I think I have to push a button to get siri to find me info. Even after it gets me the info, it doesn’t give me ads.
I knew the Bluetooth speaker did that. I’m glad some of you don’t care, but I do. I would like to have conversations or google things without it showing up on my husbands devices. I’d like some privacy.
5 Likes
I disconnected all my amazon Alexa devices because I know they were listening. My daughter has them and that where the bowl cozie suggestion came from.
I don’t turn on my microphone. I’m glad there are settings in the phone to turn off the listening.
It’s one thing to have suggestions when scrolling the internet, it’s another to be just talking about something
2 Likes
It’s not just Alexa and Siri. Many apps listen. Check your microphone settings.
Unfortunately, unless you have an RF detector tool to sweep for electromagnetic fields in your environment, you’re probably missing some. (Thank you, Cyber son.)
7 Likes
I get that. And your prerogative!
The one thing I get mad at is when opening Google and it spoils a reality show I’m watching because Google knows I have interests in that show!
Perhaps I should be considered about bigger things. 
Choatiemom - does Cyberson have a recommendation for a detector for listening devices? And could that be used to detect cameras?
My friend’s daughter was at a long-term AirBnB for work and after conflict with a (kind of creepy) host was worried about cameras…
1 Like
I’ve noticed that my Amazon Fire Tablet “talks” to my laptop. If I do a search on my tablet, whether at home or elsewhere, that search pops up when I click on my laptop Search Bar. I don’t connect my Kindle to my laptop physically and never have. I do use Amazon on both, but the search topic appears on my homepage search bar.
I’m not concerned, since I was searching for the topic anyway, but it is interesting.
I HOPE my H’s phone is listening. I’ve been telling it what I want for Christmas! (sometimes, H just needs help. You’re welcome.)
10 Likes
No. What I meant was the military has all of these cool tools, and he is versed in all forms of privacy invasion/spyware. He has educated us on the level of electronic listening that we’ve all happily or inadvertently accepted. Unfortunately, there is no escaping it totally. If you own a computer, tablet, phone, watch, Fitbit, TV, speakers, even smart kitchen devices, etc., you won’t be able to completely turn off listening no matter what the manufacturer says.
3 Likes
Another thing I have issue with is that I can’t google things I’d like to buy DH as a gift. The ads will pop up on his devices. I mean, seriously! I hate that. I don’t know how to search for him now.
I did go to my phone this morning to privacy and settings. It showed the apps that have the microphone turned on, so I turned those off.
1 Like
If you go into Settings, Choose “Siri,” then set it to not activate when the phone is locked. This way, when your phone is in your pocket, it can’t listen.
1 Like
I just tried this but it says it also means turning off “announce calls with headphones.” I do like having my calls announced when I’m wearing headphones. But I did turn completely off Listen for “Siri” or “Hey Siri”. I have an iphone 13, not sure if the settings are the same on all iphones.
I don’t have a smart watch, Alexa devices, wifi enabled appliances, etc. because I’m just not interested in having something always listening.
2 Likes
There are many things that “listen” to you… more than you might realize. I don’t even use Siri, but I’m confident other apps listen too.
1 Like
I disconnected Alexa because of this.
A few weeks ago I was on a phone call with my sister. She said something to me and then it popped up on her Smart TV. She was creeped out.
1 Like
This topic was automatically closed 180 days after the last reply. If you’d like to reply, please flag the thread for moderator attention.