Researchers use laser to hack voice-activated devices like Amazon Echo

Suddenly, the garage door opens, a burglar slides in, uses another laser to have the Echo start the car and drives off. Researchers from the University of Michigan have used laser lights to exploit a wide variety of voice-activated devices, giving them access to everything from thermostats to garage door openers to front door locks. The researchers have communicated their findings to Amazon, Google and Apple, which are studying the research. Working with researchers from the University of Electro-Communications in Japan, U-M's researchers published a paper and a web site detailing how it works. There are also videos showing it in action.