Despite the denials, "your devices are listening to you," says ad company

[Gars]

Most of the ppl here, feeling that they r so important for the 'big brother'', no
we are the goods for the big corps and we are as hot cakes for them
keep your phone off - you r still tracked
- oh? you entered pharmacy? mm yeah, you visited the doctor today and you need that or that... let us told you what you exactly need...
and so on

 

[Nobina]

Most of the ppl here, feeling that they r so important for the 'big brother'', no
we are the goods for the big corps and we are as hot cakes for them
keep your phone off - you r still tracked
- oh? you entered pharmacy? mm yeah, you visited the doctor today and you need that or that... let us told you what you exactly need...
and so on

I am important to myself and I don't like being tracked like some rat. If you don't care you don't deserve any better.

 

[waclark]

Are they listening?

No. Because I keep my phone on the other end of the house, much to the annoyance of anyone I talk to, and the only other devices I have with mics are my desktop, which runs linux and I control, and my laptop, which spends the majority of its life turned off in a laptop case in the closet. My TV is "SmArT" but has no voice controls, and has no internet access. Nothing else I have uses the internet.

And it will stay that way.

So your phone is always at the other end of the house? It's never near you? Doesn't seem all that useful. Also, what about TV? No smart TV or smart speakers?

 

[waclark]

Here is a clear case the DOJ should prosicute EVERY company engaged in the illegal activity to include manditory jail sentences for senior executives that encourage OR tollerate this activity .... no exceptions!

Are you kidding? The DOJ wants this info! They want to capture conversations between private citizens, especially if they are engaged in questionable activities. The DOJ is not our friend.

 

[RandomWAN]

So your phone is always at the other end of the house? It's never near you? Doesn't seem all that useful. Also, what about TV? No smart TV or smart speakers?

You're assuming he's using those. Smart TVs in the house require connection to the network and internet to actually do any listening. I've test connecting them and as long as you're blocking the addresses they're contacting (the Samsung I tested continually reached out for Samsung servers by domain name) through a custom DNS, they can't talk to anything. Even if they're trying to contact specific IPs, you can block those through your firewall and prevent it from calling home.

I didn't test functionality with content provider apps, so the system may break down if it can't reach Samsung servers in conjunction with the service, but if someone is that concerned with a TV calling out, I don't know why you'd be using smart TV funcitionality anyway. I only use HTPCs connected to a TV anymore.

 

[waclark]

You're assuming he's using those. Smart TVs in the house require connection to the network and internet to actually do any listening. I've test connecting them and as long as you're blocking the addresses they're contacting (the Samsung I tested continually reached out for Samsung servers by domain name) through a custom DNS, they can't talk to anything. Even if they're trying to contact specific IPs, you can block those through your firewall and prevent it from calling home.

I didn't test functionality with content provider apps, so the system may break down if it can't reach Samsung servers in conjunction with the service, but if someone is that concerned with a TV calling out, I don't know why you'd be using smart TV funcitionality anyway. I only use HTPCs connected to a TV anymore.

Not assuming, simply asking the question.

The TV question was in response to Samsung's admission that Voice Recognition was listening in all the time and potentially sharing some info with Samsung employees. The point is that any device with voice control can be listening, not just your phone.

 

[Underdog]

I only have a smartphone to receive security codes for some online purchases because a smartphone is the only device that can receive the codes by SMS. No conventional network coverage where I live so it has to be "wifi calling". Apart from the times I am expecting a code my phone is turned OFF. It really serves no purpose. If I am ever forced to own a "smart" TV I will do my best to disable its connectivity. No other "smart" device is allowed into my home.

 

[toooooot]

Remember Black Mirror Ep 1? or Minorirty Report? or a lot more.
well, "the future is now"!!!

That episode where recording could be copied of the every living creature's eyes, I cannot forget it. Poor baby.

 

[jeffbert]

If the only thing keeping the Govt. from snooping is adherence to the law, & all the needed technical infrastructure for 1984's BIG BROTHER is already in place, we are in bad shape.

 

[bviktor]

"That's because consumers usually give consent when accepting terms and conditions of software updates or app downloads."

So if I click allow, it will allow sound recording? No way. That's precisely why I don't click allow. Thanks for pointing it out tho!

 

[jeffbert]

Yeah, but who actually takes the time to read ALL that text?

A few years ago, SOUTHPARK had an episode that addressed this. It was not only a parody of HUMAN CENTIPEDE, but more importantly, a satire of our lack of patience when it comes to downloading updates, etc.

 

[kinetix]

Yeah, but who actually takes the time to read ALL that text?

A few years ago, SOUTHPARK had an episode that addressed this. It was not only a parody of HUMAN CENTIPEDE, but more importantly, a satire of our lack of patience when it comes to downloading updates, etc.

yep, the "Human cent-iPad"