Page 24 - ARUBA TODAY

A24 TECHNOLOGY
Friday 3 January 2020
Beware of the smart device: Ways to stay private and safe

By ANICK JESDANUN Many of these devices background conversation eras for video chats. When ARE SMART LOCKS SMART?
AP Technology Writer listen constantly for com- as a command to send the you’re not using the de- Smart locks let you un-
NEW YORK (AP) — Did mands and connect to chatter to an acquitance vice, consider turning it lock doors with an app, so
someone invite a spy into you can let in guests even
your home over the holi- when you’re not home.
days? Maybe so, if a friend Burglars might try to hack
or family member gave you the system, though it’s of-
a voice-controlled speaker ten easier for them to just
or some other smart de- break a window.
vice. As a precaution, disable
It’s easy to forget, but ev- any capabilities to unlock
erything from internet- doors through a smart
connected speakers with speaker voice command,
voice assistants such as especially if you have
Amazon’s Alexa to televi- prankster kids — or teens
sion sets with built-in Netflix who might want to sneak
can be always listening — someone in.
and sometimes watching, Though digital keys can
too. be convenient for letting
As with almost all new in guests and contractors,
technology, installing such they can also leave a digi-
devices means balancing tal trail. In a child-custody
privacy risks with the con- dispute, for instance, your
veniences they offer. ex might subpoena the re-
The research firm IDC es- cords to learn that you’ve
timates worldwide ship- been staying out late on
ments of 815 million smart school nights.
speakers, security cameras If you rent and create a
and other devices in 2019, In this May 9, 2018, file photo a second generation Echo that controls the blinds as well as guest key that’s used daily,
up 23% from 2018. Many of televisions and lighting at an Amazon Experience Centers model home in Dallas, Texas. the landlord might suspect
the sales are for gifts. Associated Press an unauthorized occu-
You could sidestep the risks pant.
altogether by returning the corporate servers to carry — and so it did. around to face the wall, ABOUT THOSE TVs
devices right away. But if them out. Typically, they will One more catch: Voice especially in the bedroom Many smart TVs and TV
you decide to keep them ignore private chatter and commands sent over the and other private settings. streaming devices come
— and the artificial intel- transmit sound recordings internet are typically stored Or stick a bandage or some with mics for voice-activat-
ligence behind them — only when you trigger the indefinitely and may in- tape over the camera. It ed playback controls and
there are a few things you device, such as by press- clude conversations in the shouldn’t be recording, but video search. That means
can do to minimize their ing a button or speaking a background. They can be why tempt fate? having audio snippets
eavesdropping potential. command phrase like “OK sought in lawsuits and in- SECURITY WITH SECURITY transmitted over the inter-
THE SPEAKERS LISTEN ... AND Google.” Some gadgets vestigations. VIDEO net.
WATCH also have a mute button Reputable companies let Online security cameras let The same warnings for
Smart speakers such as Am- to disable the microphones you review and delete your you check in on your pets smart speakers apply here.
azon’s Echo and Google completely. voice history, Amazon now or kids when you’re not There’s a simple fix if you
Home let you check weath- But there’s no easy way for lets you request automatic home. aren’t using the internet
er and appointments with consumers to verify those deletions after three or 18 Amazon’s Ring doorbell features on your smart
simple voice commands. safeguards. In one case, months — but you need lets you check who’s at the TV: Just don’t connect
Fancier versions come with the Alexa assistant in an to set that up, and there’s door without getting up. the TV to your Wi-Fi in the
cameras and screens. Echo device misheard no option to keep Ama- Here’s the rub: If you can first place. Of course, this
zon from saving your com- view video on an app, it’s won’t work if you’re not us-
mand history at all. possible that a skilled hack- ing a separate gadget for
Until recently, tech com- er can, too. streaming video.
panies allowed employees When you use the same TOYS THAT TALK
and contractors to review password at multiple servic- Kids might get a kick out
the voice interactions for es, a hacker stealing your of dolls and other toys that
quality control — and some password from one place talk back. But if the toy is
of those details leaked. Fol- can try it on the camera connected to the internet,
lowing a backlash, many service, too. pay attention to how much
companies are at least So don’t reuse password. control it’s giving parents
making it clearer and eas- When available, enable and whether it’s letting
ier to opt out of human re- two-factor authentication, kids connect to the outside
view. Pay attention to your which requires you to enter world.
choices. a temporary code sent as You can check online to
If you have kids, set up a a text to ensure it’s you. see if other parents or con-
passcode for shopping if Again, you might want to sumer groups have identi-
your speaker allows it. Oth- turn the camera to face the fied problems.
erwise, it can be child’s wall when you’re home. It’s And be sure to install the
play for a kid to order toys a pain, though, and if you latest apps and other soft-
and other goodies through forget to turn it back when ware updates, as they may
Alexa. you leave, it defeats the come with fixes for flaws
As for those screen mod- purpose of having a secu- that can otherwise be ex-
els, many also have cam- rity camera. ploited by hackers.q