Spanish engineer reports flaw in ‘smart’ vacuums after gaining control of 7,000 devices

The Guardian World

by Eric Berger

February 24, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

A Spanish software engineer, Sammy Azdoufal, made a startling discovery while attempting to reverse-engineer his DJI Romo vacuum cleaner for compatibility with his PlayStation 5 gamepad. During this process, he uncovered a significant security flaw that allowed him to remotely take control of approximately 7,000 DJI Romo devices across the globe. This revelation highlights a critical vulnerability in smart home technology, raising concerns about the security of connected appliances and their potential risks to users. Azdoufal’s experiment began with an attempt to customize his vacuum’s controls using reverse-engineering techniques. While exploring the device’s firmware and communication protocols, he identified a flaw that permitted unauthorized access. By exploiting this weakness, he was able to infiltrate thousands of devices worldwide, demonstrating how easily smart products can be compromised. This incident underscores the broader issue of cybersecurity in smart home devices, which are increasingly integrated into everyday life. The implications of such vulnerabilities are profound. Smart home devices often collect and transmit sensitive data, making them potential targets for malicious actors seeking to exploit these weaknesses. Azdoufal’s discovery highlights the urgent need for manufacturers to implement robust security measures in their products. His actions, while conducted responsibly and reported to The Verge, serve as a wake-up call for the tech industry to prioritize secure design and encryption in smart home technology. For readers interested in global trends, this story sheds light on the growing challenges of cybersecurity in the IoT (Internet of Things) era. As more households adopt smart devices,

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Originally published on The Guardian World on 2/24/2026