Sexual revolution

Only the other day I found myself in the midst of a rambling rant about the so-called "internet of things" and the fact that it's only a matter of time before household appliances take over and enslave us (I may have had a drink or two at this point).

Labour MP Chi Onwurah shares my concerns, though, and thinks that people might finally wake up to the prospective dangers of this new technology now that "screwdriving" - "short-distance sex-toy hacking" - is a thing. As Onwurah says in an article for the Guardian, this might "sound far-fetched", but it's been recognised by Ben Goldacre and demonstrated by security consultant Alex Lomas, "who wandered the streets of Berlin taking control of Lovense Hush buttplugs".

The article comes to a sniggering conclusion - "Walk-by dildo hacking is the sexy end of the growing security risk posed by the internet of things. I only hope the government sees it coming" - but her central point is serious. She's right - if this means politicians and the general public actually sit up and take notice, then it can only be a good thing.

(Thanks to Ronan for the link.)