Ants invade Kindle and even buy books; watch video

Journalist Mariana Lopes Vieira had an experience that looked like fiction. after you left Ignite lasted a few weeks, got a surprise when he turned to ebooks and device infested by ants – and the bugs even managed to buy some digital artifacts.

Mariana’s story hit the internet after a tweet from her friend, writer Fabiane Guimarães, revealed the case. The post, which, with more than 66,000 likes, carried the name of Amazon’s digital reader to the hottest topics on Twitter on Monday, 27, caused panic among many users.

Although rather unusual, the story was confirmed by Mariana in an interview with TecMundo. The journalist also gave more details about the incident. in your newsletter. And the detail: he wasn’t the only victim of a murder. Insect infestation inside Kindle.

Ant Infestation on Kindle

According to Mariana’s account, the ants burrowed into the charging hole and nested inside the device, which was almost inoperable due to unwanted guests. “I was desperate! I have a few digital books, most of them out of print, I thought you were gone,” explains the journalist.

If that wasn’t scary enough, she got an even bigger surprise when she received notifications in her email that said: Two books were purchased in your account. “Purchases” were performed by ants sending commands to the device from within the device.

Like many Kindle users, the journalist uses the one-click purchase option to facilitate the purchase made by the bugs in the digital reader store. After spending around R$80 to buy the books “Robots and the Empire” and “The Ring of Gyges: An Ethical Fantasy”, Mariana disabled the quick purchase option via computer to avoid further expense.

While ants prevented Mariana’s Kindle from working properly and even from purchasing books, another similar case gained fame on TikTok, but with milder results. A post on Renata Alves Frederi’s profile shows off another Kindle infested with bugs.

As in the other case, the ants got into the device via the charging connection. The model remained active, but it introduced a major problem: the insects were turning the pages of the books. After the ants were removed, the device worked normally again.

How ants bought books on Kindle

While the idea of ​​insects acquiring books may seem like a dream, the technology used in the Kindle allows for something very unusual. Rafael Rech di Muzio, a graduate of Mechatronics Engineering, explains this.

“Kindle uses capacitive touch, which detects capacitance changes on the screen so it knows where the touch is made.” According to the Electronics Research and Development Director, gestures identified as action touches can be made by living organisms, whether human or not. “The ants, in large numbers, can change the capacitance of the pallets, and the equipment recognizes when there is a touch or movement on the screen.”

So, in both cases, a large amount of ants produced gestures perceived by the Kindle as touch. This caused strange actions on the device such as page turning itself and buying books.

Despite the malfunction, Rafael explains that the likelihood of permanent damage to the Kindle caused by ants is not great, although the images are frightening. However, if you’ve seen bugs near your electronics, it’s a good idea to keep an eye out, as larger bugs can cause more serious damage when entering a device.

How to Clean a Kindle and Avoid Electronic Ants

Ant victims who went viral with their infested Kindle used two different ways to get rid of the bugs, and neither is recommended by experts. Mariana Lopes Vieira puts the product in a plastic bag in the refrigerator to freeze the working and harmless ants, while the video, which went viral on TikTok, shows the swarm being destroyed with an insecticide.

While frostbite can cause problems due to cold and related liquids, chemicals can cause damage inside and outside the device, explains Rafael Rech di Muzio. The best way to keep the product safe and dispose of it is to open the device and remove the bugs from the Kindle using a dry brush or air compressor.

TecMundo has contacted Amazon, which plans to launch technical assistance in the country. The company noted that users can request a refund within seven days for books purchased by mistake.

“Customers should also not use their appliances near sinks or wet areas (unless their models are waterproof) and expose them to extreme heat or cold,” the company explains. Special guidelines for antshowever, the tip for those scared on duty is to stay calm and avoid leaving electronic devices near places where there might be bugs.

Although many of these insects are known to nest in the ground, nylandria fulvaQuite common in Brazil, it is often stored in places with cavities that can generate heat. As a result, electronics, especially “abandoned” ones, become interesting homes for nesting.

Mariana Vieira also recommends: “Don’t leave your Kindle empty. Read books. Preferably literature.”