Posted on 06/12/2021 8:07:22 AM PDT by UMCRevMom@aol.com
Amazon Sidewalk launched Tuesday, and those who have privacy concerns about their internet connection should opt out immediately.
Sidewalk uses Ring security cameras, along with Amazon Echo devices, to create a shared wireless network, The Washington Post reported.
Devices that qualify automatically connect to the system, which would essentially create low bandwidth communal access to the internet, as it would use a part of any available bandwidth on neighbors’ WiFi.
But there are obviously serious security concerns, even though Amazon says it will be using “three layers of encryption to ensure data is visible only to the intended party.”
However, experts warn that no level of encryption is completely foolproof.
“It is slowly eliminating the notion of ‘off-the-grid,’” said Matthew Guariglia, a policy analyst at the Electronic Frontier Foundation. “As long as Amazon is storing all that data … all of that can be accessible to police. It’s impossible to think of things as just private or public surveillance anymore.”
There is also the possibility of the consumer being charged for more data than they actually use under this program, as Amazon would be sharing a small part of it with the user’s community.
For those looking to opt out, users should go to the control center or account settings on their Ring or Echo app and select Amazon Sidewalk.
Once they are on Amazon Sidewalk, they can use the slider to disable the use of their WiFi network for the program.
Here is how to opt out of Amazon Sidewalk: Start by opening the Alexa app or Ring app and clicking more on the bottoms right.
Watch the video below for the rest! @WPBF25News pic.twitter.com/d0gIcep640 — Ana Espinosa (@WPBF_Ana) June 8, 2021
Amazon Sidewalk has now launched, meaning everyone with an #Amazon device will automatically be opted in.
(Excerpt) Read more at westernjournal.com ...
I am in the similar rural situation and have to use my phone as a modem and internet access. I still leave my PC radio off and do not use my wireless hotspot. I USB tether hardwired instead and it also keeps my phone battery topped off.
That is a very good question. Is there an opportunity for this network to tap data resources from non-participants too?
Would they if they thought they could get away with it? You bet...
What is this “neighbor” thingy?
(rural living...try it, you will like it...)
jeff bezos wants to dominate the world. Don’t let him dominate your internet connection.
The range on these devices is up to a half mile. That’s the device THEY use to network ... not the one you get to use.
But at any rate, we were once farther out into the burbs than we are now, but then all the spaces between have been filling up. These local farmers can make too much money changing over wide open spaces for developments. A recent one I saw advertising their tear down sale isn’t even bothering to keep a small spread with their nice new home they’ve already got, but is upright leaving. Of course it’s their property, so no recriminations ... but the rest of us are being left crowded just the same.
When you see httpS: that S tells you all transmissions are encrypted. They can intercept your transmitted data, but it is extremely difficult to decipher encrypted data.
I didn’t explain that right apparently. I am fully aware of how sockets work, “content” is not the curiosity. I was talking about stealing data bandwidth from WiFi connections of folks who do not have these devices or part of the network. This would put an warranted load and burden on others without permission. It would be forced “cost sharing”.
And your retail purchase profile among many other profiles. Now they can group the whole neighborhood and also see who's an outlier; who's the person who doesn't fit into the neighborhood. They can track which neighbors are friendly enough to visit each other. Eventually, this data will be accessed by police to investigate crimes. Stalkers, voyeurs can more easily be caught or a better case made against them when a girl disappears etc. There will be instances when innocent people are hassled or worse in a case of mistaken digital identity. Then of course with our current uber political society, nefarious actors who have access to the data at their job will use it or offer the data to others. Can't get that building permit for no good reason? Vehicle getting vandalized in multiple locations? Do you feel like you're being followed? Endless bad things could come from this.
There's a reason movies like Ex Machina or TV series like Black Mirror are made. It's a warning. Problem is, it also gives people evil ideas they may never have come up with on their own.
We're rural and everyone's driveway is too long for wifi to be accessed from the road and I doubt anyone out here in the boonies has smart devices aside from maybe their TV. I bought one a few years back and purposely bought a dumb TV. No wifi, no microphone. Wife has a cell phone. We get a cell phone signal only on good days here. GPS apps can't get a fix unless you stand in an open field. Can't get a fix up by the house.
This is why at least once a week I do a quick google and youtube search on swimsuits and lingerie. It usually gives me a week of pleasant filler ads.
Similar situation here. There are three local wireless networks that show up on my Laptop network manager when I turn my wireless on. Because I do not have a router or need my wireless on for any reason I just leave it off. I know who these three sources belong too personally.
But several times in the past couple years we have had vehicles park out on the main road, so I always go turn on my wireless out of curiosity. And I find that they fired up a new unknown network that tries to hook to my wireless connection on my laptop. And that vehicle is absolutely the only source it can come from.
Oh I'm way further out than that. Nearest permanent neighbor is half mile away. Neighbor either side of me own their properties for recreation and come down some weekends. They don't bother with paying for internet. Not sure if they even keep phone service. Gravel road and I know most vehicles. If someone does stop, I go check the mail or just go ask; Can I help you?
We used to have cheap looking little black plastic cased DSL rmodem/outers and I could get a weak signal at my shop, 220 ft away. They did some upgrade downtown and burned of half of people's modem/routers in the service area. We're 20 miles away from downtown and ours burned up. They just happened to have brand new ones they bought and had been fazing out whenever someone came in with a broken router. Fancy things with three 8 inch antennas on it but now I don't even get a signal at my shop. LOL. I'm going to buy a long, direct burial grade cat 5 cable and run that to it and stick a cheap router on it so I can walk around with my rugged tablet. I use it as a scan tool for cars and for taking notes.
I don’t know if any of the seniors here in the mobile home park have one. Or an Alexa. But I will check my modem for unwanted traffic
The very definition of “stupidity” is the advice to go to some settings and “opt” out...
That has a 10% chance of protection...
The definition of “smart” is to immediately totally remove & trash all the spy devices...
Probably 95% of the sheeple will simply shrug their shoulders and blissfully resume grazing...
The communists are on an unstoppable roll...
Lol. I never get the YouTube connection, though; probably because of privacy software and blocking options on my end. A few mini-banner ads on my phone do show up but they are practically too small to read or gaze upon.
Bfl
You will be followed by the Ring cameras, your location will be known by the cell phone. A map of your movements will be available at all times to the police.
The police already asks for the Ring video whenever a crime has happened and I bet when not.
Yep, better yet that you are further away. :)
I’m a little bit of a prepper and have always enjoyed working on the yard even as a renter and always wanted to own but couldn’t see paying East coast prices so I dragged us out to MO. The wife wasn’t thrilled but put up with it. She’s come around in the past few years and is quite good with it. Especially after covid, riots, election.
We lived fully off grid for about ten years way out in the boonies. And there is such a thing as being too far away from neighbors. We couldn’t leave our place alone even for a couple days. Thieves would come clean it out because there was no one around to see them or stop them.
Were we are now we are 50 miles from any other civilization, but there are only four households, all friends watching each others backs. All about 100 yards apart from each other in our little private quarter section neighborhood watch program. I have been lucky with my wife, she has always loved not being in the current mess we call society. :)
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