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We should all remember to read PR statements with the assumption they aim to be technically true but come with an intent to deceive. Because what you quoted is a weaselly statement, and it neatly avoids answering the underlying questions.

Namely: was that "exclusively" a contractual exclusion or a technically sound, enforceable exclusion? And on top of that, how was it secured? If the connection setup was breached, what was the maximum blast radius?

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None of those questions seem to be relevant to whether or not there was some sort of smart device involved.

I'm sorry, but in this case I disagree. Whether the device was smart or not is irrelevant.

If there is a connected device in a supposedly otherwise secure network that allows traffic in or calls home, that device is an attack vector. Pure and simple. The only safe assumption is that such a thing is an insecure, unmaintainable black box that was put together by the cheapest fly-by-night contractor.

A "smart" device is worse, and guaranteed to be a dumpster fire. One should not be allowed anywhere near a secure network, regardless of its function. Printers, VoIP phones, climate control systems, ... they're all the same.

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