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Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

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Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#621

Post by _b8r0 »

AnaniasAnanas wrote: post #565
harryh wrote: post #525

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The idea that if these devices ran free software they would be more humane than the proprietary software they currently run is ridiculous. What are you giving your mom? A Mac running OSX or a PC running Linux?

> What are you giving your mom? A Mac running OSX or a PC running Linux? I gave my 60 year old mother my old PC running Debian with dwm as its WM. She likes it. > The idea that if these devices ran free software they would be more humane than the proprietary software they currently run is ridiculous. Is it though? I am pretty sure that Amazon already gathers free data from its users, such a thing would not exist in a…

To be fair, don't the Alexa service and the Echo devices run on Linux?

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#622

Post by titzer »

mns wrote: post #221
jadedhacker wrote: post #125

I feel creeped out by these home listening devices and I don't own one, but don't our phones already have this capability? You can turn "Ok Google" on on an android phone. I sometimes record audio, and the mic is incredibly good. Is there a substantial difference between our phones and these devices? EDIT: Just realized the substantial difference is that Google and Amazon own all of these things. They don't control a…

I got an Echo Dot a month ago, because there was a special offer on Amazon for the Philips Hue system, and it included one free. After reading this and having a discussion with my girlfriend last night about how she needs a backup of something, but we don't have a DVD writer at home (she's not tech savvy and thinks people still back-up stuff on DVDs), and now, the second day my Amazon daily offers is filled with port…

It might just be a coincidence and a psychological bias that you noticed it, but given that it would have a very, very clear economic benefit to Amazon if it were true, we're stuck with these facts:

1.) They have an economic incentive to do so

2.) Only they know how their systems work

3.) Their network traffic is encrypted

4.) They face legal risks and user backlash if caught doing so

Given 2+3, you can't be entirely sure that they aren't doing it. If they deny it, your only recourse is to hope that their cost/benefit calculus considers 4.) to be more costly in terms of dollars.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#623

Post by toxik »

beenBoutIT wrote: post #294
pcunite wrote: post #232

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The Personal Cloud is what we should be building for ourselves. Servers running in your closet at your house.

Any idiot who breaks into your home would be well positioned to steal your server along with all of your memories and use them for ransom/blackmail/etc.

So like a computer then.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#624

Post by binnesjohn »

JTbane wrote: post #223
djsumdog wrote: post #182

I've told my roommate I'm moving out if he ever buys an Alex/Google/Apple assistant device. I have a microphone and I've been intending to get one of the open source solutions working and just tie it in to mpd, weather and a few other things. But all the processing should really be done on your own device, by hardware you own, software that's open and that you configure, and not send up to someone else's computer (ak…

>I've told my roommate I'm moving out if he ever buys an Alex/Google/Apple assistant device. You would also need to leave if they have a smartphone of any kind...

Best way! Im happy to see that there is still people with common sense

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#625

Post by JepZ »

AnaniasAnanas wrote: post #450
yason wrote: post #297

I am oversimplifying here but: * install device that is designed to listen to speech in the house * the device is connected to internet * the device is capable of contacting other internet peers/services/hosts * the device knows a bit about its owner's internet presence such as contacts * the device is equipped with simple conversational user interface based on fuzzy human speech-command detection These basically bou…

* the device is composed of proprietary blobs Amazon might as well record everything that you say and send it to the NSA.

You are right, but your argument is beside the point. The point is, that those devices are not designed to work 100% accurate. So even if Amazon has no malicious intent, such privacy-invading events will happen!

They are just unlikely, not impossible.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#626

Post by Uberphallus »

mindfulhack wrote: post #598
gnicholas wrote: post #536

Amazon's response, from Ars' article: > Echo woke up due to a word in background conversation sounding like "Alexa." Then, the subsequent conversation was heard as a "send message" request. At which point, Alexa said out loud "To whom?" At which point, the background conversation was interpreted as a name in the customers contact list. Alexa then asked out loud, "[contact name], right?" Alexa then interpreted backgro…

I want some YouTube tech channel to test this out and see if this story by Amazon is bullshit or not. Have a private-sounding conversation and intersperse it with a sudden nonchalant, 'hey, alexa visited me today and...' and then keep talking and then 'I really want to send a message to these students, you know and...' and so on and so forth.

Not a test, but obligatory link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMRI-YDHT2I

When the episode was aired there were numerous reports of the show triggering Alexas and Google Homes of the viewers.

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#627

Post by krylon »

Piskvorrr wrote: post #501
acranox wrote: post #389

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'd be amazed at my dad's ability to butt dial people with an iPhone. It's possible. Like multiple times per week possible.

Lock doesn't have to be swipe-to-open. I'd be amazed if he could buttprint-unlock ;)

http://anuscan.com/

It might be a bit awkward at first to do that in front of strangers, but once it catches on, that will wear off. ;-)

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#628

Post by TheSpiceIsLife »

"He told us that the device just guessed what we were saying," she said. Danielle said the device did not audibly advise her it was preparing to send the recording, something it’s programmed to do.

Is it possible there's an exploit out in the wild for these devices that allows an attacker to control the device remotely.

Is it possible an attacker told the device not to make an audible announcement?

Re: Amazon device recorded private conversation, sent it out to random contact

#630

Post by wepple »

TheSpiceIsLife wrote: post #628

"He told us that the device just guessed what we were saying," she said. Danielle said the device did not audibly advise her it was preparing to send the recording, something it’s programmed to do. Is it possible there's an exploit out in the wild for these devices that allows an attacker to control the device remotely. Is it possible an attacker told the device not to make an audible announcement?

Possible, technically, of course. But if someone is going to exfil voice, why did they send it to a random contact who would then alert the owners?
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