Google has rolled out a fix for a server glitch that triggered certain Google Home Speakers to consume massive amounts of home bandwidth by continually downloading a software update on a loop.
The issue came to light through Reddit discussions highlighted by 9to5Google, where one user reported their smart speaker had pulled down three terabytes of data over roughly two weeks. Reporting by WIRED confirmed the problem on an additional device, where a Gemini-powered Google Home Speaker consumed 487 gigabytes across a ten-day span—nearly rivaling the household’s total internet consumption over a prior two-month stretch.
In a statement, a Google spokesperson explained that a server misconfiguration led specific Google Home Speakers to repeatedly initiate and download the software update. The company confirmed the problem has since been resolved.
Because such continuous downloads can push households toward internet service provider data caps or degrade local network speeds, monitoring device-level traffic can help pinpoint abnormal activity. Network tracking availability varies widely across hardware; brands like Asus and TP-Link provide free per-device traffic monitoring, whereas others, like Eero, restrict detailed device metrics behind paid subscription tiers, and Netgear offers only aggregate traffic figures without device breakdowns.
Source: wired.com
