219.99 by applying coupon code ALFAV10MAX. Similarly, Alfawise V8S PRO, which normally retails or $199.16 can be purchased for just $159.99, thanks to coupon code ALV8SPROPL11.

The last robot vacuum cleaner on the promotion page is Lenovo’s X1. The newly released robot usually carries a $648.06, but you can get it for a coupon price of just $429.99 during the activity period.

Aside from performing basic cleaning, newfangled robot vacuum cleaners are crafted to offer mopping or UV sterilization function as well.

You can visit the promotion page by following this link and check out more details about these amazing robot vacuum cleaners and place your order before the promo wraps up. Note that the coupons are also likely to expire soon.

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In our fast-paced lifestyles, we hardly find time to spend with our loved ones so spending your time cleaning your house is probably the last thing you want to do on your weekly offs. Nevertheless, we cannot deny the fact that keeping your home clean and tidy is extremely important.

Thankfully, the market is teeming with all sorts of high-end robot vacuum cleaners that are capable of efficiently cleaning the house without requiring a lot of your effort. On the downside, these robots aren’t easy on the pocketbook.

If you are looking for an inexpensive robot vacuum cleaner that doesn’t disappoint in terms of performance, you might want to check out the Alfawise V10 Max Laser Navigation Robot Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner. The V10 Max has gone up for sale bearing a lowered price on Gearbest.

We will talk about the aforesaid discount and even show how you can save a considerable amount of more money at the time of checking out. So without wasting more time, let’s dive straight into the details.

Alfawise V10 Max Laser Navigation Robot Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner

The feature-laden Alfawise V10 Max understandably carries a $319.99 price tag, but you can now buy it for a lowered price of just $259.99 from Gearbest. On top of that, you can even extend this 19 percent discount with the help of coupon code ALFAV10MAX.

The aforesaid coupon helps you save $40 more. In other words, you can bring the already lowered asking price of the Alfawise V10 Max Laser Navigation Robot Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner further down to just $219.99 simply by applying the aforesaid coupon at checkout.

As if that weren’t enough, you get an Alfawise PE1004T Smart Plug worth $10.76 absolutely free with your purchase. An absolute steal at this price, the Alfawise V10 Max is designed to scan the entire room using laser ranging, along with 360° radar to determine an accurate a real-time map and mark obstacle areas with SLAM algorithm.

Furthermore, it comes with a 450ml large capacity water tank with precise electronic pump control. Aside from that, it has three- speeds regulation. It ensures uniform seepage water and faster drying.

The Alfawise V10 Max laser smart robot vacuum cleaner stops flowing water while charging for a real intelligent cleaning that doesn’t require you to waste a lot of time manually adjust the settings.

You can follow this link to grab the discount and other offers available with the Alfawise V10 Max Laser Navigation Robot Wet and Dry Vacuum Cleaner on Gearbest. With more than 300 pieces sold at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end in seven days.

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We try to keep our homes clean all the time, but this is an arduous task, especially if you have small kids, or working a full-time job. As a result, we resort to buying a vacuum cleaner for home.

Buying a vacuum cleaner isn’t rocket science, and the market is teeming with all sorts of high-end models including robot vacuum cleaners that you can get your hands on if you don’t mind spending a lot of money. Cost-conscious buyers, who aren’t willing to spend tens of thousands of dollars on these devices, end up compromising on quality.

Touted as one of China’s best online stores for electronic items, Gearbest is giving you a chance to own a feature-laden robot vacuum cleaner without emptying your pocket. The 360 S7 Laser Navigation Robot Vacuum Cleaner has gone up for sale bearing a considerably lowered price on the Chinese online store.

We will shed light on the discount, and also show how you can save a considerable amount of more money at the time of checking out. So without wasting more time, let’s delve straight into the details.

360 S7 Laser Navigation Robot Vacuum Cleaner

Designed to keep your home effortlessly clean, the 360 S7 is a smart robot vacuum cleaner that you can set and just forget. It adopts the LDS Lidar and SLAM algorithm for improved cleaning routes planning.

You can use the APP to allow or restrict the areas it sweeps and mops. Alternatively, you can provide instructions using control through Alexa.

The 360 S7 automatically switches to mopping mode when you install the water tank and returns to sweeping when the tank is removed. It comes with three highly effective, yet silent cleaning modes that generate max 2000Pa suction, max 65dB noise.

The 360 S7 automatically switches to max mode, generating a suction power of 2000Pa for deep cleaning carpets. If that doesn’t impress you, this amazing robot vacuum cleaner goes back to recharge itself as soon as the power goes below 20 percent.

You’d normally expect a high-end laser navigation robot vacuum cleaner to cost a bomb, but the 360 S7 can now be yours for a lowered price of only $439.99 from Gearbest. This is a noteworthy 10 percent reduction in the device’s original asking price of $491.41.

On top of that, you can grab an extra $40 off by applying coupon code GB-360S7. In other words, you can bring the already reduced asking price of the 360 S7 robot vacuum cleaner further down to just $399.99 during the checkout process with the help of the aforesaid coupon.

You can follow this link to avail the discount, which is currently valid for the white color option of the robot. Note that the coupon will be valid for the first 100 units only, and the promo is slated to end in eight days. Twenty units were already sold at the time of writing.

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Smart home products are designed to handle daily chores that usually take up too much of your time, allowing you to focus your energy on more productive things.

On the downside, these smart devices aren’t necessarily easy on the pocketbook. For instance, a smart home cleaning device such as a smart vacuum cleaner that keeps your surrounding clean and tidy all the time would normally set you back a pretty penny on both online, as well as offline stores.

Those who go for inexpensive vacuum cleaner alternatives are highly likely to compromise on quality and performance. While we usually end up burning a huge hole in our pocket when it comes to buying a top-end vacuum cleaner, it looks like Gearbest is bent on changing that.

The Chinese online store known for offering the country’s electronic items at lowered prices has now teamed up with Xiaomi Youpin to offer the Roborock S50 Smart Robot Vacuum Cleaner at a considerably reduced price. We will shed light on the discount and also show how you can save more money at the time of checking out.

Roborock S50 Smart Robot Vacuum Cleaner

The Roborock S50 second-generation international version usually carries a steep $618.72 price tag, but you can now buy it for just $379.99 from Gearbest. Moreover, you can even extend this 30 percent discount by applying coupon code GBFASTS501 at checkout.

The aforesaid coupon helps you save $30 more. In other words, you can bring the already lowered asking price of the Roborock S50 further down to just $349.99 simply by applying the coupon before you click the ‘Place Your Order’ button.

Touted as a highly intelligent home cleaning device, the Roborock S50 comes with a radically enhanced 2 in 1 Sweep and Mop, which not only sweeps the floor but also polishes it with the help of a mopping pad. The smart vacuum cleaner draws its juices from a 5200mAh battery which delivers 2.5 hours cleaning for a house of 250 square meters in full charge.

Equipped with LDS (Laser Distance Sensor), the robot can effectively scan its surrounding in 360 degrees, 1800 times per second. It adopts a three-dimensional vacuum cleaning system for a tornado-like super cleaning, leaving no dust, debris, or granule behind.

You can customize the cleaning area with just one click using the APP. The power-packed robot delivers a super suction of 2000Pa, sucking up all sorts of wastes all in a sudden. Other features include 2cm obstacle climbing, 360 degrees LDS pressure sensor, 4 anti-drop stair sensors, and more.

You can follow this link to grab the discount and use the coupon before it expires. With over a hundred pieces sold at the time of writing, the promo is slated to end in seventeen days.

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