Amazon Echo (Alexa) used to evasdrop? NOT GOOD !!!

3

3CATSAILOR

Well-Known Member
Just got a Echo Dot made by Amazon for a birthday present. I was wondering if it couild be used to spy on people in their own home. The answer is YES. In fact, the two Echo Dots are defaulted to a "Drop In" feature. Apparently, this allows others to listen to you. I told Alexa to turn it off. However, I still do not trust it. Supposedly the recipient has to allow you. However, I am glad that our government is trustworthy and would never use this technology to spy on people without a Court Order.

I unplugged it and buried it in the back yard. It should enjoy listening to worms if it has a built in battery back up within it.



Can Echo Dot be used to eavesdrop?


Alexa can be used to spy on someone by using the drop-in feature, which allows you to instantly connect to an Amazon Echo device without the recipient having to answer your call. However, the recipient has to permit you, and their drop-in feature needs to be enabled.Jan 21, 2023
 
David

David

Opinions are my own...
PREMO Member
The main intent, from my understanding, is to listen to your life so Amazon can predict what you might want/need in the hopes they can sell it to you. Talking about needing to get more pet food, maybe you'll start seeing ads for dog food when you go online. Much like those futuristic movies where 3-D hologram Ads pop-up where ever the character shows up. No doubt in my mind that whatever they learn about you from listening to you also gets sold to these other companies who build composite profiles of you, in the name of their profit.

I believe they also claim the save recordings for learning reasons, i.e. the software doesn't understand what you said, so the clip gets forwarded to some human who tries to make the software smarter.

Of course, where ever personal data is stored, there is always the potential for it to be abused by hackers and more likely, the government.

Ring (an Amazon company) is a prime example of the problem. When you sign up for their service, they keep video from all of your camera on their servers for 30-days. You can opt out of allowing the police to have access to it (note how you have to opt out be default, not opt in). Problem is that if the PoPo really want it, all they do is get a subpoena and give it to Ring who then usually complies.

One guy told a story where local PoPo wanted his camera video to do a fishing trip on the guy's neighbor. They suspected him drug selling. The camera owner said no. PoPo served Ring with a subpoena which supposedly included all of the guy's exterior and interior cameras. However, I believe Ring claimed they did not provide any interior video. Imaging the PoPo having access to you and your family walking around in your undies because they want to spy on your neighbor.

Ring even has programs where they work with Police departments to convince local citizens to install Ring cameras in their homes.

And of course we all know that despite our politician's posturing about privacy, the intel agencies have no problem what-so-ever in sweeping up everyone's data and storing it on their servers for later analysis/retrieval. The data center is somewhere out in Utah I believe. A huge high security facility in the middle of the desert.
 
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3

3CATSAILOR

Well-Known Member
David said:
The main intent, from my understanding, is to listen to your life so Amazon can predict what you might want/need in the hopes they can sell it to you. Talking about needing to get more pet food, maybe you'll start seeing ads for dog food when you go online. Much like those futuristic movies where 3-D hologram Ads pop-up where ever the character shows up. No doubt in my mind that whatever they learn about you from listening to you also gets sold to these other companies who build composite profiles of you, in the name of their profit.

I believe they also claim the save recordings for learning reasons, i.e. the software doesn't understand what you said, so the clip gets forwarded to some human who tries to make the software smarter.

Of course, where ever personal data is stored, there is always the potential for it to be abused by hackers and more likely, the government.

Ring (an Amazon company) is a prime example of the problem. When you sign up for their service, they keep video from all of your camera on their servers for 30-days. You can opt out of allowing the police to have access to it (note how you have to opt out be default, not opt in). Problem is that if the PoPo really want it, all they do is get a subpoena and give it to Ring who then usually complies.

One guy told a story where local PoPo wanted his camera video to do a fishing trip on the guy's neighbor. They suspected him drug selling. The camera owner said no. PoPo served Ring with a subpoena which supposedly included all of the guy's exterior and interior cameras. However, I believe Ring claimed they did not provide any interior video. Imaging the PoPo having access to you and your family walking around in your undies because they want to spy on your neighbor.

Ring even has programs where they work with Police departments to convince local citizens to install Ring cameras in their homes.

And of course we all know that despite our politician's posturing about privacy, the intel agencies have no problem what-so-ever in sweeping up everyone's data and storing it on their servers for later analysis/retrieval. The data center is somewhere out in Utah I believe. A huge high security facility in the middle of the desert.
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lol - Yeah, they tell the folks who are "Followers" and not "Leaders" that the Echo Dot is the best thing since Swiss Cheese. They line up like sheep to get them. I did talk to a FBI Agent I know about them and other home devices that can't be trusted. Essentially all of them can be used by the government. However, a Court Order is needed. For example, computers with cameras, cell phones that you think won't spy on you, etc. How about a government able to know exactly who you are and able to track you within a few feet?
 
CRHS89

CRHS89

Well-Known Member
I know echos and ring cameras would be nice to have in some ways, but I don't trust anyone or anything anymore so I am not buying that they aren't used for nefarious reasons. With or without a court order. And I know my computer and cell phone are probably being used for the same thing, but I don't need additional electronics that are going to be used in ways I don't like. 5 years ago I would have thought this sounded extremely paranoid, but now not so much.
 
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3

3CATSAILOR

Well-Known Member
GURPS said:
I have a google speaker ... there is a physical switch for the mic
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The "switch" may be a "feel good measure". Unless, you can physically determine by opening it up and actually seeing that it does what it is supposed to and remain off. Some products go off temporarily and then switch on when you may not be aware. Another wards set to a delay unless you physically determine it is a off button that causes it to remain off. My Dot said it was off.
CRHS89 said:
I know echos and ring cameras would be nice to have in some ways, but I don't trust anyone or anything anymore so I am not buying that they aren't used for nefarious reasons. With or without a court order. And I know my computer and cell phone are probably being used for the same thing, but I don't need additional electronics that are going to be used in ways I don't like. 5 years ago I would have thought this sounded extremely paranoid, but now not so much.
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I completely agree. But, times certainly have changed. For the better or for the worse, each person will have to make his or her determination.
 
spr1975wshs

spr1975wshs

Mostly settled in...
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I have Blink cameras around the outside of the house, but no Alexa, Siri or other such in the house.
 
GURPS

GURPS

INGSOC
PREMO Member
3CATSAILOR said:
Unless, you can physically determine by opening it up and actually seeing that it does what it is supposed to and remain off.
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yeah Fair Enough ... the only sounds this speaker picks up is me playing video games as this is banished to my Man Cave
 
SamSpade

SamSpade

Well-Known Member
Gotta admit - I hate these things. I do sometimes make use of them to check the weather but it’s just anathema to me to talk to a computer because unlike a HUMAN, I will absolutely have to ask several times because it didn’t understand what I MEANT.

But my wife and kids use them all the time, for alarms, music and general type questions you’d use your phone for.

And yeah, sometimes it “answers” questions I didn’t ask it, which is weird because it’s not supposed to “hear” anything not prefaced by “Alexa” or “Echo”.
 
vraiblonde

vraiblonde

Board Mommy
PREMO Member
Patron
I don't do anything all that interesting but I'm still put off by tech stalking me. I used to think it was a convenience but it's gotten so intrusive that I'm like, damn dude, get off my ass.
 
stgislander

stgislander

Well-Known Member
PREMO Member
SamSpade said:
Gotta admit - I hate these things. I do sometimes make use of them to check the weather but it’s just anathema to me to talk to a computer because unlike a HUMAN, I will absolutely have to ask several times because it didn’t understand what I MEANT.
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Apologies but you made me think of this skit.
 
Clem72

Clem72

Well-Known Member
I have never seen the desire for one of these devices, and I turned the functionality off in the TV I bought that had it built-in. I literally have a phone in my pocket that I can find the weather on, see the news, or search for stuff in 1 or 2 clicks without having to yell at a speaker and then have the whole house listed to the answer to "Alexa, what the hell is a 'lemon party'?"
 
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