If it hasn’t happened to you yet — it will.
You are having a conversation with someone and mention a product brand.
When the conversation you now see ads for the very product mentioned.
The default settings on your phone are programmed to record everything you say. For many, this is a disturbing discovery.
Is it legal for my phone to listen to me?
When you “allow” apps like Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat they request access to your phone’s microphone. This means that you are essentially permitting them to hear you.
Audio Triggers
Smart assistant services like Siri and Google depend on audio triggers to capture bits of vocal data from your conversations that can appear as “coincidental” ads on your social networks. Privacy policies and end-user agreements allow for voice triggers to route promotional messages to you. Their goal is to create personalized advertising.
What We Are Told
The formal statement on this is that: “Facebook, Google, and Apple aren’t selling your personal data to third parties.” We are told that the data is merely leverage for advertisers and marketers to sell products that you may like.
I offer no comment on that.
The reality of your voice data being harvested is a bit creepy. But brands like Amazon use this feature as a way to help serve you better.
However, it doesn’t stop with your phone.
According to the FBI, hackers can control your smart TV.
And just in case it’s crossed your mind, smartphone cameras can be used to spy on you. A researcher claims to have written an Android app that takes photos and videos using a smartphone camera, even while the screen is turned off.
Spyware of this sort has been around for a long time. The malware called Blackshades, found in Windows, can secretly record victims with their computer’s webcam.
There are other Android spyware apps readily available, such as mSpy, that allow snoops to access a device’s activity such as text messages, location, and even make audio recordings.
According to an article Mike Lady and Kim Paterson, graduate researchers at Cal Poly, in California, uploaded to Play Store a Google Glass spyware app (disguised as a note-taking app called Malnotes).
Google only discovered the Glass spyware and took it down from Play Store when the professors tweeted about their research experiment.
There are some steps you can take:
If you have an iPhone, going to Settings – Facebook – Settings – then slide the Microphone switch to left so it turns from green to white (that means Off)
If you have an Android, going to Settings – Applications – Application Manager – Facebook – Permissions – then Turn Off the mic.
For other apps that tap into your smartphone’s microphone, such as Snapchat, WhatsApp, and Instagram, you can turn their microphones off by going into your phone’s Settings – finding the specific app – then switching their mic to Off.
Additionally, You Can:
- Avoid apps that request permissions they don’t need.
- Use an anti-virus scan before running apps for the first time.
For Android Users:
- Disable the “OK Google” feature in the phone’s Settings app.
- Turn off listening and disable the Google search app’s microphone.
For iPhone Users:
- Check your phone settings and review the permissions you’ve given to your apps. If some of them can access your microphone for no solid reason, it’s a red flag.
- Delete your voice request history.
- Use a VPN. A virtual private network masks your IP address and encrypts traffic, thus enhancing your privacy.
- Update your software regularly.
How to stop an Android from listening to you by disabling Google Assistant
How to stop an Android from listening to you by disabling Google Assistant
Open the Settings app.
Tap Google.
In the services section, select Account services.
Choose Search, Assistant & Voice.
Tap Voice.
In the Hey Google section, select Voice Match.
Turn off Hey Google by swiping the button to the left.How To Stop Your iPhone From Snooping On You
Open the Settings app.
Tap Siri & Search.
Next to “Listen for 'Hey, Siri'” toggle the switch to OFF (white).Hope that this article helped to clear things up!
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