This is a pretty scary story. There really isn't much my washing machine could do, other than give up my financial information, which isn't going to help anyone, but the thought that computers at nuclear facilities could possibly be hacked, even without being connected to the internet, is disturbing. http://www.click2houston.com/news/money/how-your-washing-machine-can-steal-computer-files/34546928
Bah, this is nothing but fearmongering. I don't really know about washing machines, but nuclear facilities have top-notch security that can't really be hacked unless you're THE hacker. You have to realize that countries protect their nuclear facilities strictly, because if they fall in the wrong hands, life could be wiped off from the face of this planet.
There are devices we use daily that I am sure can be used to steal information, but the washing machine! I think these types of statements are put out there to stir up fear and make people rush to purchase what ever it is they are pushing.
It's great if it's a case of fearmongering. Perhaps we'll see a response after the conference, that will give additional information. I don't see that they're selling anything, at least at this point, since the only product I saw reported as a 'detector' was an AM radio, which they're not selling.
They're fearmongering for site views. They get money from ad revenue each time someone visits their site. By having these kinds of incredible titles and manipulative content, they intrigue the normal Internet user. I think that it's disgusting to practice such a thing.
After reading the article that you linked to, @Diane Lane ; it looks to me like this kind of thing would only work with one of the newer wash mashines that have some kind of computer programming inside to run them. My old wash mashine is way too old to be of any use in transmitting anything, although there is not any reason that anyone would be interested in any case. What they are talking about doing, in the nuclear facility, for example, seems like the same principle as bugging a phone line, except it transmits information to a computer rather than to someone monitoring the phone tap.
Mine were purchased about 6 years ago. I'm not concerned about my machines so much. What concerns me is that our government seems so inept, and our information so vulnerable.