Blrd

[sourgrapes]

I have never owned an Echo of any sort and I don't want one in my place. I am freaked out by that thing always being there listening. My mom got one for Christmas a few years back and I talked her out of using it. Maybe I am too paranoid but I would not trust Amazon with privacy. Nor Google. I don't want any of those spy bots near me. Bad enough I have to worry about my phone. lol

 

[Rollie Forbes]

A couple points.
1. You have a cell phone, tablet, credit card, and/or a smart tv. Somebody's already watching and listening.
2. You can turn off Alexa's microphone so that it can't hear you; you can also view & delete your commands to Alexa (I don't know if Google devices allow you to do this).

 

[Banks]

A couple points.
1. You have a cell phone, tablet, credit card, and/or a smart tv. Somebody's already watching and listening.
2. You can turn off Alexa's microphone so that it can't hear you; you can also view & delete your commands to Alexa (I don't know if Google devices allow you to do this).

I second this. If you already have a smartphone in your pocket, or any smart device, your actions are being tracked.

Honestly, I think Alexa and Google still listen somehow with the mic turned off. Maybe they don't utilize it for questions and such, but I bet they have it where the device can still hear you, and still utilize that to advertise your favorite show to you on social media, or you start to see ads on sites you visit. etc.

But yeah, having a smartphone, tablet, or anything similar, will easily end up tracking up. Well with a tablet, you could turn off wifi if you're on the go, but if you connect via a mobile network, it can still track you.

 

[Jay]

I second this. If you already have a smartphone in your pocket, or any smart device, your actions are being tracked.

Honestly, I think Alexa and Google still listen somehow with the mic turned off. Maybe they don't utilize it for questions and such, but I bet they have it where the device can still hear you, and still utilize that to advertise your favorite show to you on social media, or you start to see ads on sites you visit. etc.

But yeah, having a smartphone, tablet, or anything similar, will easily end up tracking up. Well with a tablet, you could turn off wifi if you're on the go, but if you connect via a mobile network, it can still track you.

I think it boils down to WHO you want listening to you. Always assume the NSA, FBI, and CIA are listening but who is listening IN ADDITION to them. Google, Facebook, and Amazon I don't want them listening...especially Google.

 

[TheHarmattan]

I think it boils down to WHO you want listening to you. Always assume the NSA, FBI, and CIA are listening but who is listening IN ADDITION to them. Google, Facebook, and Amazon I don't want them listening...especially Google.

Google tracks your boyfriend's GPS straight to your house.

Busted!

 

[Jay]

Google tracks your boyfriend's GPS straight to your house.

Busted!

...and then shows you Divorce Attorney ads cuz it listens to the ensuing argument.

 

[sourgrapes]

A couple points.
1. You have a cell phone, tablet, credit card, and/or a smart tv. Somebody's already watching and listening.
2. You can turn off Alexa's microphone so that it can't hear you; you can also view & delete your commands to Alexa (I don't know if Google devices allow you to do this).

I am aware I am being tracked on my phone, card, etc. I just want to minimize the tracking as much as possible. I know even if I never went on the internet or owned a smartphone, I would still get tracked through bank and credit cards. Even if I opted to not use either, I still have to get my paycheck cashed so I am tracked there.

 

[Goldilocks]

Alexa listens to you. I remember when I had 1 it would randomly say it couldn't hear when I wasn't even speaking to it. I unplugged it and put it in the drawer a long time ago.

 

[sourgrapes]

Alexa listens to you. I remember when I had 1 it would randomly say it couldn't hear when I wasn't even speaking to it. I unplugged it and put it in the drawer a long time ago.

I am soooo good on that! I probably would have taken a hammer to it. I just don't trust technology like this, not when there are snakes out there looking to have control over our lives and our spending.

 

[Rollie Forbes]

Alexa listens to you. I remember when I had 1 it would randomly say it couldn't hear when I wasn't even speaking to it. I unplugged it and put it in the drawer a long time ago.

Mine has done that before. Alexa is also connected to the Amazon app on our phones & laptops, so it can always access your previous purchases/viewed items.
My Alexa device has in the past randomly asked "by the way, would you like me to order more paper towels?"

 

[Finesse]

Let them all hear my dirty secrets, I got nothing to hide! I mean, at this point, with how long we've been on the internet, they probably got everything on me anyways. What's a little more going to hurt.