My parents unplugged their Echo because it kept activating thinking it was hearing its Wake Word. They shout a lot and keep the television very loud because of my mother's hearing deficit.

The article didn't mention if conversations were still picked up if the speaker is manually turned off while still being powered.

My google will sometimes out of the blue say something. I think she is triggered by certain words on the TV.

We don't have either, but it seems there really is no expectation of privacy anymore, is there? It reminds me of movie scenes where people are passing notes back and forth in case the room is bugged.

I also don't have either but if I did, this wouldn't bother me.

I think the notion of "privacy" is a misused red herring. Just like "freedom". What exactly is privacy? Which democratic countries in the world are there where people don't have privacy? What are the consequences of not having it?

I find siri hard to reach, so I'm less concerned about her 'listening' but echo and alexa? No...they're listening, a lot! That would not make me comfortable.

Ours is triggered by tv at times not sure what words do it. And it will occasionally come on and say something out of the blue. One day it was something about office rentals lol. We just look at each other and shrug.

I"m still thinking of getting a Google Home, but I have to upgrade my phone first. Let's see, she'd hear me talking to the cats, "talking" to hubby, the radio is on all the time. Certainly nothing particularly private and to be overly concerned about.

I heard a comment on TV yesterday that the name Alexa for baby girls has decreased drastically in recent years.

I'm just fine Googling on my computer when *I* want to ask something. I'm sure some program keeps track of inquiries; not a worry.

I don't see the utility of these gadgets. Enlighten me?

Chisue, I used an Amazon Dot to replace my bedside clock. It takes up less space and blends in with the side table top. I know there are all sorts of things you can control with one assuming the items are compatible, but I haven't gotten into that much.

Just recently, I had to replace my wired front door intercom system that worked with my telephone system to a wifi-based system. I can use Google Home Mini to announce visitors so I don't have to be around a wifi-based visual device when the bell is "rung." This house has never had a true doorbell and I didn't want to try to retrofit one.

Again, I know you can have door locks, thermostats, electric outlets, light bulbs and other devices that can be controlled by voice through these devices, but I have no need for any of that at this time.

“I don't see the utility of these gadgets. Enlighten me?”

I use mine to add to lists (shopping in various stores - to do lists - my lists are then available on my cell phone)

add to my calendar (birthdays, appointment setting)

reminders

timers

music

recipes while cooking

daily weather

breaking news

searching any question I would use an internet search for.

Most anything that I could do on a computer, but it is so easy from my chair. Without a pen and paper or a keyboard.

Siri and Google Assistant on tablets and phones do the very same things. So too does the Google webpage, just click on the microphone image in the search line and tell it what you want.

Unless you're using one of these things to control a stereo or other sound system, the sound quality of music isn't very good.

I know this. When I am cooking, with messy hands, it is so nice to be able to add something to a list without touching anything.

I have been using Alexa for a cooking timer lately. There isn't one on the cooktop just on the wall ovens so Alexa is handy for that. I was given mine I probably wouldn't have bought it. I do use my Google assistant quite a bit on my phone and tablets. Love how it makes little videos of my pictures and surprises me with them. And it stylizes some of my pictures. Cool stuff. I know Alexa can do a lot more than I use it for. But I find it funny to ask it to open a box of cats lol! If you haven't tried it go ahead.

Here's the latest styilized picture my Google assistant made yesterday.

During a talk I attended, given by a Google representative, they triggered Assistant unintentionally and it was talking from within their pocket. Heh! Listening very closely.

;)

I refuse to have one of those in my home. I've already turned the mike off on my iPhone for certain apps because it freaked me out when I would talk about buying something, then turn on Facebook to see an ad for that same thing! I have a sticky note over my computer camera so nobody can hack into my computer and see me. I never used to be this way, but people are getting so sneaky, it makes me nervous.

I was with a group of ladies yesterday. Siri picked up a comment I made and texted it out on my friend's phone. It was weird.

I've noticed Facebook and Pinterest have been tracking me. Pinterest is making recommendations based on searches I do.

I've been sitting and reading - in silence, when Alexa will say, "I'm sorry, I didn't get that. Could you please repeat it?"

I want to ask "you didn't get what?"

I have no idea what might be triggering her for her to out of the blue in a silent house say that.

Debby, if you're using Windows 10, you can disable the Mic and Camera at the start button.

Right click the start button, choose Device Manager. Click the pointer next to microphone and disable it. Move down to integrated camera and do the same.

i barely know what these things are/do but see them as expensive gadgets to draw attention to oneself.

“ barely know what these things are/do but see them as expensive gadgets to draw attention to oneself.”

How does owning an Echco draw attention to me? (They really don’t cost that much.)

I agree with maddie. I have no idea how it draws attention to the owner??

> Debby, if you're using Windows 10, you can disable the Mic and Camera at the start button.

But if you are disabling them via software on the computer, it seems that other software could enable them without you knowing. If the camera is covered by a post-it that is immune to hacking or other remote tampering.

While I might disable the mic if it would ever hear much beyond me telling the cats to get off of something where I have my computer the only thing that is visible is the wall or my chair. I do get a chuckle trying to imagine what people are doing in front of their computer that they are worrying about others seeing it.

I've read that Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg both put post it notes over the camera and the microphone on their computers for security reasons.

How does my google draw attention to me? Ours was a gift but they are very inexpensive and I told my daughter it was one of the best gifts we ever received. I ask her to play music and she does until I tell her to stop. I never use a timer for anything anymore. I ask her to time me. I ask about weather/humidity weather in other parts of the country. I ask who wrote the song she's playing and she tells me who and when. I ask a spelling question. I can walk in the other room and ask on my computer or phone but it's right there and I need not move from my spot. (I call her a she, because it's a female voice like Siri and Alexa. )

One of the ways it would draw attention to you and make others think you have more money than you do or you are showing off is the misconception that some people have that if you have one you control everything in your house. While that is not true tv and other advertising makes it appear if you have it you use it to do everything. To do everything by extension you must have money enough to throw out the things that are not connected and to purchase things that are. Several times on here people have posted that I should simply control my furnace/lights from my phone the way everyone does. Misguided people have ideas of how things work for them but not for others.

Thank you for telling me how you use your devices. I've yet to see a need these things meet that is currently unmet for me or would be better met by one of these things. I'm mobile and have no trouble accessing a calendar, shopping list, clock, timer, telephone, radio, TV, internet. I don't listen to background music. I have a doorbell.

I'm wary of 'remote access'. How is it limited only to me? Who *else* could remotely unlock my doors; control my appliances and utilities; access my personal information?

I still laugh about what people consider their personal information. Hasn't anyone ever looked up themselves on the web? Even those sites that only provide tidbits like where you live and who supposedly lives with you will provide additional information if you pay for it. Having traced people in a previous life I can tell you that there is nothing that is private about your lives. Everything from the type of toothpaste or not that you use to your health is available if someone wants to pay for you to be researched.

Chisue, I agree with your concerns about hackers gaining access even with two-factor access. That's the main reason that I don't have wifi-enabled thermostats or door locks, plus the concern about personal access when the power or wifi is not working. It's bad enough that I cannot open my garage door when the power is out. Unfortunately, thieves will always find a way to steal from others.

My google does none of the smart things like set my thermostat, door locks, or anything with the running of my house.

Wow. I"m very afraid that some hacker may be interested in the settings on my thermostat.

I'd be more worried about FB hackers than some of the petty things mentioned here.

Michael, it's not that a hacker would be interested in your thermostat's settings. It would be that they might see it as a challenge to hack all Nest thermostats, for example, just to prove they could. You've heard of Denial of Service attacks, perhaps?

I use Netgear Armor to protect my home network and all devices from intrusion. Security features are available for WiFi routers but people fail to implement them.

I have no concerns about my network being hacked. None.

I don't need a service to protect my network because I don't have anything personal on it. If such a service detects a problem, aren't you alerted *after* the fact?

People tend to do more nasty stuff when they can can do so anonymously. The kid who might have broken into his school to vandalize it thirty years ago can now lower the school's thermostats over a holiday to where the pipes freeze and the place floods.

Michael, I understand that you home is protected, but attacks are most often aimed at the large service provider and their Cloud services where all of your data is stored.

Has it happened Fun2BHere? My data in the Cloud has never been compromised. Has it happened?

You need to email Bill Gates and Mark Zuckerberg and hit them with some questions, see what they know.

I'm only in my 50's, but I can't help but wonder what people did 50 or so years ago without all these gadgets. lol They aren't for me, partly because I feel if I can't set my own thermostat, for example, what the heck can I do? I feel like I don't want to become complacent, or something like that. Haven't quite figured it out, but I seem to be heading into the future kicking and screaming. Technology has made us kind of... lazy. "Alexa, go for a walk for me". lol No offence to anyone, to each his/her own, and I'm sure Alexa is lovely. ;)

Maddielee, I don't know what Cloud services you use, but you can search on denial of service attack, data breach and your particular service. See what you find.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-04-10/is-anyone-listening-to-you-on-alexa-a-global-team-reviews-audio