SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- This riddle starts much like numerous others, manifesting in the darkness of the night.
It originated on the front porch of Jim Grubb's dwelling in San Jose, when the barking of his dog interrupted his sleep.
He indicates that after waking, they went downstairs, found the front door slightly ajar, and thought to themselves, "It appears we must have forgotten to close the door last night."
The subsequent morning unveiled new evidence. Grubb identified missing items, which included a laptop and a drone.
He indicated, "I looked at the Nest video camera mounted at our front entrance. The footage captured the burglar in the front yard, showcasing a flashlight, and at intervals, his beanie cap was discernible."
He states further, "...and while I am watching the video, I start to see these gaps emerging, and I note that I have a significant number of gaps."
The video includes gaps where it is possible we could have made out the thief's identity.
Jim contacted Nest customer support and was informed that the video doorbell had been functioning without any communication interference with the router until the incident transpired.
He conveyed, "I could hardly believe what I was hearing. Consequently, I began to research the topic and found that one can buy a tiny microcontroller. This device is capable of de-authorizing clients connected to your Wi-Fi network, which leads to interference."
The items are available at a cost of $7. Grubb has come across a wrist model priced at $50 that provides more refined control. He acknowledges that he lacks proof, yet he is worried that thieves may be interfering with Wi-Fi communications.
Google has communicated its uncertainty to 7 On Your Side, noting: "Google Nest is devoted to ensuring the privacy and security of our customers. We recognize a specific issue with the Nest Hello Doorbell, and our team is actively conducting an investigation... there is no indication that the device was intentionally tampered with."
Based in Wales, Tristan Perry is a technology blogger who has been reflecting on this issue for a while and believes that it is not especially surprising.
It is commonly accepted that Wi-Fi may suffer from various issues, such as problems with mobile devices, disruptions in Zoom calls, or pauses in Netflix streaming, as he articulated to 7 On Your Side.