This simple trick stops Google, Amazon and Facebook from listening to you all the time

amazon echo

Smart home devices from Google, Amazon and Facebook are engineered to listen for your commands and respond to them. Usually, they only engage when you say your "wake" word such as "OK, Google" or "Hey, Google."

But these devices are always listening.

If that makes you uneasy, there's a simple fix to stop your smart-home companion from listening in onyou all the time.

Turn off the microphones on the devices when you are not using them or for short periods of time when you don't want them eavesdropping.

Here's how to do it for each :

Amazon Echo

Echo devices, staffed by Alexa, are equipped with a microphone off button that you can turn off and on. When the button is pressed, the power to the microphones is disconnected and a red light is illuminated.

Google Home, Home Mini, Nest Mini, Home Max and Google Nest Wifi

On the Google Home, press the microphone mute button on the back of the device to mute and unmute.

On the Google Nest Mini and the Google Home Mini, slide the switch on the power cord. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off.

On the Google Home Max, slide the switch on the back of the device. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off.

On the Google Nest Wifi, slide the switch next to the power cord. The switch will display orange when the microphone is turned off.

Not ready to turn off the microphone? To take a break from your , open the Google Home app, click on settings then digital well-being and follow the instructions for scheduling some down time.

Facebook Portal

To turn off the or microphone on Portal and Portal Mini, slide the switch on top of the Portal all the way to the left. A red light will alert you that the microphone and camera are off.

To turn off just the camera, slide the switch on the top of Portal's frame into the middle position. You will see a shutter over the camera's lens when you've turned the camera off.

On Portal+ and Portal (Gen 1), press the circle button on top of your device. A red light on the front of your Portal will tell you when the and camera are turned off. You can also use the camera cover to block your Portal camera when you're not using the camera.

(c)2019 U.S. Today
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

Citation: This simple trick stops Google, Amazon and Facebook from listening to you all the time (2020, January 2) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://techxplore.com/news/2020-01-simple-google-amazon-facebook.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Portal vs. Nest Hub Max and Echo Show 8: The video display competition is set to heat up at the holidays

13 shares

Feedback to editors