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Did Amazon install surveillance software on its devices this past week?
6/18/2020 | Rideforever

Posted on 06/18/2020 8:26:40 AM PDT by RideForever

I'm concerned about an Amazon Fire HD 10 tablet that started showing ads on the 'lock' page without warning about 5 days ago. Amazon will 'unlock' your Amazon device from the obtrusive ads for $15. My investigation determined that Amazon claims that the tablet was sold at a discount in order to add ads, and that's why they are charging $15 to remove the ads.

Well, odds are that Amazon turned the ads on last week when my device started showing ads after a software update. What is really unsettling is that this device has no access to the battery to power it down. When I do power it down at night, the next morning it starts with new ads on the lock page. That implies that it is autonomously controlled and overrides the owner's physical command to SHUT DOWN. And then there's new ads on it the next morning when I turn it on, without HAVING TO POWER IT UP first.

So I'm guessing the turmoil of internet traffic these past few days is partially due to Amazon's activation of untold numbers of Amazon devices collecting device use history, sending it back to Amazon, and getting new ads in return, after reactivating a device that was supposedly physically turned off.

So how much should I ask Amazon to pay me on a monthly basis to continue to have access to my device after I shut it off? $100 / month? After all, now it can turn itself on and record location, conversations, downloads, etc., etc. I wonder if it is recording the sound of my keystrokes as I write this. Will the liberals get a report of this note for future targeting on a political basis?

Inquiring minds need to know ....


TOPICS: Computers/Internet; Conspiracy
KEYWORDS: amazon; apple; districtofcolumbia; firehd10; iphone; jeffbezos; kindle; microsoft; washingtoncompost; washingtonpost
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1 posted on 06/18/2020 8:26:40 AM PDT by RideForever
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To: RideForever

People used to be opposed to espionage ... now many rely on espionage devices.


2 posted on 06/18/2020 8:29:55 AM PDT by Rurudyne (Standup Philosopher)
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To: RideForever
Do whatever you like. Most likely you're mistaken on how your using the device as a "Special Offers" device. We have actual dozens of devices from Amazon and they don't perform the way you're describing. It's also possible you installed software with malware.

If you're that worried, set up a Pi-Hole as your DNS service and you can black hole device-metrics-us.amazon.com. Our devices make 40k calls a day to them...
3 posted on 06/18/2020 8:30:02 AM PDT by TexasGunLover
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To: RideForever
Amazon will 'unlock' your Amazon device from the obtrusive ads for $15.

By now, we should not be surprised by the devil's devices.

4 posted on 06/18/2020 8:31:31 AM PDT by Texas Eagle
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To: RideForever

I bought a cheaper Fire with ads 8 or so years ago. Some months ago, the ads disappeared.

I don’t know about the newer Fires, but I just keep my wifi off unless I’m on the internet or shopping Amazon. Does your device not have a way to turn off your interent connection? And are you really turning it off rather than just putting it in sleep mode?


5 posted on 06/18/2020 8:32:54 AM PDT by PAR35
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To: RideForever

Is that a one-time $15 to remove ads forever, or $15 a month, or $15 a year?


6 posted on 06/18/2020 8:34:45 AM PDT by JimRed (TERM LIMITS, NOW! Build the Wall Faster! TRUTH is the new HATE SPEECH.)
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To: RideForever

it has always been that way. a fire tablet is a marketing device that leads you right into the amazon sales funnel.

they all but tell you that going in.


7 posted on 06/18/2020 8:36:28 AM PDT by JohnBrowdie
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To: RideForever
1) Jailbreak 2) Remove OTA

You're welcome.

8 posted on 06/18/2020 8:44:14 AM PDT by StAnDeliver (I don't owe you my freedom.)
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To: RideForever

I have a ROKU TV and use the Amazon app on it - haven’t seen such ads....yet.


9 posted on 06/18/2020 8:47:12 AM PDT by trebb (Don't howl about illegal leeches, or Trump in general, while not donating to FR - it's hypocritical.)
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To: JohnBrowdie

“they all but tell you that going in.”


The Fire HD 10 in question was received as a gift, so no mention of ads were made when I received it, or of any ‘discount’ which was likely unadvertised. And I never registered it with Amazon.


10 posted on 06/18/2020 8:48:20 AM PDT by RideForever (We were born to be tested)
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To: RideForever
The Fire HD 10 in question was received as a gift, so no mention of ads were made when I received it, or of any ‘discount’ which was likely unadvertised. And I never registered it with Amazon.
I believe it's all explained in the setup -- home screen management, IIRC.

look, it is what it is. the original idea is that they give you the tablet at a break even price, but in return, you allow amazon to invade your soul.

11 posted on 06/18/2020 8:52:27 AM PDT by JohnBrowdie
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To: RideForever

Also understand that all Amazon devices spy on you. Even in a drawer, it’s listening to everything you say.


12 posted on 06/18/2020 9:00:53 AM PDT by DarrellZero
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To: RideForever

I called Amazon about all the clutter on my Fire. They first tried to get the 15 bucks, then removed the ad crap no charge.


13 posted on 06/18/2020 9:07:50 AM PDT by olepap
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To: RideForever

I bought my Kindle HD with the allowed ads because it was cheaper. They didn’t cause a problem until they started using videos which kept freezing my screen, and I’d have to shut the thing down and start all over again. This went on for a while, then I called their customer support number and explained the problem I was having. The woman I spoke to disabled the ads on my Kindle. That was well over a year ago, and even after updates, I still have no ads showing up.


14 posted on 06/18/2020 9:11:38 AM PDT by mass55th ("Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway." ~~ John Wayne)
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To: DarrellZero

“Also understand that all Amazon devices spy on you. Even in a drawer, it’s listening to everything you say.”

It didn’t seem to in the past when I shut it down, using both the short hold with ‘yes’ response; and the long hold (approx 10 sec) which is an immediate SHUT DOWN. I had to hold the power button for 2+ sec to start it up, and it was obvious that time was being taken to start up apps.

That changed 5 days ago.


15 posted on 06/18/2020 9:12:23 AM PDT by RideForever (We were born to be tested)
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To: RideForever

They are accessing it when you power down? Put it in a Faraday cage. Otherwise known as a steel cookie tin with metal tape around the seams. I bet they won’t tamper with it then.


16 posted on 06/18/2020 9:19:43 AM PDT by Cincinnatus.45-70 (What do DemocRats enjoy more than a truckload of dead babies? Unloading them with a pitchfork!)
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To: RideForever

You’re just parino]]]]]]]##$*&^^ **(.... **()(_*&^&^%^$$^%&


17 posted on 06/18/2020 9:22:14 AM PDT by 11th_VA (May you live in interesting times - Ancient Chinese Proverb)
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To: RideForever

So now they know I use my Kindle to listen to the Mark Levin Show?

Guess I’ll see you fellas at the gulag.


18 posted on 06/18/2020 9:29:44 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer)
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To: DarrellZero
Also understand that all Amazon devices spy on you. Even in a drawer, it’s listening to everything you say.

Leave it in a spare room with a TV tuned to Univision several hours per day. Then all the ads will be in Spanish.


19 posted on 06/18/2020 9:31:15 AM PDT by Buckeye McFrog (Patrick Henry would have been an anti-vaxxer)
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To: RideForever

Three years ago I bought a Moto phone from Amazon. It was $50 off for the agreement to accept ads. It was a nuisance for awhile until I discovered that the ad window could be put on the 3rd page of the phone where I almost never see it.


20 posted on 06/18/2020 9:37:29 AM PDT by DeFault User
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