diff --git a/.github/workflows/test-and-release.yml b/.github/workflows/test-and-release.yml
index c2f2993..65c7291 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test-and-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test-and-release.yml
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ jobs:
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.os }}
     strategy:
       matrix:
-        node-version: [12.x, 14.x, 16.x]
+        node-version: [12.x, 14.x, 16.x, 18.x]
         os: [ubuntu-latest, windows-latest, macos-latest]
 
     steps:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ba88582..9e5a1bf 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -93,6 +93,11 @@ Please check it https://www.smarthomejetzt.de/mit-iobroker-auf-eine-home-assista
 -->
 
 ## Changelog
+
+### __WORK IN PROGRESS__
+* (Apollon77) IMPORTANT: Replace special characters in entity attribute names with an underscore! Object IDs might change!
+* (Apollon77) make sure a "null" value in state changes is not crashing
+
 ### 1.1.2 (2022-03-29)
 * (Apollon77) Fix crash cases reported by Sentry
 
diff --git a/io-package.json b/io-package.json
index 6380a73..c8933cc 100644
--- a/io-package.json
+++ b/io-package.json
@@ -177,6 +177,44 @@
           "agree",
           "cancel"
         ]
+      },
+      {
+        "condition": {
+          "operand": "and",
+          "rules": [
+            "oldVersion<1.2.0",
+            "newVersion>=1.2.0"
+          ]
+        },
+        "title": {
+          "en": "Important notice!",
+          "de": "Wichtiger Hinweis!",
+          "ru": "Важное замечание!",
+          "pt": "Notícia importante!",
+          "nl": "Belangrijke mededeling!",
+          "fr": "Avis important!",
+          "it": "Avviso IMPORTANTE!",
+          "es": "Noticia importante!",
+          "pl": "Ważna uwaga!",
+          "zh-cn": "重要通知!"
+        },
+        "text": {
+          "en": "The new version 1.2.x will potentially change the Names of Objects when special characters like \".\", \"-\" or spaces were used in entity attributes! Please delete the old objects manually if needed.",
+          "de": "Die neue Version 1.2.x wird die Namen von Objekten möglicherweise ändern, wenn spezielle Zeichen wie \".\", \"-\" oder Leerzeichen in Entity-Attributen verwendet wurden! Alten Objekte bitte bei Bedarf manuell löschen.",
+          "ru": "Новая версия 1.2.x будет потенциально менять имена объектов, когда специальные символы типа \".\", \"-\" или пространства были использованы в атрибутах лица! Пожалуйста, удалите старые объекты вручную, если это необходимо.",
+          "pt": "A nova versão 1.2.x irá potencialmente alterar os Nomes de Objetos quando caracteres especiais como \".\", \"-\" ou espaços foram usados em atributos de entidade! Por favor, exclua os objetos antigos manualmente, se necessário.",
+          "nl": "De nieuwe versie 1.2.x zal de Namen van Objects veranderen als speciale personages zoals \", \" of ruimtes werden gebruikt in entiteitsaanklachten! Verwijder de oude objecten handmatig als het nodig is.",
+          "fr": "La nouvelle version 1.2.x modifiera potentiellement les Noms des Objets lorsque des caractères spéciaux comme \", \"-\" ou des espaces ont été utilisés dans des attributs d'entité ! Veuillez supprimer les anciens objets manuellement si nécessaire.",
+          "it": "La nuova versione 1.2.x cambierà potenzialmente i nomi degli oggetti quando caratteri speciali come \".\", \"-\" o spazi sono stati utilizzati negli attributi dell'entità! Si prega di eliminare i vecchi oggetti manualmente se necessario.",
+          "es": "La nueva versión 1.2.x potencialmente cambiará los Nombres de Objetos cuando caracteres especiales como \"., \"-\" o espacios fueron utilizados en atributos de entidad! Por favor, borre los viejos objetos manualmente si es necesario.",
+          "pl": "Nowa wersja 1.2.x będzie potencjalnie zmieniać nazwy obiektów, kiedy szczególne postacie takie jak „.”, „-” lub przestrzenie były używane w atrybutach. Okazuje się, że stare obiekty ręcznie będą potrzebne.",
+          "zh-cn": "新版本1.2.x将可能改变物体的名称,如“......”、“-”或空间在实体的属性中使用。 请在必要时删除旧物体。."
+        },
+        "level": "warn",
+        "buttons": [
+          "agree",
+          "cancel"
+        ]
       }
     ]
   },
diff --git a/main.js b/main.js
index b6506fa..100d24d 100644
--- a/main.js
+++ b/main.js
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function startAdapter(options) {
                     let requestFields = {};
                     if (typeof state.val === 'string') {
                         try {
-                            requestFields = JSON.parse(state.val);
+                            requestFields = JSON.parse(state.val) || {};
                         } catch (err) {
                             adapter.log.info(`Ignore data for service call ${id} is no valid JSON: ${err.message}`);
                             requestFields = {};
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ function parseStates(entities, services, callback) {
                     }
 
                     obj = {
-                        _id: `${adapter.namespace}.entities.${entity.entity_id}.${attr}`,
+                        _id: `${adapter.namespace}.entities.${entity.entity_id}.${attr.replace(adapter.FORBIDDEN_CHARS, '_')}`,
                         type: 'state',
                         common: common,
                         native: {
@@ -390,7 +390,7 @@ function main() {
                 if ((typeof val === 'object' && val !== null) || Array.isArray(val)) {
                     val = JSON.stringify(val);
                 }
-                adapter.setForeignState(id + attr, {val, ack: true, lc, ts});
+                adapter.setForeignState(id + attr.replace(adapter.FORBIDDEN_CHARS, '_'), {val, ack: true, lc, ts});
             }
         }
     });
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 78e1e5a..510ec9f 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "websocket": "^1.0.34",
-    "ws": "^8.5.0",
+    "ws": "^8.8.0",
     "@iobroker/adapter-core": "^2.6.0"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
     "@alcalzone/release-script-plugin-license": "^3.5.9",
     "axios": "^0.27.2",
     "gulp": "^4.0.2",
-    "mocha": "^9.2.2",
+    "mocha": "^10.0.0",
     "chai": "^4.3.6"
   },
   "main": "main.js",