For those of you using Samsung Smart Things

[Michael Baum]

Hey everyone. I know some of you, like me, use the SmartThings hub to control various smart devices in your STR's. Samsung will be migrating to a different platform. This has been coming for awhile now but not a lot of details have be available.

It is going to start Sept 30th and goes until the end of the year. Please check out - https://support.smartthings.co...
for more information.

I have 2 devices on the hub. The Emerson Sensi via WiFi and the Schlage Encode Camelot lock via Z-Wave. The listed set of devices that have known issues is pretty short so hopefully it will go smooth. But I am guess not so be prepared to remove and re-integrate it back to the new system.

[Account Closed]

Quote from @Michael Baum:

Hey everyone. I know some of you, like me, use the SmartThings hub to control various smart devices in your STR's. Samsung will be migrating to a different platform. This has been coming for awhile now but not a lot of details have be available.

It is going to start Sept 30th and goes until the end of the year. Please check out - https://support.smartthings.co...
for more information.

I have 2 devices on the hub. The Emerson Sensi via WiFi and the Schlage Encode Camelot lock via Z-Wave. The listed set of devices that have known issues is pretty short so hopefully it will go smooth. But I am guess not so be prepared to remove and re-integrate it back to the new system.

 When we stay in STRs I unplug those devices.  Not that I am Mr. Superspy that is being tracked, it's just annoying to know that microphones and cameras are invading my privacy.

Disable this feature to stop your Samsung Smart TV from listening to you

https://www.cnet.com/tech/home...

"It sounds like something straight out of George Orwell's 1984. Samsung's Smart TV privacy policy, which most people never bother reading, reveals that your shiny new television set may be capable of spying on you. Samsung warns that customers should "be aware that if your spoken words include personal or other sensitive information, that information will be among the data captured and transmitted to a third party through your use of Voice Recognition."

Read more about the so-called "Weeping Angel" hack.

Editors' note, March 7, 2017: This post is getting considerable attention in March 2017, now that a cache of Wikileaks documents has allegedly revealed that the CIA might be using these same Samsung TVs to spy on you.

[Michael Baum]

So that is just not always true and I charge guests $1000 if the disable the unit. It is right in my contract. I use that hub to monitor the house temp, humidity and it is necessary for me.

It is not a Samsung TV. It is a hub. The hub doesn't register voices or even have anything like that capability. You internet hub/router can't do that either.

Yes they can link cameras to it and I suppose microphones. Just because the hub is there doesn't mean that you are being spied on.

So far no one has disabled the hub but it would alert me if it goes down. 

[JD Martin]

Hmmm.... I have a Samsung Smart Things range at my STR. I wonder if it will be affected? I didn't see it listed in there but I do use the Smart Things app.

[Michael Baum]

Hey @JD Martin, I am guessing that Samsung products will just get the upgraded drivers automatically. The list of problems seems pretty small and most of it are older stuff.

I live on the SmartThings app. Add and remove door codes et al. It is pretty good.

[Luke Carl]

I have the same exact smart everything in all my properties. In fact I have the same user name and password for the wifi in all of my properties so theoretically they'd all be interchangeably without even changing the password. Not that that happens because most of them are far away from each other.
It's all about a system! If samsung is working for  you then keep rockin it! 

[John Underwood]

I prefer wifi devices because a hub is another point of failure. I understand the battery life on the door lock being a major advantage. All of my wifi devices are hardwired, or have great battery life so I've never seen the need to have a hub in the middle of things.

[Ken Boone]

So here is what troubles me about it.  I received an email last night from Samsung and it basically stated that NO 3rd party apps will be supported after the migration.  Well I rely on the RBOYs Rental Lock Automator app in my SmartThings hubs to take care of my door locks automatically so this was troubling to read... I then went to the Samsung FAQ and there is a line that says pretty much the same thing about 3rd party automations but then it says SOME of the 3rd party apps may work IF developers do blah blah blah.  I reached out to RBOYs last night and here is their response to question concerning whether their product will work after the migration:

"We are communicating with SmartThings on the requirements and plans to migrate our apps and device handlers to the new platform. Please visit our website for updates on the migration roadmap.
We will have a delayed response due to a high volume of emails and we encourage you to visit our website for more information about the device handlers and smart apps migration. We will be providing updates on our migration plans on our website in future."

So hopefully there won't be a problem but yea good FYI @Michael Baum

@John Underwood Yea the only benefit of the hub for me is that I can install the RBOYs Rental Lock Automator and it handles my door codes automatically on both platforms with no additional fees for however long you use their product.  You basically purchase the software up front for the hub and you are done.

[Carolyn Fuller]

This is such a helpful thread! The email I got from SmartThings was so confusing.  I'm using the app & hub to manage the lock codes & monitor the battery on a Yale lock.

Earlier this month, I got an email from Samsung that there had been a data breach that impacted my account but I received no information on exactly what data was stolen. I know my name & address were stolen but were the lock codes also stolen. Since my Airbnb unit is located on my first floor, a theft having my address along with the lock codes is problematic. Samsung did not answer my question. 

[Brian Oney]

Unfortunately I have a number of things connected to my ST hub, but fortunately the only thing that worries me is the front door lock. So worst case either I replace it or at least figure out how to activate early the upcoming guest codes.