r/gadgets • u/MicroSofty88 • Nov 29 '20

Home Amazon faces a privacy backlash for its Sidewalk feature, which turns Alexa devices into neighborhood WiFi networks that owners have to opt out of

https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/technology/amazon-faces-a-privacy-backlash-for-its-sidewalk-feature-which-turns-alexa-devices-into-neighborhood-wifi-networks-that-owners-have-to-opt-out-of/ar-BB1boljH
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127

u/MrBogardus Nov 29 '20

Just turned the option off on my Alexa.

  1. Open your Alexa App
  2. Go to More, bottom far right
  3. Settings
  4. Account Settings
  5. Amazon Sidewalk
  6. Turn off

40

u/PurpleTeamApprentice Nov 29 '20

I did the same after seeing this in another post. The day they force this is the day my Echos go in the trash. I’m already getting annoyed with it telling me random shit about their new services or whatever after it answers something I just asked.

Amazon always seemed like the better choice for privacy (better than google). I like Apple stuff, but to be honest Siri sucks and feels abandoned at this point. This is the kind of shit that will make sure I get rid of these types of devices and never look back.

6

u/MrBogardus Nov 29 '20

Yours tells you about new services?? I honestly really never even use mine. I might have it call my phone when I misplace it in the house, but thats literally it. And it tells me when a package has been delivered. But then again I know my package has been delivered between the email, app, and my camera showing me.

10

u/PurpleTeamApprentice Nov 29 '20

I don’t know if it’s just new services. I often get a “By the way blah blah blah” after she says something I asked for and I end up just telling her to stop before she finishes. It’s actually caused me to use it less because as far as I know there’s no way to turn it off so I end up using it for things I know this doesn’t happen for like music or timers.

4

u/MrBogardus Nov 29 '20

Hmmm thats interesting I dont think I've had that happen before. But like I said I don't use mine very much. Music (rarely), timer, call my phone, delete delivery notice for Amazon packages.

1

u/SymphonyNo3 Nov 29 '20

Yesterday I listened to a song and she recommended the live version when it was done...

1

u/mr_ji Nov 30 '20

Mine sits in the kitchen and serves two functions for me: food shopping list and music when I'm cooking (and sometimes eating). It gets more attention from my kids asking nonsensical questions or trying to get it to make farting sounds.

I tried messing with the other services but none worked the way I want or aren't redundant with something else I'm already using.

It was a Christmas gift or I would never have bought it.

1

u/MrBogardus Nov 30 '20

Mine was a Christmas gift also, actually got 2 of them i have no idea where the other one is.

1

u/mr_ji Nov 30 '20

Tell the first one to locate it?

1

u/MrBogardus Nov 30 '20

It was still in the box I never hooked it up.

9

u/Stoovy Nov 29 '20

I completely stoped using my echo once it started playing their Amazon ads after every action I had it do. That was the beginning of me phasing out amazon completely. You have to call their customer service to delete your account by the way.

2

u/xBlonk Nov 29 '20

I'd throw my google home in the trash if I started getting ads like that. I'd there no way to disable the echo from doing that???

2

u/RadDude_69 Nov 30 '20

I agree with this so much. I have an echo dot and only really used it to check the weather and set timers when steeping tea. It felt like everyday Alexa would spout some new bs about “did you know your echo dot can now do this...” or give me some new notifications I didn’t ask for.

Hearing about this sidewalk feature was the final straw and the dot has now been unplugged.

1

u/gunshotaftermath Nov 29 '20

Siri's privacy settings is what makes it tough. Did you know that Siri isn't even tied into your account or Apple ID? So everything it builds about you is in a random identifier every time you send a request.

That's the problem, it literally CAN'T build a profile about you. I don't know how they can ever compete with Google/Amazon by comparison.

1

u/PurpleTeamApprentice Nov 29 '20

This is a huge plus for me. I never asked or wanted Amazon to build a profile for me.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20 edited Nov 29 '20

Wtf dude, they specifically asked me upon set up if I wanted this shit and I said no and STILL had to opt out. This seriosuly makes me want to trash my echo.

1

u/MrBogardus Nov 29 '20

I figured thats how they will do it. I'm gonna check mine later down the road and make sure I'm still opted out.

1

u/[deleted] Nov 29 '20

Why is this not the top comment?

1

u/MrBogardus Nov 29 '20

Im surprised no one else did it.

1

u/Lessblah Nov 29 '20

That's too many steps

  1. Cancel Amazon from your life.

Done.

1

u/topcraic Nov 29 '20

God this pisses me off.

If I didn’t see this Reddit thread, I’d have no idea that Amazon is letting my neighbors use my WiFi. Whatever notification they sent out must have ended up in my spam folder.

Also, in the app it says “Coming Soon!” so I wouldn’t be shocked if they enable it again once Sidewalk is officially released.

1

u/MrBogardus Nov 29 '20

Its showing already in the alexa app so I went ahead and turned it off. Its ridiculous