If you live in one of the 80% of American households now using smart tech devices, be assured, they are listening. But what are smart devices actually listening to, and what do they do with that data? While smart speakers, like Amazon’s Alexa and Apple’s Siri, wait for a trigger phrase to start recording, other smart devices, like cameras and doorbells, may be hearing a lot more.
“The real problem is that companies set these devices to collect as much data as possible, and most users never change those settings,” says John Beaver of Desky. “But you actually have more control than you think.”
Here’s more about what your smart devices actually listen to, what they do with that information and how to bolster your privacy, while still enjoying their convenience.
Do Smart Devices Listen 24/7?
Yes, and no. By default, the mics on smart devices are always on, but for smart speakers, such as those from Apple, Amazon, and Google, they’re usually only listening for keywords. Once they hear those “wake” or “trigger” words — like “hey Siri,” “Alexa,” and “Hey Google” — then they wake up and start recording.
As for other smart devices, like video doorbells, cameras, and baby monitors, depending on the brand, they may be recording everything they see or hear 24/7, says Chris Hauk of Pixel Privacy.
How Do Smart Devices Hear You When You Talk to Them If They’re Not Listening 24/7?
Inside the device is a program that identifies wake words. “It’s so simple, it cannot understand language; it is simply listening out for this specific sound pattern to wake it up,” says Steven Athwal of The Big Phone Store. But keep in mind, words that sound similar to your wake word can also trigger recording. “It can make mistakes, which is why you may come across some odd recordings in your history.”
Then, once they hear a wake word, they start recording and send it to the cloud servers to process and answer your requests.
What Do Smart Devices Do With the Information They Collect?
Once a device starts recording, it sends that recording to the cloud, where it is processed by algorithms, artificial intelligence, and sometimes humans. It is then stored in the cloud, where it is often used to improve AI models for voice commands.
“Companies keep recordings to make their systems smarter and better at understanding speech,” says Beaver. “They usually keep your audio files private, but they use patterns from your questions for advertising. For example, if you ask about standing desks several times, it might affect what ads you see later on.”
What Information Gets Sent to the Cloud?
Your account ID, IP address, and audio recordings are sent to the cloud immediately. Many companies, including Apple, Amazon and Google, allow you to request the data they’ve collected on you, says Hauk.
How Long Do Your Recordings Get Stored?
It depends on the product. Some are temporary, while others are permanent. Most often, if you don’t purposefully delete the recordings, it will be the latter. “Some users have discovered years of stored conversations they forgot existed,” says Pavel Sukhachev of Electromania LLC.
How to Control What Your Smart Devices Can Hear
- Turn down the microphone’s sensitivity.
- Mute the mic through its software, so it stays on, but the device ignores it.
- Physically turn off the microphone. This offers the most security,”Although that will require you activate the device manually, by pushing a button on your smart speaker or triggering the request with a long-press on your smartphone or tablet,” says Hauk.
- Regularly delete your voice history. Set auto-delete settings to the shortest option.
- Disable “help improve” and “human review” settings.
- Put smart devices on a separate Wi-Fi network, so they can’t access your other data.
- Check all apps monthly to see which have microphone and data sharing access turned on. “Many apps request mic access unnecessarily,” says Sukhachev. Others automatically turn these preferences back on periodically.
- Set your router to control what devices can connect, so your speaker goes offline automatically at night.
Ultimately, “If you’re not comfortable with the device listening to what you’re saying and potentially recording you, don’t have it in the room,” says Aimee Simpson of Huntress. “This is far from a pleasing solution, I know, but it is the most sure-fire way to reduce risk.”
How to Control What Your Smart Devices Can Share
Most devices let you choose what gets saved and shared, and in most cases, this doesn’t affect basic features. In your smart device application, turn off:
- Voice recording,
- Data sharing and
- “Help improve our services” options.
“Sometimes these settings are buried deep in menus,” says Beaver. “We turned off all third-party apps on our office devices after learning that voice data could go to app developers.”
How to Delete My Voice History From My Smart Device
You’ll need to delete your voice history from the cloud server and/or the device, depending on where it’s stored. You may also be able to configure automatic deletion on a recurring basis. Go to the settings in your app to see which preferences are available, and adjust them from there.
FAQs
What is a “soft mute” vs. “hard mute”?
With a soft mute, you’re just telling the device not to listen. A hard mute means physically disconnecting the microphone so it can’t accidentally pick up sound. “A hard mute is the most secure method of disabling the microphone,” says Matt Little of Festoon House. “Soft mutes provide little security, as an infected operating system can potentially override the settings and enable the microphone.”
Does “deleting my voice history” actually delete the data from the company’s servers?
Generally, yes, though it may remain on the servers for a short period of time following the request. Also, data that has been anonymized for use with AI training may remain indefinitely.
What Is the Best Smart Device in Terms of Privacy?
For smart speakers, Apple Siri is generally considered the best for privacy because it processes more data on the device, which means storing less in the cloud. “If privacy is your priority, Apple devices offer better protection, though no smart device is completely private,” says Sukhachev.
For other smart home systems, Little recommends Apple’s HomeKit for the same reasons.
In general, look for smart devices that allow you to disable voice recording, opt out of sharing, remove files from cloud storage and which have a physical mute toggle switch.
“Before buying one, look into their privacy policies and whether they allow you to configure voice capture settings,” says Simpson. “Some brands are much less flexible when it comes to data capture and recording, meaning you should steer clear of those if you’re worried about where your voice might end up.”
About the Experts
- Chris Hauk is a consumer privacy champion at Pixel Privacy. He has over 25 years of experience in the IT industry, with a focus on advising consumers on how to keep their devices and data safe and secure.
- Aimee Simpson is director of product marketing at Huntress, a cybersecurity company founded by former NSA members. She works extensively in data privacy and security.
- Pavel Sukhachev is founder of Electromania LLC. He builds AI automation systems and helps businesses implement smart technology securely.
- John Beaver is founder of Desky, a creator of smart ergonomic furniture that uses sensors and connected software. Privacy and data handling are part of their product decisions.
- Steven Athwal is CEO and founder of The Big Phone Store.
- Matt Little is managing director and founder of Festoon House. He has a background is in IT, hardware protocols and data security.
Sources
- Rich Kingly is owner of Driveway King, and a home improvement specialist who advises homeowners on how to apply smart home systems to limit the amount of data that is unnecessarily being shared.
RELATED:
- See a Green Dot on Your Android Phone? Here’s What It Means
- If You Get a USPS Scam Text, You Need To Do This Immediately
- This Is How Often You Should Restart Your Phone
The post What Your Smart Home Devices Are Really Listening To + How To Control What They Share appeared first on Family Handyman.
Article source here: What Your Smart Home Devices Are Really Listening To + How To Control What They Share
No comments:
Post a Comment