Why is my smart device using so much data? What the LG washer story really showed
Updated October 8, 2026.
Most smart appliances use very little data, so a big spike is worth checking. In the viral 2024 case, an LG washer seemed to upload 3.66GB a day, but the router's traffic tool was the likely culprit and no hack was ever shown. Know what every gadget on your Wi-Fi does, and wall off the ones you can't watch.
- Other LG owners reported their washers used under 1MB a day.
- LG investigated, and the owner's traffic later went back to normal.
- Smart devices often talk to companies other than their maker.
- Keep appliances on their own network, away from phones and laptops.
What happened with the LG washer?
On January 8, 2024, an X user named Johnie posted a chart from his ASUS router. It showed his LG smart washer moving 3.66GB a day, almost all of it uploads.1 The post went viral and drew millions of views.2
He moved the washer to its own network, then blocked it at the router. LG said it was investigating the "unusual occurrence."2
Was it really sending 3.7GB a day?
Probably not. A day after the first post, Johnie flagged an "inaccuracy in the ASUS router tool." Other LG owners shared their own router stats, and their washers typically used less than 1MB a day.3
In late February 2024, Johnie said his washer's traffic had gone back to normal. He thanked LG's engineers for helping debug it. Neither side published a final cause.4
So the honest verdict: no evidence of a hack, a likely reporting glitch, and a cause nobody confirmed.
Is my smart appliance spying on me?
"Spying" is a strong word, but your gadgets do share more than most people expect. In a lab test of 81 popular smart devices, 72 contacted at least one company other than the device maker, such as cloud and analytics services.5
The apps ask for a lot too. A 2023 Which? review found LG's washer app wanted details like your date of birth, while other brands asked for location or photo access.6
How much data should a smart device use?
| Device | Normal | Worth a look |
|---|---|---|
| Washer, fridge, plug, thermostat | Small, steady check-ins | Gigabytes a day, or nonstop uploads |
| Speaker, voice assistant | Bursts when you talk to it | Heavy uploads while the room is quiet |
| Camera, video doorbell | Heavy when streaming or recording | Uploads when nothing is moving |
| TV, streaming stick | Heavy while you watch | Big traffic while it's off |
The pattern matters more than the number. A gadget that should be quiet but uploads around the clock deserves a closer look.
How to check which device is using data
- Open your router's app or admin page. Look for a device list or traffic report.
- Name every device. Unknown names are the first thing to chase down.
- Compare against a second tool. As the LG case showed, one router chart can be wrong.
- Watch for signs the FBI lists: unexplained internet traffic and devices from brands you don't recognize.7
What to do if a device looks wrong
- Cut it off first. Unplug it or block it at the router, as Johnie did.
- Update it, then contact the maker with your traffic data.
- Trim app permissions you don't need, like location or contacts.
- Give smart gadgets their own network so a bad one can't reach your laptop. Our guide on putting smart devices on a separate network shows how.
Where Rio fits: Rio holds every new device for your OK and walls gadgets into their own SecureRooms, so a chatty washer never shares a room with your phone. See how it works on our smart home page.
Your washer, TV and camera share Wi-Fi with your bank app.
Rio walls every gadget into its own SecureRoom and blocks any device you didn't approve.
See a smart home setupFrequently asked questions
Why is my smart washer using so much data?
Usually it isn't. Washers normally send small check-ins, and other LG owners reported under 1MB a day. A huge number often points to a router reporting error, a stuck update or a bug. If it keeps happening, block the washer, update it and send your traffic data to the maker.
Was the LG washing machine hacked?
There's no evidence it was. The owner later flagged an inaccuracy in his ASUS router's traffic tool. LG investigated, his traffic was back to normal by late February 2024, and no public cause was ever confirmed. Treat it as a reminder to watch your devices, not proof of a hack.
Can smart appliances spy on you?
They can collect and share more than you expect. A 2019 study found 72 of 81 smart devices contacted companies besides their maker, and some apps ask for your birth date or location. Limit app permissions, read privacy settings and keep gadgets on their own network.
How do I know if a smart device is compromised?
Look for traffic that doesn't match how you use the device, settings you didn't change, or a gadget from a brand you don't recognize. The FBI lists unexplained internet traffic as a warning sign. Disconnect the device, update it and report serious problems at ic3.gov.
Sources
- Johnie (@Johnie) on X, original post, January 8, 2024. x.com
- Newsweek, Homeowner Baffled After Washing Machine Uses 3.6GB of Internet Data a Day, January 2024. newsweek.com
- Tom's Hardware, Your washing machine could be sending 3.7 GB of data a day, January 2024. tomshardware.com
- Johnie (@Johnie) on X, follow-up post, February 26, 2024. x.com
- Ren et al., Information Exposure From Consumer IoT Devices, Northeastern University and Imperial College London, IMC 2019. northeastern.edu (PDF)
- Which?, Spies in your home, September 7, 2023. which.co.uk
- FBI, Home Internet Connected Devices Facilitate Criminal Activity (PSA I-060525), June 5, 2025. ic3.gov
