The government just admitted it will use smart home devices for spying | Trevor Timm

Many consumers are wholly unaware that the smart devices making their home more custom and responsive are making data that can be hacked or collected

If you want evidence that US intelligence agencies aren't losing surveillance abilities because of the rising use of encryption by tech companies, look no further than the testimony on Tuesday by the director of national intelligence, James Clapper.

As the Guardian reported, Clapper made clear that the internet of things - the many devices like thermostats, cameras and other appliances that are increasingly connected to the internet - are providing ample opportunity for intelligence agencies to spy on targets, and possibly the masses. And it's a danger that many consumers who buy these products may be wholly unaware of.