Ecobee Thermostat
Summary
A smart thermostat that can change temperature, play your favorite music, call all your friends, and control your other smart devices with voice commands. This thermostat can adjust temperatures from your phone, use room sensors to adjust hot and cold spots, and save energy with smart algorithms. Also, it has Amazon Alexa built-in, as well as occupancy sensors, so it knows which rooms your family and friends are in. This thermostat may be too smart for all of us.
Privacy Checklist
Is any kind of biometric data collected (health, heart, voice, etc.)?
Are you able to delete your data / the data collected about you?
Does it use cookies, telemetry, or third-party tracking scripts?
Is the privacy policy user-friendly (easy to understand)?
Does it have parental controls?
Does it use encryption to protect your data both in-transit and at-rest?
Does it get regular software and / or firmware updates?
Does it require you to create a strong password?
Is there a system in place for managing security vulnerabilities?
Does it have a privacy policy?
How Can It Snoop?
Does it have a camera or request / require access to a camera?
Does it have a microphone or request / require access to a microphone?
Does it track your location or request / require access to location data?
Account Requirements
Does it require an email address to use?
Does it require a phone number to use?
Does it require an address (home or office) to use?
Payment Options
Are you able to use a credit card as a payment option?
Are you able to use a cryptocurrency as a payment option?
Are you able to use PayPal as a payment option?
Are you able to use cash or gift cards as a payment option?
What Could Go Wrong?
Be aware that your thermostat could potentially know a lot about you through the use of Alexa. However, Ecobee treats privacy and security fairly well. You can also make purchases from Amazon through your thermostat and that can lead to Amazon learning more about you.
How Does It Share Your Data?
Ecobee can use your personal data for its energy usage response program. With your consent, Ecobee will share your device data with researchers.
Good Things
- Ecobee's privacy policy is written in simple language that readers can understand.
- Ecobee runs a bug bounty program, which means that anyone who finds a security issue and may get paid.
- Many helpful energy-saving aspects that the thermostat can do for you
Bad Things
- Not many cons. A great product, but just be aware the more you talk with Alexa on Ecobee, the more they collect your information.