Nest Thermostat Hack Challenge
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Billy Crook
Dec 19, 2014, 5:44:41 AM12/19/14
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Prize: A Free Nest Thermostat (or if you don't need/want one, the
equivalent cash value.) and glory (because you would be awesome).
Objective: Provide and publicly document clearly: the steps to
achieve ssh command line control over toggling the "full away mode"
directly on the nest thermostat itself. (Meaning the one you can
select via the nest itself that persists indefinitely until unset by
the user.)
Requirements:
May not depend on developer key from Nest/Google corporation for the
final solution.
May not require or preclude access to internet. (Nest Thermostat does
work without internet.)
May not require use of web account or credential for any 3rd party site.
May not break any part of manual operation.
Must work on the at least the current Nest in stores as of this email
(I believe referred to as the Nest 2).
It's ok to require flashing via usb or other data transfer, but no
soldering or physical damage to the nest may be required to implement
the steps.
If you have to destroy one to figure it out, and you do meet the above
requirements, I'll reimburse for that expense too.
This does not have to be all your own research or work. If you point
me to a link that you have verified works, and it works for me too and
meets the above requirements, first person to send it to me gets the
prize for sending an email.
I am aware of the https api and nest.py. Those do not satisfy the
above requirements.
My preferred solution would involve the use of a command-locked ssh
key that I can easily change with secure means of obtaining root shell
on the nest. Double the prize if you pull that off.
Come up with a modular system that can control any setting accessible
to a person standing in front of the thing over ssh (not just the
"away or not" setting) and I'll give you a a thousand bucks. Not
joking.
I wish I had the time to do this myself. But I don't, and I likely
never will. I hope someone here will enjoy the challenge.
-Billy
equivalent cash value.) and glory (because you would be awesome).
Objective: Provide and publicly document clearly: the steps to
achieve ssh command line control over toggling the "full away mode"
directly on the nest thermostat itself. (Meaning the one you can
select via the nest itself that persists indefinitely until unset by
the user.)
Requirements:
May not depend on developer key from Nest/Google corporation for the
final solution.
May not require or preclude access to internet. (Nest Thermostat does
work without internet.)
May not require use of web account or credential for any 3rd party site.
May not break any part of manual operation.
Must work on the at least the current Nest in stores as of this email
(I believe referred to as the Nest 2).
It's ok to require flashing via usb or other data transfer, but no
soldering or physical damage to the nest may be required to implement
the steps.
If you have to destroy one to figure it out, and you do meet the above
requirements, I'll reimburse for that expense too.
This does not have to be all your own research or work. If you point
me to a link that you have verified works, and it works for me too and
meets the above requirements, first person to send it to me gets the
prize for sending an email.
I am aware of the https api and nest.py. Those do not satisfy the
above requirements.
My preferred solution would involve the use of a command-locked ssh
key that I can easily change with secure means of obtaining root shell
on the nest. Double the prize if you pull that off.
Come up with a modular system that can control any setting accessible
to a person standing in front of the thing over ssh (not just the
"away or not" setting) and I'll give you a a thousand bucks. Not
joking.
I wish I had the time to do this myself. But I don't, and I likely
never will. I hope someone here will enjoy the challenge.
-Billy
hevnsnt
Dec 19, 2014, 7:06:47 AM12/19/14
to ccckc
Any available to play with? You should also send this to seckc list.
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Jon Pruente
Dec 19, 2014, 8:29:55 PM12/19/14
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As Billy is a coworker of mine I'll vouch that he is serious and good for the compensation.
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B3y
Feb 24, 2026, 11:15:58 AM (5 days ago) Feb 24
to CCCKC
Thanks to Louis Rossman, I might no longer need to make this offer.
No Longer Evil Thermostat - Revive Your Bricked Nest Thermostat
Pretty cool eh?
By the way, there is a class action if you ever bought a Google Nest version 1 / 2 thermostat and I think it's still worth it on principal to sue Google for leaving peoples' thermostats bricked.
Ne...@bergermontague.com should hook you up.
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