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{{Under_Development
| date = 2-19-2025
| stage = Early development
| priority = Medium
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[[Wikipedia:WEMO|Wemo]] is a subsidiary of Belkin founded in 2012. They are known for smart home devices such as plugs and light switches that use the HomeKit and Thread protocols.
[[Wikipedia:WEMO|'''Wemo''']] is a subsidiary of Belkin founded in 2012. They are known for smart home devices such as plugs and light switches that use the HomeKit and Thread protocols.


==Consumer impact summary==
==Consumer impact summary==
====Freedom====
[[File:WEMO account closure.PNG|thumb|right|alt=|Screenshot of account closure screen.]]
[[File:WEMO account closure.PNG|thumb|right|alt=|Screenshot of account closure screen.]]
{{Placeholder box|Overview of concerns that arise from the company's conduct regarding (if applicable):
Through the app, users can delete their account by pressing the "close account" button, which will warn that Wemos cannot be controlled through the app once account data is deleted. The devices can also work by only using the Apple Home app, which does not require a Wemo account to set up.
* User Freedom
 
* User Privacy
====Privacy====
* Business Model
Since late 2023, the [https://www.belkin.com/legal/privacy-policy/ privacy policy] of Belkin and Wemo have merged, sharing the same terms with each other. The data collected on users includes account information such as email and password, device information, first and third-party cookies, age, location, and IP address.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WeMO PRIVACY POLICY |url=https://www.wemo.com/privacy-policy/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230107062703/https://www.wemo.com/privacy-policy/#typesofinformation |archive-date=7 Jan 2023 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Wemo]]}}</ref> Belkin shares this info with marketing partners unless the user opts-out.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 2024 |title=Marketing |url=https://www.belkin.com/legal/privacy-policy/#marketing-anchor |url-status=live |access-date=27 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref> Users are allowed to make requests to access, withdraw consent, object, and delete most of the information Belkin has collected on them.<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 2024 |title=Your Rights in relation to your Personal Information |url=https://www.belkin.com/legal/privacy-policy/#your-rights-in-relation |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref> Belkin states they may need to hold onto information to "Defending Belkin against legal claims" or "Needing to respond to customer complaints and queries".<ref>{{Cite web |date=Jan 2024 |title=Retention of Personal Information |url=https://www.belkin.com/legal/privacy-policy/#retention-of |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref>
* Market Control}}
 
====Business model====
The business model of Wemo is to sell smart home devices without the user paying for a subscription service. Although this may seem like a pro-consumer move, the Wemo experience has been diminished due to the lack of income streams. According to the App Store, the app once had a 3-year window without updates, which lasted between February 23, 2021 and May 28, 2024 (the current version as of February 24, 2025).<ref name="AAS">{{Cite web|url=https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wemo/id511376996|title=Wemo on the App Store|work=Apple|access-date=2025-03-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250313120121/https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wemo/id511376996|archive-date=2025-03-13|url-status=live}}</ref>


Through the app, users can delete their account by pressing the "close account" button, which will warn that all account data will be deleted.  
====Market control====
Market control of Wemo has been decreasing over the years, as Wemo is only selling three devices,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Home |url=https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240225173134/https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/ |archive-date=25 Feb 2024 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref> down from nine the year prior.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Home |url=https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201232551/https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/ |archive-date=1 Feb 2023 |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref>


==Incidents==
==Incidents==
===Security vulnerabilites===
===Security vulnerabilites===
On November 5, 2013, Wemo updated its API to prevent future XML injection attacks.<ref>https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=80322</ref>
On November 5, 2013, Wemo updated its API to prevent future XML injection attacks.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo® and Security |url=https://www.belkin.com/support-article/?articleNum=80322 |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Belkin}}</ref>
 
On May 16, 2023, multiple websites reported a Sternum study regarding a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Wemo Mini Smart Plug V2.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Serper |first=Amit |last2=Yakar |first2=Reuven |date=16 May 2023 |title=‘FriendlyName’ Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Wemo Smart Plug V2 |url=https://sternumiot.com/iot-blog/mini-smart-plug-v2-vulnerability-buffer-overflow/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=Sternum}}</ref> The study mentions the device could be exploited through a program called pyWemo<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lakshmanan |first=Ravie |date=17 May 2023 |title=Serious Unpatched Vulnerability Uncovered in Popular Belkin Wemo Smart Plugs |url=https://thehackernews.com/2023/05/serious-unpatched-vulnerability.html |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=The Hacker News}}</ref> and potentially through cloud controls.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Wes |date=16 May 2023 |title=PSA: time to recycle your old Wemo smart plugs (if you haven’t already) |url=https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/16/23725290/wemo-smart-plug-v2-smart-home-security-vulnerability |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=The Verge}}</ref> In their official response, Wemo stated "we believe that bad actors cannot exploit this vulnerability unless they have access to the user’s local network",<ref>{{Cite web |last=@WEMOcares |date=18 May 2023 |title=firms will speak to official spokespersons before issuing stories of this nature. In this specific instance outlined by Sternum, we believe that bad actors cannot exploit this vulnerability unless they have access to the user’s local network. |url=https://x.com/WEMOcares/status/1658963426230562819 |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> and "We discontinued the Wemo Mini Smart Plug v2 (F7C063) in 2020"<ref>{{Cite web |last=@WEMOcares |date=18 May 2023 |title=We discontinued the Wemo Mini Smart Plug v2 (F7C063) in 2020 and currently only produce and sell the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread (WSP100) which is built to leverage one of the most secure home networks, Apple HomeKit. |url=https://x.com/WEMOcares/status/1658963635882938374 |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[X]]}}</ref> despite not making this information publicly available prior. During this report, the Wemo app hadn't been updated in 2 years, with the most recent update being on February 23, 2021, as previously mentioned.<ref name="AAS" />
 
===Connection issues===
Since 2018, there have been reports of Wemo devices losing connection to networks frequently.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The most common problems and issues with Wemo devices |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/8sv90i/the_most_common_problems_and_issues_with_wemo/ |author=u/luisfpinto_|date=2018-06-21|archive-url=https://archive.ph/JZPAU|archive-date=2025-02-26|url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> This has been the case for dimmers,<ref>{{Cite web |title=My dimmer stopped working out of the blue this evening. When I rebooted it (pressed the reset button, flipped breaker and pulled the wiring because I could not get it to work), the dimmer would go through the setup process fine. When it went to connect to the internet, it would connect (my ATT wifi app sees it out there), but it would not show up on the Wemo app. Tried a dozen different things (reset router, cleared cache, etc.). After pulling the wires, rewiring, and going through setup process, the wemo app would state there was an unlinked device on the wifi network. When trying to connect it would always fail. When it first went down, Google could still see it. Once I reset it, Google can no longer see it. Is this experience similar to what you all are experiencing? Everything works but then can’t use it besides for a traditional switch. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/zwb7wr/comment/j1xqs3h/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> plugs,<ref>{{Cite web |title=I have 3 lights on WeMo smart plugs and one light switch dimmer. I run both Apple Home and Google Smart Home- I had to upgrade my thermostat that required Apple Home for full functionality. The smart plug lights are on a program to switch on and off based on dusk and dawn while the dimmer is strictly voice control. The outlets seem to follow the schedule however when I query Google as to "What lights are on" I frequently get a "I can't reach WeMo " response. I'm going to have to ultimately replace these and according to this thread, Kasa seems to be the way to go. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/17ur9b2/comment/k97i0dp/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> and switches.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I seem to have averted eliminating of all my WeMo smart plugs and switches. After a week of frustration following a power failure nothing was working as I tried everything to get my ten odd Wemos back on line. They always seem to get fussy following a power failure. I found restoring these devices tended to get harder after HomeKit came along. This time I tried deleting HomeKit and rebooting my iPad. Voila! All the Wemos came back on line with very little coaching. HomeKit has been deleted. No problem I have reason for app at this time. I have been in smart plug Nivana Nirvana since. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/18iidjr/comment/m6utdkq/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Device rules created through the Wemo app have also been described as unreliable.<ref>{{Cite web |title=I have had Wemo since 2013 when a single plug used to cost around $50. It stayed at that price for some years and I rarely bought any and would often only get more at Christmas or Birthday time. Slowly they started becoming cheaper while newer competition significantly undercut their prices. For a while that was okay because the newer cheaper stuff at the time did not have WeMo’s capabilities with the rules stacking and other stuff. However, with more time that started not becoming the case anymore. A few years ago I started noticing that when I would set my Wemo rules they no longer always worked. I thought it was just some bugs that would eventually get ironed out but I still have those issues today. I have spent hours resetting them clearing the settings/rules etc.…blah blah blah. Then more recently I tried to re add some plugs that had been unplugged for a while. Now, I cannot even re add those plugs to my account anymore. I was like WTF!!! Starting to feel like my WeMos have been slowly turning into bricks and are stuck in a progressing slow moving spiraled down part of life. I recently replaced my routers and I know it is not anything on my end. I also started getting Wyze plugs a few years ago when I saw them in a bin at Home Depot at a fire sale price of $5/each. At first they were a pain but I realized it was my router (only recently) and now they are fine but my WeMos are still suffering and doing weird things. For instance one of my outdoor lights that I have programmed to turn on at sunset and off at 11:00pm randomly works when it wants to. I have literally only 2 rules and they are not overlapping each other. So again, WTF!!!
 
Going into 2024, I have no confidence in investing in Wemo products anymore. One of my neighbors also has WeMo and is having similar issues as me. He works in IT so I know it is not his network. My guess is some/a lot/all of Wemo has become unprofitable and their original business model has run its course and they are just limping the system along struggling to somewhat keep it alive. They do not have a subscription model to keep up with their on going development costs and increasing server costs that I know of. Some of us who used to know Wemo when it was a premium product are seeing/have seen this starting to show in the quality and reliability. So, going forward I am not going to put all my eggs in one basket again. Going to use different brands and toss out what starts not working. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/18iidjr/comment/kdr6n38/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> In some cases, the Wemo cloud becomes offline, with users being led to 404 pages.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Belkin Wemo is the worst! The App is full of bugs, the cloud is "drifted away" every other day, and even their link to the "more info" is dead! |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/zkd9xc/belkin_wemo_is_the_worst_the_app_is_full_of_bugs/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Users have reported the devices only working with Apple Homekit<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Plugs and some Switches/Dimmers suddenly no longer detected |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1h0ec6v/wemo_plugs_and_some_switchesdimmers_suddenly_no/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>, which can be inconvenient for users without Apple accounts or compatible devices.
 
Some users have mediated these issues by self-hosting a local server for Wemo devices, such as AutomationManager and Home Assistant.<ref>{{Cite web |title=WARNING: UNPOPULAR OPINION I have a dozen Wemo devices (2nd-Gen single-pole switches and Mini plugs). I have used them for four years. I LOVE THEM. I control my Wemoes with a 3rd-party app, AutomationManager (AM). Software-wise, I am completely divested from Belkin. Simply put, with AM my Wemo network is 100% rock-steady. Thanks to AM, I do things with my Wemo devices that no other platform can do (including Kasa, Lutron, etc.). Without Wemo, I would've had to design and install my own embedded-control network, run romex through foundation walls, etc. No other smart-home architecture offers a local API as sophisticated as Wemo's, and AM makes excellent use of this API. Because I run my own local server through AM, I don't rely on Belkin's cloud service; remote control is administered through my Google Drive account, to which I have access and which I can manage on my own. Consequently, my Wemo network is much more secure than any platform that relies on a privately-held cloud service (many of which are based in China...). BTW, if your router's firewall is so weak that your Wemo Mini can be hacked remotely, then you have much bigger problems than someone hacking your Wemo Mini. 4) AM's developer (MikeP) maintains his app, and updates it as needed (which isn't often). 5) I don't want Belkin to update my device's firmware, because everything already runs as it should. I also don't want some future update breaking the local API! I will be sorry when my Wemo hardware finally dies, because I don't see any other company stepping up to offer a control architecture (local or cloud-based) that will allow me to do what I currently do with Wemo. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/18iidjr/comment/kf6plao/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>


On May 16, 2023, multiple websites reported a Sternum study regarding a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Wemo Mini Smart Plug V2.<ref>https://sternumiot.com/iot-blog/mini-smart-plug-v2-vulnerability-buffer-overflow/</ref> The study mentions the device could be exploited through a program called pyWemo<ref>https://thehackernews.com/2023/05/serious-unpatched-vulnerability.html</ref> and potentially through cloud controls.<ref>https://www.theverge.com/2023/5/16/23725290/wemo-smart-plug-v2-smart-home-security-vulnerability</ref> In their official response, Wemo stated "we believe that bad actors cannot exploit this vulnerability unless they have access to the user’s local network"<ref>https://x.com/WEMOcares/status/1658963426230562819</ref> and "We discontinued the Wemo Mini Smart Plug v2 (F7C063) in 2020"<ref>https://x.com/WEMOcares/status/1658963635882938374</ref>, despite not making this information publicly available prior. During this report, the Wemo app hadn't been updated in 2 years, with the most recent update being on February 23, 2021.<ref>https://apps.apple.com/us/app/wemo/id511376996</ref>
===DNS activity===
Some users of Wemo have noticed their switches connect to multiple unrelated domains, such as to CNN and Fastly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Fun fact: Wemo switches act as a DNS server |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1auslst/fun_fact_wemo_switches_act_as_a_dns_server/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref> Other reports mention each Wemo device making 160,000+ DNS requests in a 24 hour timeframe.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Is that why they make 83,500+ queries to belkin.com every month? |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1auslst/comment/ktxkqx8/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=I see them all querying DNS for "a38uzlrxc8a6s4-ats.iot.us-east-1.amazonaws.com" nonstop (506,143 in 24 hours!😳) They also try to reach out on port 8883 to about 61 AWS hosts (one example: ec2-52-20-40-53.compute-1.amazonaws.com ) over 24 hours. All blocked, but it is interesting. Mind you, any IOT device comes with privacy concerns but this is an odd one. |url=https://www.reddit.com/r/WeMo/comments/1auslst/comment/krb0i1o/ |url-status=live |access-date=29 Mar 2025 |website=[[Reddit]]}}</ref>


==Products==
==Products==
*Dimmers
*Dimmers
**Wemo Smart Dimmer<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20221130043724/https://www.belkin.com/smart-dimmer/P-WDS070.html</ref>
**Wemo Smart Dimmer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Dimmer (WDS070) |url=https://www.belkin.com/smart-dimmer/P-WDS070.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130043724/https://www.belkin.com/smart-dimmer/P-WDS070.html |archive-date=30 Nov 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20221129001529/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-dimmer/P-WDS060.html</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer 2-Pack (WDS060-BD2) |url=https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-dimmer/P-WDS060.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129001529/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-dimmer/P-WDS060.html |archive-date=29 Nov 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>


*Doorbells
*Doorbells
**Wemo Smart Video Doorbell<ref>https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-video-doorbell/WDC010.html</ref>
**Wemo Smart Video Doorbell<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Video Doorbell (WDC010) |url=https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-video-doorbell/WDC010.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250219094510/https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-video-doorbell/WDC010.html |archive-date=19 Feb 2025 |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>


*Light switches
*Light switches
**Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread<ref>https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-light-switch-with-thread/WLS0503.html</ref>
**Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread (WLS0503) |url=https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-light-switch-with-thread/WLS0503.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250121215711/https://www.belkin.com/p/smart-light-switch-with-thread/WLS0503.html |archive-date=21 Jan 2025 |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20221130045654/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-light-switch/WLS040-CA.html</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch (WLS040-CA) |url=https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-light-switch/WLS040-CA.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221130045654/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-light-switch/WLS040-CA.html |archive-date=30 Nov 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>
**Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20221129145512/https://www.belkin.com/smart-light-switch-3-way/P-WLS0403.html</ref>
**Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way 2-Pack (WLS0403-BDL) |url=https://www.belkin.com/smart-light-switch-3-way/P-WLS0403.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221129145512/https://www.belkin.com/smart-light-switch-3-way/P-WLS0403.html |archive-date=29 Nov 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>


*Plugs
*Plugs
**Wemo Smart Plug with Thread<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20230910113415/https://www.belkin.com/smart-plug-with-thread/WSP100.html</ref> (release date): Short summary of the product's incidents.
**Wemo Smart Plug with Thread<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Smart Plug with Thread (WSP100) |url=https://www.belkin.com/smart-plug-with-thread/WSP100.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002205640/https://www.belkin.com/smart-plug-with-thread/WSP100.html |archive-date=2 Oct 2023 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug<ref>https://web.archive.org/web/20221201141200/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-outdoor-plug/WSP090.html</ref>
**Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug (WSP090) |url=https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-outdoor-plug/WSP090.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201141200/https://www.belkin.com/wifi-smart-outdoor-plug/WSP090.html |archive-date=1 Dec 2022 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>


*Scene controller
*Scene controller
**Wemo Scene Controller with Thread<ref>https://www.belkin.com/p/scene-controller-with-thread/WSC010.html</ref>
**Wemo Scene Controller with Thread<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wemo Scene Controller with Thread (WSC010) |url=https://www.belkin.com/p/scene-controller-with-thread/WSC010.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250304111821/https://www.belkin.com/p/scene-controller-with-thread/WSC010.html |archive-date=4 Mar 2025 |access-date=17 Mar 2025 |website=belkin.com}}</ref>




==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Wemo]]
[[Category:Electronics companies]]
[[Category:Home automation companies]]
[[Category:Internet of things companies]]

Latest revision as of 19:18, 8 April 2025

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Wemo
Basic information
Founded 2012
Type Subsidiary
Industry Smart home
Official website wemo.com (https://www.belkin.com/products/wemo-smart-home/)

Wemo is a subsidiary of Belkin founded in 2012. They are known for smart home devices such as plugs and light switches that use the HomeKit and Thread protocols.

Consumer impact summary[edit | edit source]

Freedom[edit | edit source]

Screenshot of account closure screen.

Through the app, users can delete their account by pressing the "close account" button, which will warn that Wemos cannot be controlled through the app once account data is deleted. The devices can also work by only using the Apple Home app, which does not require a Wemo account to set up.

Privacy[edit | edit source]

Since late 2023, the privacy policy of Belkin and Wemo have merged, sharing the same terms with each other. The data collected on users includes account information such as email and password, device information, first and third-party cookies, age, location, and IP address.[1] Belkin shares this info with marketing partners unless the user opts-out.[2] Users are allowed to make requests to access, withdraw consent, object, and delete most of the information Belkin has collected on them.[3] Belkin states they may need to hold onto information to "Defending Belkin against legal claims" or "Needing to respond to customer complaints and queries".[4]

Business model[edit | edit source]

The business model of Wemo is to sell smart home devices without the user paying for a subscription service. Although this may seem like a pro-consumer move, the Wemo experience has been diminished due to the lack of income streams. According to the App Store, the app once had a 3-year window without updates, which lasted between February 23, 2021 and May 28, 2024 (the current version as of February 24, 2025).[5]

Market control[edit | edit source]

Market control of Wemo has been decreasing over the years, as Wemo is only selling three devices,[6] down from nine the year prior.[7]

Incidents[edit | edit source]

Security vulnerabilites[edit | edit source]

On November 5, 2013, Wemo updated its API to prevent future XML injection attacks.[8]

On May 16, 2023, multiple websites reported a Sternum study regarding a buffer overflow vulnerability in the Wemo Mini Smart Plug V2.[9] The study mentions the device could be exploited through a program called pyWemo[10] and potentially through cloud controls.[11] In their official response, Wemo stated "we believe that bad actors cannot exploit this vulnerability unless they have access to the user’s local network",[12] and "We discontinued the Wemo Mini Smart Plug v2 (F7C063) in 2020"[13] despite not making this information publicly available prior. During this report, the Wemo app hadn't been updated in 2 years, with the most recent update being on February 23, 2021, as previously mentioned.[5]

Connection issues[edit | edit source]

Since 2018, there have been reports of Wemo devices losing connection to networks frequently.[14] This has been the case for dimmers,[15] plugs,[16] and switches.[17] Device rules created through the Wemo app have also been described as unreliable.[18] In some cases, the Wemo cloud becomes offline, with users being led to 404 pages.[19] Users have reported the devices only working with Apple Homekit[20], which can be inconvenient for users without Apple accounts or compatible devices.

Some users have mediated these issues by self-hosting a local server for Wemo devices, such as AutomationManager and Home Assistant.[21]

DNS activity[edit | edit source]

Some users of Wemo have noticed their switches connect to multiple unrelated domains, such as to CNN and Fastly.[22] Other reports mention each Wemo device making 160,000+ DNS requests in a 24 hour timeframe.[23][24]

Products[edit | edit source]

  • Dimmers
    • Wemo Smart Dimmer[25]
    • Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer[26]
  • Doorbells
    • Wemo Smart Video Doorbell[27]
  • Light switches
    • Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread[28]
    • Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch[29]
    • Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way[30]
  • Plugs
    • Wemo Smart Plug with Thread[31]
    • Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug[32]
  • Scene controller
    • Wemo Scene Controller with Thread[33]


References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "WeMO PRIVACY POLICY". Wemo. Archived from the original on 7 Jan 2023. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  2. ↑ "Marketing". Belkin. Jan 2024. Retrieved 27 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ↑ "Your Rights in relation to your Personal Information". Belkin. Jan 2024. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  4. ↑ "Retention of Personal Information". Belkin. Jan 2024. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Wemo on the App Store". Apple. Archived from the original on 2025-03-13. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  6. ↑ "Wemo Smart Home". Belkin. Archived from the original on 25 Feb 2024. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  7. ↑ "Wemo Smart Home". Belkin. Archived from the original on 1 Feb 2023. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  8. ↑ "Wemo® and Security". Belkin. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  9. ↑ Serper, Amit; Yakar, Reuven (16 May 2023). "'FriendlyName' Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Wemo Smart Plug V2". Sternum. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ↑ Lakshmanan, Ravie (17 May 2023). "Serious Unpatched Vulnerability Uncovered in Popular Belkin Wemo Smart Plugs". The Hacker News. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  11. ↑ Davis, Wes (16 May 2023). "PSA: time to recycle your old Wemo smart plugs (if you haven't already)". The Verge. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  12. ↑ @WEMOcares (18 May 2023). "firms will speak to official spokespersons before issuing stories of this nature. In this specific instance outlined by Sternum, we believe that bad actors cannot exploit this vulnerability unless they have access to the user's local network". X. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  13. ↑ @WEMOcares (18 May 2023). "We discontinued the Wemo Mini Smart Plug v2 (F7C063) in 2020 and currently only produce and sell the Wemo Smart Plug with Thread (WSP100) which is built to leverage one of the most secure home networks, Apple HomeKit". X. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  14. ↑ u/luisfpinto_ (2018-06-21). "The most common problems and issues with Wemo devices". Reddit. Archived from the original on 2025-02-26. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.
  15. ↑ "My dimmer stopped working out of the blue this evening. When I rebooted it (pressed the reset button, flipped breaker and pulled the wiring because I could not get it to work), the dimmer would go through the setup process fine. When it went to connect to the internet, it would connect (my ATT wifi app sees it out there), but it would not show up on the Wemo app. Tried a dozen different things (reset router, cleared cache, etc.). After pulling the wires, rewiring, and going through setup process, the wemo app would state there was an unlinked device on the wifi network. When trying to connect it would always fail. When it first went down, Google could still see it. Once I reset it, Google can no longer see it. Is this experience similar to what you all are experiencing? Everything works but then can't use it besides for a traditional switch". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  16. ↑ "I have 3 lights on WeMo smart plugs and one light switch dimmer. I run both Apple Home and Google Smart Home- I had to upgrade my thermostat that required Apple Home for full functionality. The smart plug lights are on a program to switch on and off based on dusk and dawn while the dimmer is strictly voice control. The outlets seem to follow the schedule however when I query Google as to "What lights are on" I frequently get a "I can't reach WeMo " response. I'm going to have to ultimately replace these and according to this thread, Kasa seems to be the way to go". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ "I seem to have averted eliminating of all my WeMo smart plugs and switches. After a week of frustration following a power failure nothing was working as I tried everything to get my ten odd Wemos back on line. They always seem to get fussy following a power failure. I found restoring these devices tended to get harder after HomeKit came along. This time I tried deleting HomeKit and rebooting my iPad. Voila! All the Wemos came back on line with very little coaching. HomeKit has been deleted. No problem I have reason for app at this time. I have been in smart plug Nivana Nirvana since". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ↑ "I have had Wemo since 2013 when a single plug used to cost around $50. It stayed at that price for some years and I rarely bought any and would often only get more at Christmas or Birthday time. Slowly they started becoming cheaper while newer competition significantly undercut their prices. For a while that was okay because the newer cheaper stuff at the time did not have WeMo's capabilities with the rules stacking and other stuff. However, with more time that started not becoming the case anymore. A few years ago I started noticing that when I would set my Wemo rules they no longer always worked. I thought it was just some bugs that would eventually get ironed out but I still have those issues today. I have spent hours resetting them clearing the settings/rules etc.…blah blah blah. Then more recently I tried to re add some plugs that had been unplugged for a while. Now, I cannot even re add those plugs to my account anymore. I was like WTF!!! Starting to feel like my WeMos have been slowly turning into bricks and are stuck in a progressing slow moving spiraled down part of life. I recently replaced my routers and I know it is not anything on my end. I also started getting Wyze plugs a few years ago when I saw them in a bin at Home Depot at a fire sale price of $5/each. At first they were a pain but I realized it was my router (only recently) and now they are fine but my WeMos are still suffering and doing weird things. For instance one of my outdoor lights that I have programmed to turn on at sunset and off at 11:00pm randomly works when it wants to. I have literally only 2 rules and they are not overlapping each other. So again, WTF!!! Going into 2024, I have no confidence in investing in Wemo products anymore. One of my neighbors also has WeMo and is having similar issues as me. He works in IT so I know it is not his network. My guess is some/a lot/all of Wemo has become unprofitable and their original business model has run its course and they are just limping the system along struggling to somewhat keep it alive. They do not have a subscription model to keep up with their on going development costs and increasing server costs that I know of. Some of us who used to know Wemo when it was a premium product are seeing/have seen this starting to show in the quality and reliability. So, going forward I am not going to put all my eggs in one basket again. Going to use different brands and toss out what starts not working". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025. {{cite web}}: line feed character in |title= at position 1667 (help)CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ↑ "Belkin Wemo is the worst! The App is full of bugs, the cloud is "drifted away" every other day, and even their link to the "more info" is dead!". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ↑ "Wemo Plugs and some Switches/Dimmers suddenly no longer detected". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ↑ "WARNING: UNPOPULAR OPINION I have a dozen Wemo devices (2nd-Gen single-pole switches and Mini plugs). I have used them for four years. I LOVE THEM. I control my Wemoes with a 3rd-party app, AutomationManager (AM). Software-wise, I am completely divested from Belkin. Simply put, with AM my Wemo network is 100% rock-steady. Thanks to AM, I do things with my Wemo devices that no other platform can do (including Kasa, Lutron, etc.). Without Wemo, I would've had to design and install my own embedded-control network, run romex through foundation walls, etc. No other smart-home architecture offers a local API as sophisticated as Wemo's, and AM makes excellent use of this API. Because I run my own local server through AM, I don't rely on Belkin's cloud service; remote control is administered through my Google Drive account, to which I have access and which I can manage on my own. Consequently, my Wemo network is much more secure than any platform that relies on a privately-held cloud service (many of which are based in China...). BTW, if your router's firewall is so weak that your Wemo Mini can be hacked remotely, then you have much bigger problems than someone hacking your Wemo Mini. 4) AM's developer (MikeP) maintains his app, and updates it as needed (which isn't often). 5) I don't want Belkin to update my device's firmware, because everything already runs as it should. I also don't want some future update breaking the local API! I will be sorry when my Wemo hardware finally dies, because I don't see any other company stepping up to offer a control architecture (local or cloud-based) that will allow me to do what I currently do with Wemo". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ↑ "Fun fact: Wemo switches act as a DNS server". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  23. ↑ "Is that why they make 83,500+ queries to belkin.com every month?". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. ↑ "I see them all querying DNS for "a38uzlrxc8a6s4-ats.iot.us-east-1.amazonaws.com" nonstop (506,143 in 24 hours!😳) They also try to reach out on port 8883 to about 61 AWS hosts (one example: ec2-52-20-40-53.compute-1.amazonaws.com ) over 24 hours. All blocked, but it is interesting. Mind you, any IOT device comes with privacy concerns but this is an odd one". Reddit. Retrieved 29 Mar 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  25. ↑ "Wemo Smart Dimmer (WDS070)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 30 Nov 2022.
  26. ↑ "Wemo WiFi Smart Dimmer 2-Pack (WDS060-BD2)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 29 Nov 2022.
  27. ↑ "Wemo Smart Video Doorbell (WDC010)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 19 Feb 2025. Retrieved 17 Mar 2025.
  28. ↑ "Wemo Smart Light Switch with Thread (WLS0503)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 21 Jan 2025. Retrieved 17 Mar 2025.
  29. ↑ "Wemo WiFi Smart Light Switch (WLS040-CA)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 30 Nov 2022.
  30. ↑ "Wemo Smart Light Switch 3-Way 2-Pack (WLS0403-BDL)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 29 Nov 2022.
  31. ↑ "Wemo Smart Plug with Thread (WSP100)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 2 Oct 2023.
  32. ↑ "Wemo WiFi Smart Outdoor Plug (WSP090)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 1 Dec 2022.
  33. ↑ "Wemo Scene Controller with Thread (WSC010)". belkin.com. Archived from the original on 4 Mar 2025. Retrieved 17 Mar 2025.
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