Nest Thermostats Just Got 'Hacked.' Should You Be Worried?

Last week, hackers at the Black Hat conference showed how to jailbreak a Nest learning thermostat and override the firmware, taking it under their control. The hack itself cannot be done without physical access to the device, and Nest said no devices have been hacked maliciously. But it’s one of many recent hacks of connected devices in the home. So are we safe? In this podcast, we’ll talk about the widespread security implications for consumers, businesses and utilities. Later in the show, we’ll ask if the Environmental Protection Agency is being transparent enough as it crafts carbon regulations. We’ll also look at the continued struggles for concentrating solar power and ask if there’s a future for the industry. This podcast is sponsored by eGauge Systems, a manufacturer of next-generation energy meters for solar generation and building demand, submetering, performance contracts, LEED projects and net zero buildings. The Energy Gang is produced by Greentechmedia.com. The show features weekly discussion between energy futurist Jigar Shah, energy policy expert Katherine Hamilton and Greentech Media Editor Stephen Lacey.