The Google Home Speaker Has Been Secretly Eating My Wi-Fi Data
A Google Home speaker bug caused some devices to consume excessive Wi-Fi data by repeatedly downloading software updates. Google has since resolved the issue, but the incident highlights the importance of monitoring smart home device data usage.
Why it matters
As smart home ecosystems grow, hidden data consumption can lead to unexpected costs and network performance issues for consumers.
While it isn't happening to everyone, after checking my own home internet usage, I found out that I have been experiencing the same issue. My Google Home Speaker has used 487 GB of data in the last ten days, using almost as much as the entire rest of my home between August and September.
Google confirmed this bug has only affected some devices, and that they've rolled out a solution. A spokesperson from Google told WIRED: “A server misconfiguration caused some Google Home Speakers to repeatedly download a software update. This issue has now been resolved.”
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