Good luck with that Google.
Posted on 08/22/2017 9:39:19 AM PDT by Enlightened1
DID you know that Google has been recording you without your knowledge?
The technology giant has effectively turned millions of its users' smartphones into listening devices that can capture intimate conversations - even when they aren't in the room.
If you own an Android phone, it's likely that you've used Google's Assistant, which is similar to Apple's Siri.
Google says it only turns on and begins recording when you utter the words "OK Google".
But a Sun investigation has found that the virtual assistant is a little hard of hearing.
In some cases, just saying "OK" in conversation prompted it to switch on your phone and record around 20 seconds of audio.
It regularly switches on the microphone as you go about your day-to-day activities, none the wiser.
Once Google is done recording, it uploads the audio files to its computer servers - often dubbed "the cloud".
These files are accessible from absolutely anywhere in the world - as long as you have an internet connection.
That means any device that is signed into your personal Gmail or Google account can access the library of your deepest, darkest secrets.
So if you're on a laptop right now and signed into Gmail - you could have a listen.
(Excerpt) Read more at thesun.co.uk ...
Yes - more than likely there’s a “shelf life” except for certain, targeted individuals.
I guess you are safe then....
My phone answered what was said on tv. :)
“ok, what you do want for dinner hun?”...
“ I dont know, whatever you want dear?”
exciting stuff there....
Here is a preview:
Well, the rumor was we caught 1993 World Trade Center terrorist Ramzi Yousef ordering a pizza in Pakistan (apparently with ISI’s help at that time - more friendly they were).
In any case, he’s in Supermax right now it appears.
So, sometimes, dinner is interesting, lol.
They are not using human labor to monitor everything. What they are doing is gather lots and lots of data from hits to Google by people, then use computer algorithms (sophisticated computer models) to help them figure out who might buy what, then pass it along to vendors.
Just the other day at homeschool co-op I had my iPhone in my hand and another mom asked where I purchased my son’s science books. I told her the company name. Less than 30 minute later I had an email from that company telling me that this particular science curriculum was 35 percent off.
I never got emails from the company before that.
> speakers don’t record
Every common dynamic loudspeaker can be used as a microphone.
Not that this is how your phone does it.
> it’s stupid that an android can activate it’s own mic. Last time I had one, you had to press the Okay Google icon to start.
If you get a better Android phone, there’s an option to have it listen all the time. Kind of useful when driving.
> The mic is always hot and always listening for “Okay Google”
Anything with a microphone, a processor and a network connection (from a $10 prepaid phone on up) can listen to you and report on you, if so programmed.
The key is not necessarily to stop this ability, because that would cripple us. It’s to stop the people who want to abuse it. Any way necessary.
Good luck with that Google.
The key is not necessarily to stop this ability, because that would cripple us. It’s to stop the people who want to abuse it. Any way necessary.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
How do you define “Abuse” and more importantly, how do you catch and prove such abuse?
We created FISA so we could spy on foreign powers attempts at espionage inside our borders as well as organize terrorism there as well, but then you have many in government who use the information that flows through it for political ends. We have the NSA who I always trusted to have our backs against sophisticated electronic and digital threats but you got partisans in their midsts. The IRS is just there to collect taxes? heh Who even know who is working for the people and who is working against them anymore?
Your phone has
- a microphone
- an always-on microprocessor
- running software you did not write
- always connected to a network
so, it can spy on you, unless you turn it off. In theory, it can spy on you when off, too, since the off switch is controlled by the microprocessor, which has a low-power running mode.
> how do you catch and prove such abuse?
At some point, proof will consist of the opinion of enough of “us” and “we” will take physical action.
that i understand. just seems like lots and lots and lots of wasted data...
I’ve been ntocing advertising that is beyond coincidental for years and finally disabled app permission to access camera/microphone for most applications.....it makes my phone less user friendly but the “coincidental” advertising has dropped significantly
Another option is to root your phone and switch to Lineage OS but make damn sure you know what you are doing beforehand as it’s easy to brick the phone, you’ll lose some user friendliness, and most likely your employer will block email access, etc once your phone is rooted or running an unofficial OS.
Don’t use your phone.
Go old school.
I am amazed at at all the freepers who are willing to give up their privacy because “Well, my life is boring, so let them listen.”
Recording conversations without permission is a felony in many states. The Google CEO and anyone else involved in this need to be locked up.
That permission is buried somewhere in the four page single spaced "privacy policy" adhesion contract you have to agree to in order to use your phone.
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