topic Re: Who's Watching and Listening....... in Community Chat

Who's Watching and Listening.......

Annabellethecat66 — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 20:11:28 GMT

OK, because I have a few minutes....I'll post some little tid bits from my Consumer Magazine I bought about 1 week ago.

The front cover (and reason I bought it says)..."Who Is Watching You"? Apps. Digital Photos, GPS, Smart Speakers, Easy & Effective ways to take more control of your digital privacy.

The magazine breaks down a lot of what we already know....ta ta ta da....Big brother is listening.....

OK, so when you get rid of or trade in your car, you need to "wipe it". Yes, believe it or not cars have computers in them that record every place you've been and some of your personal information.

From Consumer's Magazine: These days vehicles collect and store all kinds of personal data--everything from the songs on your playlist to the locations you frequent to how firmly you apply the breakes. And if you're not careful the data could travel on to your car's next owner.

Here's a few things you can do: Unpair all bluetooth devices, reset the garage door opener, reset telemtics services, Blue tooth, On Star, FordPass, etc., Log out of Cloud Services Accounts, Remove all tracking devices. They tell how to do these things but I'm too lazy to put it here.

Mainly I just wanted you guys to be aware of how the information on your car is being stored.

In my case I give my cars to my daughters and grandchildren. I don't trade them in. I get a new one every few years and just pass the others on down in the family. But many people trade them in. Just some food for thought as they say.

Another article says: Smart Speakers That Listen When the Shouldn't. Hummm???

So, just this morning my friend was here cleaning my house and moving things. We were sitting in the TV room, TV off, just talking and she suddenly stopped talking and said, "Your Alexa just came on". I said, "What"? She said while you were talking the Alexa blue light just came on, stayed on for a few minutes and went back off".

Now I never said anything remotely to say, "Hey Alexa" or anything that would remotely call her to light up. We were talking in a regular voice.

There have been several times it's just come on and I mentioned here recently that it just came on and said, "Tell me a little about yourself". Swear to you! I then unplugged it but I'm a stickler for correct grammar and spelling so I plugged it back in. That's all I use it for.

That is weird.....isn't it?

From the Consumer's Magazine regarding Alexa: Here are bits of dialogue that appeared to trigger the speaers in their labs:

Mistaken for Alexa (I need medical assistance. It's actually ...I like (plus any word that begins with "S. A later (plus another word).

Mistaken for Amazon: This is on. It was. There were none. As soon as. Last night. There was also, eyes were wide.

Mistaken for Computer: Confident. Kiro

Mistaken for Echo: Marco. Echoing. That's also.

They did a survey: Do you watch what you say around your smart speakers:

69% say no Hummm???!!!

There's more but I have to go for now. My daughter needs me...

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

Lilysmom — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 20:20:12 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 , the one that caught my eye was de-programming your garage door opener. Yikes, never even thought about that one! LM

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

phoenixbrd — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 10:38:49 GMT

@Annabellethecat66 I was just having this discussion with my husband. We are so wired up in this house and I mentioned if he knew Alexa has the capabilities of listening in on conversations. He thinks that bird has already flown. If you own a computer, much of your life history is already known and advertisers are responding to your lifestyle. I never would have thought about all the information being collected as a result of our cars. Welcome to the techno world!

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

Crazy for Kitties — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 20:22:24 GMT

My touch tablet in the kitchen does that. It 'hears' ordinary conversation and pops up research titles of what it thinks it heard without my asking. I've turned the feature off permanently.

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

blackhole99 — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 20:24:11 GMT

If you wanna use the technology you take the good with the questionable.

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

Pamela330 — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 20:30:57 GMT

Seems everyone I talk to lately is discussing this exact conversation. I watched a video at Glenn Beck (YouTube) the other day and he had an expert that explained what's going on. The title of it is... "Google's Hidden Dictorship" Ep. 52. Very interesting and thought provoking. I'm glad I'm not the only one who notices this too! I quit using Google search and started using DuckDuckGo. It seems Google, Amazon, Apple, and many other corporations are all linked together in this, to share our personal information. They say it's just for marketing reasons? Hmm...time will tell.

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

jlkz — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 21:07:57 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

@Lilysmom

We just traded our van in....part of the prep includes their deprogramming garage door openers.

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

software — Sat, 12 Oct 2019 22:12:43 GMT

I don't need technology that badly

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 02:53:42 GMT

I have Yahoo and I just saw where they were breached and you can submit bla bla and get probably 2 cents! Ha!

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

SandySparkles — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 04:03:08 GMT

WOW! You shared information I was unfamiliar with. Although there is no such thing as true privacy anymore, like most of you, I try to be as vigilant as possible with use of my tech devices. Our use of them in today's society is a necessary evil, and I would much rather have the convenience and assistance of technology, than not. Thank you for posting this.

~~~All we need is LOVE💖

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

hckynut — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 07:13:43 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

I choose what I say mostly by my environment, people present and so on. I am quite aware of most technological advances watching and listening. What I say has nothing to do with fear of surveillance, if I say it I really don't care who sees/hears, or records the audio/video or both.

My life does not evolve around "what if/might be's". I focus on the things that make life interesting and enjoyable, not on "if only I ●●●".

hckynut

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

Annabellethecat66 — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 19:50:42 GMT

I've tested my 'theory' and every single time....my 'theory' is proven TRUE.

I will only speak (that's speak verbally) to a person about a particular subject....then withing a day (sometimes sooner) I'll get emails about that same subject on how to fix 'it' or make it 'better'.

I worked in an office that was like the place in Maxwell Smart's office (cone of silence)...Ha! This was way back in the late 60's and early 70's.

If you have anything technological, you will have something listening.

My late husband designed computer systems. He designed the computer system for the FAA.

He taught me way back there are certain (let's call them 'buzz' words) that will alert the system.

I didn't post it but the book even breaks down what your information is worth to others.

Once you work in a 'secure' area you just naturally become paranoid.

It kills me when I think of how people just accept everything in their lives and do nothing to push back on any of it.

When I think of how I am, in retrospect, I don't understand why I'm not a totally different person.

I never was a hippie, but my sister was a full-blown hippie. I have always followed the rules and do so today. But when I see anything I think needs changing or a little help or maybe even a tweak, I'll step up.

I don't understand why I'm like that. I have to wonder if it's in the genes?

I'm not a person who thinks it's my way or the highway. Unfortunately, these days many people are like that.

We've lost the ability to communicate, to learn from each other. Because only then (when we educate each other in different ways) will our lives be better.

I see some of this 'technology' as a problem and has caused negative connotations against society as a whole.

While I enjoy all of the latest and greatest "everything"; I still find myself wondering just how good or important is all of it.

https://www.reference.com/world-view/impact-modern-technology-today-50c10fd6653d9411

While these changes have certainly been for the better, there are also plenty of negative results of modernization and globalization. Because the Internet streamlines massive amounts of information, it can easily be exploited. The loss of privacy is one of the most pressing issues in the modern world.

Technology has also had an impact on the natural world. Industrialization has led to the destruction of natural life and has possibly caused negative effects on our climate.

Interestingly enough.....my daughter just texted me a picture of my two teenage grandchildren (ages 17 and 15). They are over in DC today going to museums. It's my other granddaughter's birthday and she choose to do this. The birthday girl is turning 16.

Here's why my daughter sent it. She's upset because here they are walking around a beautiful museum in DC and my granddaughter is trying to pull away my grandson's iphone as he's staring at it. He's missing the reason they are there.

I texted my daughter this:...." Three words...'take it away'..It's a privilege...not a necessity'.

I'll see all of them in a few hours to celebrate the birthday. My grandson is 6 ft tall and weighs about 160 lbs. He's only 15. My daughter and son-in-law always laugh and say, "Easier said than done". Ha!

They're growing kids bigger these days......

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

patbz — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:19:29 GMT

The point about the garage opener was particularly interesting. I don't worry so much about my electronic devices because our society has no privacy. Think of all the cameras that businesses, traffic light cameras,cameras in buses and autos, etc.

Re: Who's Watching and Listening.......

shoesnbags — Sun, 13 Oct 2019 20:50:49 GMT

@Annabellethecat66

Is this “Consumer Reports” magazine, or another one that’s named “Consumer Magazine”? I’m asking because I’d like to read the article.