Using Smart Thermostat From Android

[startac4]

I know this is not really an Android issue - just don't know what other forum exists for this and perhaps people here are doing this (if the forum moderators want to remove this because it's completely out of place here I'll completely understand).

I was about to have an electrician install a Honeywell smart thermostat when I read about all the personal data Honeywell (actually a different company that licenses the name) collects, both when setting up the thermostat and when using it from the Android phone. Their "privacy (sic) statement" says that they record and store, among other things, name, address, the schedule of every time the unit is set to go on/off, temperature setting, for which days it's set et al. This could let someone know a pattern for my being home and away. And the idea of them having all my information (which I do my best to avoid with google) raises my hackles

I realize I completely misunderstood how smart thermostat works - I thought the schedule (time/temp) was stored in the unit itself (just like my mini-split units keep that information in the units). Perhaps I'm being paranoid because a lot of people use smart thermostats but this was a complete revelation to me. And raised my security concerns.

My only weak connection for posting this here is because it's all done through the cell phone. And therefore someone here may have gone down this "security concern" rabbit hole and can comment on it.

 

[Unforgiven]

I think you are fine posting this here. If it takes a different turn we can move it somewhere else.

 

[mikedt]

I know this is not really an Android issue - just don't know what other forum exists for this and perhaps people here are doing this (if the forum moderators want to remove this because it's completely out of place here I'll completely understand).

I was about to have an electrician install a Honeywell smart thermostat when I read about all the personal data Honeywell (actually a different company that licenses the name) collects, both when setting up the thermostat and when using it from the Android phone. Their "privacy (sic) statement" says that they record and store, among other things, name, address, the schedule of every time the unit is set to go on/off, temperature setting, for which days it's set et al. This could let someone know a pattern for my being home and away. And the idea of them having all my information (which I do my best to avoid with google) raises my hackles.

They would more than likely need to store your data on a server in the cloud, so that their app on phone can interact with the smart-thermostat, remotely over the internet. However something like this AFAICT does NOT need access to personal details like name and address. The smart-thermostat itself will have an ESN(Electronic Serial Number), or MAC address, etc, which the server will use to access, read, and control the device. And they don't need to know the actual house number, and street where it's located.

I realize I completely misunderstood how smart thermostat works - I thought the schedule (time/temp) was stored in the unit itself (just like my mini-split units keep that information in the units). Perhaps I'm being paranoid because a lot of people use smart thermostats but this was a complete revelation to me. And raised my security concerns.

My only weak connection for posting this here is because it's all done through the cell phone. And therefore someone here may have gone down this "security concern" rabbit hole and can comment on it.

I think you're right to be concerned about this. After all there have been many data breaches, and leaks of personal private data from these IoT companies.