JD Howard only want to see tutorials on cloud security. Howard, a construction worker on sabbatical, spent $4,000 on a NordicTrack X32i treadmill, intrigued by its 32-inch HD display and the opportunity to exercise physically and mentally. His plan is to spend non-work time exercising while watching technical videos from learning platforms like Pluralsight and Udemy. But his treadmill has other ideas.
Despite its massive display, NordicTrack’s hardware still drives people to sign up for exercise software operated by iFit, its parent company, and doesn’t let you watch videos from other apps or apps. external source. iFit content includes exercise classes and running routes, which automatically change the treadmill’s incline depending on the terrain on the screen. But Howard, and many other NordicTrack owners, weren’t drawn to iFit’s videos by hardware. They were attracted by the ease of the exercise machines being hacked.
To get into his X32i, all Howard needed to do was tap the touchscreen 10 times, wait 7 seconds, then tap 10 more times. Doing so will unlock the device — allowing Howard into the base Android operating system. This privileged mode, a kind of God mode, gives Howard complete control of the treadmill: He can download apps and use the built-in browser, accessing anything and everything online. “It’s not complicated,” says Howard. After entering privileged mode, he installed a third-party browser that allowed him to save passwords and activate his beloved cloud security videos.
While NordicTrack doesn’t advertise privileged mode as a customer feature, its existence isn’t exactly a secret. Many unofficial guides tell people how to get into their machines, and even iFit support pages explain how to access it. The whole reason Howard bought the X32i, he said, was because he could access God mode. But the good times didn’t last.
Since October, NordicTrack has automatically updated all of its exercise equipment—bicycles, ellipticals, and rowing machines all fitted with large screens—to block access to privileged mode. . The move has angered customers, who are now fighting back and finding solutions that allow them to skip the update and watch whatever they want during their workouts.
“I got exactly what I paid for,” says Howard, adding that he owned a ‘shabby’ treadmill with no screen before buying an internet-connected model and also a iFit software subscribers. “Now they are trying to take away [features] that’s important to me. I’m not okay with that. ”
Another NordicTrack owner, who asked not to be named, said the treadmill was one of the most expensive items he’s ever bought, and he was “outraged” when the update stopped him and his partner. watch Netflix, YouTube and Premier League highlights while they work. “You actually pushed an update to stop me from doing this, which is really weird,” he said. “It is frustrating that this beautiful display is here.”
They are not alone in their complaints. In recent weeks much theme and posts lament NordicTrack and iFit’s decision to lock down privileged mode has come online. Customers complain that they’ve spent thousands of dollars on their devices and can do what they love with them, many claiming that being able to watch their favorite shows means they’re more likely to spend time with them. more practice time. Some say they appreciate iFit’s ability to stream workout videos to the larger screen; Others say they want to use their treadmills for Zoom calls. Many people complain that, in contrast to previous software updates, privileged blocking has been forced on them.
A NordicTrack and iFit spokesperson said: “Private blocking was set up automatically because we believe it enhances security and safety when using fitness equipment with many moving parts. moving”. The company never marketed its product as being accessible to other apps, the spokesperson added. “Since there’s no way to know what kind of changes or bugs a consumer might introduce into software, there’s no way of knowing what specific issues are with privileged mode access,” the spokesperson said. may cause”. “Therefore, to maintain the confidentiality, safety and functionality of the machine, we have restricted access to privileged mode.” The spokesperson also emphasized that privilege mode “has never been designed as a consumer-oriented function.” Instead, it’s designed to allow the company’s customer service team to remotely access products to “troubleshoot, update, reset, or repair our software.”
