What to Do If You Own a Shark Robot Vacuum

A security flaw was discovered in Shark robot vacuums that could let a hacker access your home cameras, maps of your home layout, and Wi-Fi passwords. If you use one of these vacuums, here's what you need to know and what to do about it.

How the flaw works

Your Shark vacuum connects to your home Wi-Fi and uses the Shark app on your phone. The flaw is in how the vacuum handles that connection. A hacker who finds a way into one vacuum could potentially gain access to information stored on it—things like your home's Wi-Fi password, video from any connected cameras, and even a digital map of your home's layout that the vacuum creates as it cleans.

The good news is that this flaw doesn't automatically mean your vacuum has been breached. A hacker would need to actively exploit the vulnerability. But the fact that it exists means you should take action now, rather than waiting for a problem to appear.

What you should do

First, check the Shark website or the Shark app to see if there's a software update available for your vacuum. Shark has become aware of this flaw and is working on a fix. When an update is available, install it. This is the main step that will protect you.

Second, check your home Wi-Fi password. If you're concerned that the flaw may have been exploited, you can change your Wi-Fi password through your router settings. This isn't strictly necessary unless you suspect someone has accessed your vacuum, but it's an extra safeguard if you want one.

Third, review the permissions you've given to the Shark app. Open the app, go to settings, and check what it can access on your phone. If any permissions seem unnecessary, you can disable them.

Why this matters

Smart home devices like vacuums, cameras, and thermostats make our lives easier, but they also create new entry points if they're not secured properly. When one device connects to your Wi-Fi and stores sensitive information like your password, a flaw in that device becomes a potential gateway to your whole home network.

The important thing to know is that these flaws are common, and they're usually fixed once they're discovered. Manufacturers release updates regularly. Your job is to stay aware and apply those updates when they become available.

Check for that update soon, and you'll have closed this particular door.