Your robot vacuum is spying on you, but this custom firmware stops it cold

Credit: Bryan M. Wolfe / How-To Geek By Sydney Butler Published Jun 15, 2026, 8:45 AM EDT Sydney Butler is a technology writer with over 20 years of experience as a freelance PC technician and system builder and over a decade as a professional writer. He's worked for more than a decade in user education. On How-To Geek, he writes commerce content, guides, opinions, and specializes in editing hardware and cutting edge technology articles. Sydney started working as a freelance computer technician around the age of 13, before which he was in charge of running the computer center for his school. (He also ran LAN gaming tournaments when the teachers weren't looking!) His interests include VR, PC, Mac, gaming, 3D printing, consumer electronics, the web, and privacy. He holds a Master of Arts degree in Research Psychology with a minor in media and technology studies. His masters dissertation examined the potential for social media to spread misinformation. Outside of How-To Geek, he hosts the Online Tech Tips YouTube Channel , and writes for Online Tech Tips , Switching to Mac , and Helpdesk Geek . Sydney also writes for Expert Reviews UK . He also has bylines at 9to5Mac , 9to5Google , 9to5Toys , Tom's Hardware , MakeTechEasier , and Laptop Mag . Sign in to your How-To Geek account Add Us On follow Follow followed Followed Like Like Thread Log in Here is a fact-based summary of the story contents: Try something different: Show me the facts Explain it like I’m 5 Give me a lighthearted recap Robot vacuums are one of the few things from the sci-fi movies I watched as a kid that actually came true. I might not have a flying car, but I've already owned a few robots that did a half-decent job of keeping my floors clean.