Some Amazon Echo speakers can be hacked to spy on you
Some of Amazon’s Echo speakers, designed to listen and record conversations if so commanded, can be hacked to record everything and transmit those recordings remotely.
First of all, you have to have actual access to the device to mess with its hardware. Then, you have to make sure it’s either a 2015 or 2016 model, as brand new Echo versions can’t be hacked similarly.
But if these conditions are met, then a hacker can quickly take the Echo’s base apart and load on it custom firmware that will instruct it to record everything spoken around it. That data can then be sent out to a remote server. That’s what Barnes did in his security tests. Hacking a home speaker may be the best way to spy on certain targets, even if this implies infiltrating their homes to actually mess with the hardware.
This is why I want nothing to do with smart machines. The dumber the machine, the better. I see no reason for my speakers, my washing machine, my car, or my stove, to be connected the internet. All such capability provides is a way to cause problems.
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Some of Amazon’s Echo speakers, designed to listen and record conversations if so commanded, can be hacked to record everything and transmit those recordings remotely.
First of all, you have to have actual access to the device to mess with its hardware. Then, you have to make sure it’s either a 2015 or 2016 model, as brand new Echo versions can’t be hacked similarly.
But if these conditions are met, then a hacker can quickly take the Echo’s base apart and load on it custom firmware that will instruct it to record everything spoken around it. That data can then be sent out to a remote server. That’s what Barnes did in his security tests. Hacking a home speaker may be the best way to spy on certain targets, even if this implies infiltrating their homes to actually mess with the hardware.
This is why I want nothing to do with smart machines. The dumber the machine, the better. I see no reason for my speakers, my washing machine, my car, or my stove, to be connected the internet. All such capability provides is a way to cause problems.
Readers!
Please consider supporting my work here at Behind the Black. Your support allows me the freedom and ability to analyze objectively the ongoing renaissance in space, as well as the cultural changes -- for good or ill -- that are happening across America. Fourteen years ago I wrote that SLS and Orion were a bad ideas, a waste of money, would be years behind schedule, and better replaced by commercial private enterprise. Only now does it appear that Washington might finally recognize this reality.
In 2020 when the world panicked over COVID I wrote that the panic was unnecessary, that the virus was apparently simply a variation of the flu, that masks were not simply pointless but if worn incorrectly were a health threat, that the lockdowns were a disaster and did nothing to stop the spread of COVID. Only in the past year have some of our so-called experts in the health field have begun to recognize these facts.
Your help allows me to do this kind of intelligent analysis. I take no advertising or sponsors, so my reporting isn't influenced by donations by established space or drug companies. Instead, I rely entirely on donations and subscriptions from my readers, which gives me the freedom to write what I think, unencumbered by outside influences.
You can support me either by giving a one-time contribution or a regular subscription. There are four ways of doing so:
1. Zelle: This is the only internet method that charges no fees. All you have to do is use the Zelle link at your internet bank and give my name and email address (zimmerman at nasw dot org). What you donate is what I get.
2. Patreon: Go to my website there and pick one of five monthly subscription amounts, or by making a one-time donation.
3. A Paypal Donation or subscription:
4. Donate by check, payable to Robert Zimmerman and mailed to
Behind The Black
c/o Robert Zimmerman
P.O.Box 1262
Cortaro, AZ 85652
You can also support me by buying one of my books, as noted in the boxes interspersed throughout the webpage or shown in the menu above.
I find the “connected device” dialogue very fascinating. There are three camps: Mr. Zimmerman’s (completely against unnecessary connected devices), my camp (they serve a purpose but I am very skeptical and weary), and the “I don’t care about privacy” camp (the name speaks for itself.)
I like being in the middle. I certainly see the idealogical benefits of an everything-connected society. But I, like Mr. Zimmerman, refuse to participate in it due to privacy and security concerns.
What I am saying is, I don’t think it is correct to shun the technological movement in this direction. We should not close the doors on connected devices because of the possible benefits. On the other hand, I think there is much work to be done to make the devices of the future safe for everyone (if it is even possible to make them safe).
On a related note – watching employers surgically insert microchips inside their employees makes me want to vomit.
I think smart TV’s are one of the dumbest idea’s, I had to do a bit of hunting for a dumb 4K tv, I have a smart blue ray player, in case I want to access Netflix or utube, but I can un power that with ease,. My guess is that buying a non-smart tv will soon become difficult , if not impossible.
I concur exactly with your last paragraph, Bob. At best, when problems occur, it will likely create a cascade of non-functionality. At worst, others will control what you can and can’t do.
I’m in the “useful applications in some situations, but you cannot really trust any of them,” camp.
And some of this stuff definitely falls into the “Ideas so Great they have to be made Mandatory” realm, in that they are inherently intrusive by their very application.
I have a (newer) digital electric-meter, installed by my utility.
Now, they are offering to charge me time-of-day differential rates, but to participate, they want control of my A/C and will install yet another device to manipulate the coil & pump, and internal blower.
Nefarious stuff aside, the trade off is just not there for me.
My auto insurance (State Farm) is offering to give me a 5% discount, if I install a GPS device in my car. Again, the trade-off just isn’t there for me.
And, something I find incredibly ironic where I live now, my trash guy charges extra for “recycling,” if I sort my trash for collection, they charge me more, a lot more. (needless to say, it all goes in the trash and I pay less.)
In contrast, –different City and they gave us a monthly credit if we did sort/recycle. (which was sorta creepy-esque ‘cuz they kept track of who-did & who-didn’t every week.)
I’ve given up privacy. Anyone who cares can hack my fridge, I’m just not popular enough for that to be a practical problem. People like Musk worry about AI. Well, stupid computers is enough of a threat already with our dependence and their unpredictable malfunctions. We treat computing as our children. It will be a relief the day we can treat them as grown up friends.
I for one, can’t stand talking to computers.
Looked cool on Star Trek. Sucks in the real world!
I’m old enough to find it strange to be talking TO the phone, not with someone THROUGH the phone. I’ve given it an insulting nick name it doesn’t understand, just to prove who’s the boss (to make sure, because I’m getting worried).
And I forcefully uncoupled the OnStar antenna in my car. And the microphone was ripped out and turned into a power port…