HomeKit Privacy: Homekit with needing Manufacturer app to set up. How is privacy afterwards?

[phillyman]

Hi All,

I setup a Honeywell Thermostat. But my question is more basic. To setup certain devices you need to first register an account with the manufacturer/app. After that you can pair it to homekit. After my initial setup if I then solely use home app and even delete the manufacturer app is my device solely being run through homekit (I think so)? I don't trust certain companies security practices and would like to eliminate that attack vector. Personally I might even try to delete the user account with the manufacturer AFTER initial setup.

Just curious,
Philly

 

[smithrh]

I suspect many manufacturers will make it seem like you need an account and/or their app, but I think I've been successful in adding every device so far without any account.

But I'm sure there are exceptions. If you can try to add it in HomeKit first, that would be the way to go.

 

[Itinj24]

If the device has a sticker on it with the HomeKit code, more than likely you’ll be able to add it direct to HomeKit. Some codes are obtained through the manufacturer’s app though. These are usually devices that had HomeKit added via update after the device made it to market. One example is the LIFX switch.

The issue with this is that HomeKit won’t push firmware updates for the device. That’s usually done through the manufacturer’s app.

 

[splifingate]

I recently re-did my home setup, and re-paired all my devices.

I use the HoneywellResideo T9. I just scanned the HomeKit QR from the screen, and did not install the Resideo app.

Everything works just fine.

The T9 reminds me on a regular basis that it would like me to install/pair the app, but does not require it.

 

[phillyman]

So mine was the T5 and it says the code would be in the manual but it was missing. I could only get the homekit code on the device after I installed the app. But now I deleted my account and the app and everything seems fine