Ha, aren't they often the same thing? In this case, I'll be happy to continue forgetting, because I'll be able to correct the mistake without going home.
Kind of chilling, actually: The notion that this technology might make us more complacent with our weaknesses rather than empower us to be better.
On the one hand, it'd be great if I could remotely double check that I turned off the stove and locked my front door.
On the other, if you can remotely control these devices then I have to wonder about the security implications. Track records for most wireless device companies have not been good, and I don't want someone burning down my house.
Maybe the plan here is to get everyone on a single standard that shoves good security practices down their throats? But you still have to rely on them implementing it correctly.
At least in the case of my thermostat, all remote functions are mediated by a server on the thermostat company's side that dials into the thermostat over the Web. In order to compromise the thermostat, you'd have to know how to identify my thermostat and how to spoof the server it communicates with. It's not like you can just stand outside my window with a fob that has an antenna and a big red button and turn my heat up.
From another perspective, front doors with deadbolts and residential don't have a good security track record, either, since most of them can be kicked open easily. But they're good enough.
Kind of chilling, actually: The notion that this technology might make us more complacent with our weaknesses rather than empower us to be better.