Be ye blabberin' mugs feedin' the greedy ads that plague ye fancy gadgets, ye landlubbers?
2024-01-08
Avast ye! In this era o' Siri, Alexa, an' Bixby, yer cursed contraption be ever eavesdroppin' on yer spoken words. But beware, me hearties, for canny scallywags may also be listenin'! Fear not, for Kurt "CyberGuy" Knutsson be showin' ye how to defend yer scurvy self.
Your smartphone may be always listening to you in order for voice-recognition assistants like Siri, Bixby, or Alexa to work, but there is no definitive proof that it is using your conversations to target you with personalized ads. However, some experts suggest that it is possible for certain apps to access your device's microphone and record snippets of your conversations without your consent. This raises concerns about privacy and security. Mark, a concerned individual, shared his experience of discussing an underwater camera and later his family member receiving an invoice for an underwater camera on PayPal. He wonders if hackers or AI are listening to his conversations and how they could know to invoice a family member. Audio surveillance is a real possibility and could be used for targeted ads, which is a serious breach of privacy. To prevent eavesdropping on your conversations, you can take several steps. First, you can turn off your voice-recognition assistant, such as Siri, by following a few simple steps. However, keep in mind that other apps that have microphone privileges may still be listening in. To further protect yourself, it is recommended to use reliable antivirus software on your device. Antivirus software can scan for malicious apps that may be accessing your microphone and block them. It can also alert you of any suspicious activity on your device and help you remove any unwanted or harmful apps. Another way to protect your privacy is by using a VPN, or virtual private network. A VPN creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and a server on the internet, hiding your IP address and location from websites and apps and preventing them from tracking your online activity or personal information. While there is no evidence of widespread eavesdropping on conversations, it is important to stay proactive about internet safety. Turning off your microphone and using antivirus software and a VPN are effective measures to mitigate the risk of being targeted by hackers. Ultimately, it is essential to prioritize your privacy and take steps to protect yourself online.