What can Disney’s Beauty and the Beast teach us about smart homes and the impact of the Internet-of-Things on network security? At first glance, there doesn’t seem to be much of a connection between network security and a fairy tale about an enchanted castle, but a closer look reveals a surprising synergy. In a (mostly) tongue-and-cheek write up for Wired, Anna Vlastis argues that Disney’s live-action remake of one of their most celebrated films is nothing short of “a cautionary tale about the smart home.” Charmed Into Complacency It’s one thing to watch an animated teapot sing, quite another to see a live actor slip into its CGI rendering. As Vlastis points out, using humans to represent enchanted appliances makes the film “feel less like a workplace sitcom and more like dystopian novel.” Vlastis goes on to warn that consumers shouldn’t be fooled by the novelty of a “Stanley Tucci-voiced harpsichord.” These enlivened utensils hide a more sinister motive beyond entertaining musical numbers. Their anthropomorphism lulls us into complacency, allowing us to forget just what they are capable of. While Vlastis plays this insight for laughs, she makes a valid point. Our smart homes are vulnerable precisely because we underestimate the capabilities of our wired toasters and internet-enabled lightbulbs. In the wrong hands, these devices provide an easy entryway for hackers and ne’er-do-wells. “Over the last few years, we’ve been connecting anything and everything we can to the internet under the guise of simplicity,” writes Lifehacker’s Thorin Klosowski. “Security with IoT devices is so bad that when we hear about a hacked IoT device, we generally release a large collective shrug. This isn’t a huge deal yet, but it’s going to be.” “We’ve brought this stupid future on ourselves.” Surveillance through Passive Consent With...